Shiona is the Course Chair of the Diploma of Education Studies (EDES), appointed to this position in 2018.
A Teaching Focused Academic in the Education program since 2016, she was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2023.
Shiona has over 20 years’ experience as a music, psychology and drama secondary teacher. Shiona holds a Master in Education (Gifted Education) from the Australia Catholic University (ACU) and is undertaking a PhD at VU. EDES, as a pathway to Initial teacher education, provides opportunities for students normally excluded from this career path, bringing greater diversity to the teaching profession. Students are given extensive support to bridge the gap in their skills and experience to meet ITE entry requirements. EDES was the recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (HE) in 2020, and is an accredited ITE pathway program with the Victorian Institute of Education.
Shiona is committed to supporting pre-service teachers to become creative educators, who ensure intellectual, social and emotional needs of students are addressed in the classroom. Shiona is trained in the Berry Street Education Model that focuses on trauma-informed practice, and is researching the connection between our brains, belonging and academic success in pathway programs.
Course chair – Diploma of Education Studies (EDES)
Unit coordinator - EDC1000 Academic and Professional Learning; EDC1007 ICT in Education and Learning
20 year experience as a secondary music, psychology and drama teacher in the Victorian government and Catholic education systems.
McLaren, M.-R., Welsh, S., & Long, S. (2021). Subverting perceptions of academic and professional learning with drama. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 49(3), 249–261.
You can access Shiona's other publications via the Victoria University Research Repository (VURR).
