This article is adapted from the original article by Dr Jacqueline Coleman in the ACU publication “Sydney Matters”
Dr Jackie Coleman of the Faculty of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University (ACU) Strathfield campus recently spent an action-packed (and very hot!) week in Timor-Leste finalising teaching placements for 4th year BEd students.
This wonderful new opportunity, the first time ACU BEd students will undertake placements in Timor-Leste, has been organised by Palms Australia, and facilitated with the assistance of Dr Marie Quinn, an ACU Faculty of Education and Arts staff member currently on leave to co-ordinate the writing of the new Timor-Leste school curriculum.
Jackie’s visit included meetings with Mrs Antonia da Costa Freitas, the Principal of Escola Primaria Bedois in Dili, and with Palms volunteers Guida Cabrita and Samantha Haddin, who work with their local colleagues in that school.
Mrs da Costa and the volunteers will kindly host this first ACU student placement in May. Working with Palms volunteers and local Timorese staff will provide a unique opportunity for ACU students to develop their teaching skills in a context very different from Australia.
Importantly, it will also allow them to experience just, sustainable and interdependent development in action as espoused by Palms and consistent with the mission of ACU.
Jackie Coleman from ACU meeting with Principal, Mrs Antonia da Costa Freitas, and Year 6 teacher, Mr Jose Maria Guterres de Soussa, and Palms Australia volunteer Samantha Haddin at Escola Primaria Bedois.