A former carpenter and registered builder who switched careers to study education at QUT is now a finalist in a national teaching award.
Thomas Patterson owned a Brisbane building business but decided to become a high school teacher because the favourite part of his job was passing on his skills to apprentices.
He has now won Teacher of the Year at the 2023 Victorian Training Awards and will go on to represent the state at the Australian Training Awards in Hobart, Tasmania, on November 17.
As a full-time QUT Bachelor of Education (Secondary) student, Thomas said he turned up to lectures and tutorials in his “building clothes’’, pulled “all-nighters’’ in computer labs to complete assignments before heading back to the worksite at 6am.
He graduated with First Class Honours in 2016 and was then employed at Marsden State High School, in Logan, where he taught construction in the school’s department of Industrial Technology and Design and Trade Training Centre.
He is now in his fourth year of teaching at the Outer Northern Trade Training Centre in Lalor, Melbourne, where he delivers the Certificate II Building and Construction (pre-apprenticeship carpentry) course.
Thomas said he was proud to be part of the teaching profession.
“Often a teacher can be one of the most crucial people in a young person’s life,’’ he said.
“Quality teachers fill the role of much more than an educator. They provide life guidance, optimism and belief in the student’s ability to succeed. The role teachers play in our society should never be underestimated or undervalued…a thriving education system is the foundation to a successful society.
“Receiving the award makes me happy to shine attention on VET (vocational education and training) teachers and the amazing work we do…giving people of all walks in life an opportunity to succeed and reach their potential.
“It also demonstrates that great teaching can come from anybody who has passion and commitment for their vocation, no matter their pathway to the profession.’’
Head of QUT School of Teacher Education and Leadership, Professor Dann Mallet, said career-change teachers were not only vital to maintaining the teacher workforce but brought different worldviews and life experiences to the classroom.
“Students benefit greatly from the opportunity to learn from career-change teachers like Tom because, not only are they skilled teachers, but they also have first-hand experience of how the knowledge and skills from the classroom come to fruition in the real world,’’ Prof Mallet said.
“When our graduates leave QUT, they’re teachers just like we are, so we have a professional connection in that way.
“When a former student receives an award such as this there’s a mixture of great pride with a sense of joy for a teaching colleague being so successful.’’
Thomas said he was a proud QUT graduate, following in the footsteps of his late mother, Dr Carla Patterson, who worked at the university as a public health researcher before her passing in 2005.
Dr Patterson was honoured with a plaque and seat on site at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus, along with the Carla Patterson Memorial Awards.
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