Mr Peter Power

Peter has worked in the University of Newcastle’s Enabling program (PALS) as course coordinator, lecturer and tutor since July 2018. Originally recruited as a teacher, to utilize his background as an alumnus of the PALS Open Foundation program and his primary teaching background, his teaching roles where in the fundamental mathematics and academic literacy spaces, with an additional academic advisor role. In 2022 he moved into an associate lecturer position teaching a fundamental mathematics course and undertaking a PhD (part-time). Over many years Peter has recognised that some primary school teachers in addition to university and school students exhibit concern over their fundamental mathematics abilities. As a teacher in schools and university he has found that he can alleviate student’s uneasiness, often displayed as anxiety, in mathematics. His research intends to ask his Enabling students for their opinions on the classroom experiences that result in them vocalising their improved confidence levels in fundamental mathematics. He aims to begin data collecting for his mixed methods research in early 2025. The research results anticipate identifying which Enabling pedagogy characteristics are improving confidence levels in fundamental mathematics. These characteristics may where possible and practical be utilised in undergraduate primary school teacher courses to ensure future primary school teachers are confident in teaching fundamental mathematics to their students.

Research.

In 2020, Peter was the recipient of a grant from the PALS Small Grant Scheme for Enabling Teachers, where he explored the reasons why young adults who did not achieve an ATAR allowing direct entry into university choose to enrol in Newstep. This action demonstrates that students will persevere with the education system even if it has failed them up to now. The results of the research were presented (jointly with Dr Meg Vertigan) at the National Association of Enabling Educators of Australia (NAEEA) conference, Adelaide 5-6 December 2022.

Peter also presented at the NAEEA conference, Wollongong, 2019, his subject was how using past and present students as mentors can foster engagement which in turn helps with student retention. 

Projects

In November 2018, Peter promoted the idea of attending local shopping centres as a means of increasing awareness in the Newstep Program; with the anticipated outcome being increased student numbers at the Central Coast Campus. He coordinated with several local shopping centres to have floorspace for a stall. In January 2019, with the student liaison officer he attended the promotional events. The outcome from the project was a detailed plan with milestones to repeat the action again in a more formalised manner, including attending high schools to promote Newstep to our target students.

 Grants

 2020 - Missed your ATAR?: Why young adults persevere with the education system - $2000

 Teaching

 After earning his Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)/Bachelor of Arts, Peter began working in primary education in the NSW education department. In 2016 he took the opportunity to move to the remote region of Katherine, in the Northern Territory. These experiences reaffirmed his belief in the need for equity, diversity and inclusion within education.

Governance

Newstep Academic Advisor (2018 – 2021)

PALS Teaching and Learning Committee (2024 – present)