Sarah Ford’s career has taken her to some interesting places. Since training as a teacher she’s worked all over NSW with students in regional communities such as Lake Cargelligo, Broken Hill, Taree and Port Macquarie. Sarah’s commitment to educating the future agricultural workforce of Australia has been recognised, with her taking out the VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award at the Australian Training Awards in November.
It’s clear that Sarah is deeply invested in her students and passionate about promoting vocational education and training (VET) as a valuable pathway. Sarah brings high levels of enthusiasm and commitment to her current work at Richmond River High Campus in Lismore. In addition to her work in the classroom teaching a range of VET subjects, Sarah has taken on a number of roles, including Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) Head Teacher, School Community Connections Coordinator, Show Team Coordinator, and School Farm Manager.
Even after winning the National Award, seeing her students succeed is still the highlight of Sarah’s career.
“It is just wonderful to see students reaching and achieving their goals. When you see a student who is struggling, that struggle could be for a whole range of reasons, like low literacy and numeracy skills, not being able to thrive in the traditional four walls of a classroom, issues that are outside of school but having a major impact on their potential in school, the ongoing effects of floods, drought and most recently fires in our region. When these students are able to competently demonstrate a range of practical skills and capabilities, communicate effectively with others and demonstrate leadership in a range of environments, like on the school show team, I am so proud of them.”
Sarah is excited to continue her teaching and looks forward to taking on the role of VET Coordinator for her school next year. She’s also keen to continue improving her skills, promoting agriculture, horticulture, hospitality and food and beverage subjects and helping her students achieve their goals.
She wants to use the opportunity she has been given as the National VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year to promote VET subjects, especially in Australian schools.
“I want to help schools, parents and our communities understand the important pathways that are available both within school and after school through VET. I want people to understand that vocational subjects are as important as other traditional subjects to many of our students.”
Sarah credits one of her own high school teachers for inspiring her career choice, as well as her parents for the sacrifices that allowed her to be the first person in her family to attend university. It was while studying her first degree that Sarah fell in love with agriculture, though she began her teaching journey in home science, teaching textiles and design. When the opportunity presented itself to add VET primary industries to her qualifications Sarah jumped at it.
“I feel this is where my journey has been leading me throughout my career as I am now able to teach ‘paddock to plate’ skills in my primary industries and hospitality classes using all of the skills that I have been able to develop so far.”
Sarah hopes there are many people out there who are as passionate as she is about supporting and encouraging youth through a career in teaching. At the same time, she recognises teaching can be a difficult path and that access to a strong community is essential to personal and professional success.
“Teaching is one of the most challenging but rewarding vocations that anyone could choose. The positive impact that you can have on a students should never be underestimated.
Teaching is an incredibly challenging career and it is imperative that you have a support network around you both professionally and personally to offer advice and support, to bounce ideas off and to celebrate your achievements with no matter how small those achievements are.”
Sarah’s colleagues are clearly happy to come through with that support. Her school principal Mary-Jane Pell nominated her for the NSW Training Awards, with the support from the school VET coordinator Sarah Halliwell and NSW Department of Education representatives Glenda O’Brien and Deborah Page-Thomas.
“Personally, I am very humbled but proud to have been nominated for the NSW Training Awards. The thought that someone (my Principal) believes so much in me and supports what I am trying to achieve with the students that I have been entrusted to teach is amazing.”