Top-notch educators claim national University Teaching Awards

Honoured for their teaching excellence, four exceptional University of Newcastle academics have been selected—from a national pool—for a highly coveted University Teaching Award.

The Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) were established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching.

Congratulations to our four recipients.

Dr Bonnie McBain

Senior Lecturer, School of Environment and Life Sciences
Award for Teaching Excellence

Dr Bonnie McBain is one of only nine recipients of the Award for Teaching Excellence. Over the past decade Dr McBain has transformed higher education thinking about the design of science and sustainability curriculum.

By co-developing and applying a new participatory approach of curriculum design—Collaborative Curriculum Design (CCD)—she has enabled science graduates to hone their skills to address ‘wicked’ problems, such as climate change, where the causes are complex and transcend typical disciplinary boundaries.

Associate Professor Kathleen Butler

Head of Institute, The Wollotuka Institute
Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education category)

Associate Professor Kathleen Butler was awarded a citation for demonstrating sustained excellence, leadership and innovation in resources to support Indigenisation of curriculum in local, national and international contexts.

Associate Professor Butler is driving the creation of innovative and culturally responsive resources to support and engage students in their learning and development of professional identities. These resources are informed by community and research priorities, and Associate Professor Butler’s lived experience as a Bundjalung and Worimi woman.

Dr Nick Riley

Senior Lecturer, School of Education
Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning

Dr Nick Riley has earnt a citation for his work developing a highly successful Personal Development, Health & Physical Education undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education curricula, and effective teaching resources.

Drawing on his extensive experience teaching in primary schools in the UK and NSW, Dr Riley has shown that integrating physical activity into core school subjects improves school students' health, behaviour, and academic performance. Through his innovative movement-based learning teaching practices, he has enabled pre-service and current practicing teachers to combine physical activity with curriculum outcomes in key learning areas such as English and Maths.

Dr Kcasey McLoughlin

Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Law School 

Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning

Dr Kcasey McLoughlin has received a citation for inspiring law students to think critically about the law and how as future lawyers they might contribute meaningfully to legal reforms that benefit society.

Leading by example with her own research, advocacy and leadership in the discipline, Dr McLoughlin empowers law students to see themselves as agents for reform. Dr McLoughlin incorporates work- integrated learning opportunities, law reform submissions, and reflective tasks to complement practical legal training and provoke meaningful thought.