Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
Explore the University of Technology Sydney
Category Filters:
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... Newsroom
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... 2024
  4. arrow_forward_ios 04
  5. arrow_forward_ios Are you going to walk your craft with passion?

Are you going to walk your craft with passion?

9 April 2024
A man speaks to an auditorium

UTS preservice teachers listening to Murat Dizdar. Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Barlow.

UTS Secondary Teacher Education preservice teachers experienced a jam-packed day of professional learning at a ‘Beginning Your Teaching Career’ conference held on the 28th of March 2024. There was an inspirational keynote address delivered by the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education Murat Dizdar, an expert panel of school leaders and beginner teachers, and a series of interactive workshops featuring topics such as early career insights, HSC strategy, managing the learning environment, and enriching learning with technology.

What kind of professional learning will help beginner teachers to develop a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and practice? 

Such a question drove the third annual UTS School of International Studies and Education teacher education conference. One key component involved creating opportunities to listen to the passionate and inspirational stories of visionary leaders in education. Murat Dizdar’s dynamic keynote conveyed the significance of passion as he related the special teachers who inspired his teaching journey. His message of ‘service’ warmed the hearts of preservice teachers, who understood the enormity of entering one of society’s most time-honoured professions. 

A man in a suit speaks to a crowd, smiling

Murat Dizdar sharing his stories of teaching. Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Barlow.

Murat walks the talk through his inverted leadership model, which positions him at the very bottom of the pecking order, with 800,000 students and 95,000 teachers and support staff at the top. The cultural change of humility and service that he and his team have spear-headed speaks loud and clear. 

Are you going to walk the craft with passion?

Murat’s favourite teachers were highly organised, had dangerous peripheral vision, and gave something of themselves, revealing their humanity to students. As a high school student, he watched expert teachers weaving their craft to learn the magic of good teaching. 

So, what is Murat Dizdar passionate about? He proclaims that the cornerstone of public education is equity. He recalls how, even as a high school student, he attempted to smash through systemic disadvantage by speaking up on the behalf of families who lived in his housing commission. Murat puts an equity lens across everything that comes across his table, citing the Public Instruction Act, which advocates the need to provide the ‘best’ education for all children regardless of class distinction. 

One of his most notable takeaway messages is how the best teachers contribute to the ‘whole school.’ Like most teachers, Murat is a consummate storyteller. The whole theatre erupted in laughter as he recounted how he embraced school life by spending the initial days of his first teaching job getting a bus driver’s licence. Not only did he embrace the opportunity to take bus driving duties as a rugby league coach, but he also became a role-model for other teachers by transforming the lives of disenfranchised children.

Murat raises the gauntlet, challenging beginner teachers by asking them, “What can you bring to the table?”

Be the best teacher you can be!

Lila Mularczyk is another inspirational leader who was the principal of Merrylands High School, as well as the President of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council (SPC). Lila exudes a similar passion for public school education and is tireless in supporting the next generation of teachers. Her message of working with parents, families, of becoming a leader and seeking the support of the teaching community provides strength and support. 

Expert panel of teachers speaking

Expert panel: Lila Mularcyzk, Dilpreet Hayer, Belinda Guidice, Alice Leung and Casey Johnson.

Lila’s session was followed by the expert panel with Belinda Guidice and Dilpreet Hayer (Principal and English Teacher, Prairiewood High School), Casey Johnson (Head Teacher of Teaching and Learning, Northmead CAPA High School) and Alice Leung (Head Teacher of Secondary Studies, Concord High School). Some gems of wisdom shared during this session include:

  • Good teachers can learn and listen. Their goal is to serve and to improve the learning of those under their care.
  • What is the difference between ‘busy’ work and high-quality teaching and learning?
  • Develop your ‘why.’ What are your core values and purposes? Let them drive your practice.
  • Teachers who struggle feel like things are outside of their control. What is your ‘locus of control?’ What can you do to turn the tide? 

The learning continued with breakout sessions with the panel members, as well as Cindy Ngo and Daniel Herron (EAL/D and TAS, Prairiewood High School) and Nancy Morvillo and Alex Harris (HSC Strategy, NSW Department of Education). 

A blonde haired woman speaks to an unseen crowd

Lila Mularczyk, former principal of Merrylands High School and former President of the Secondary Principals Council

Two women present to a classroom

HSC Strategy, NSW Department of Education: Alex Harris and Nancy Morvillo (Chief Education Officer, NSW DoE HSC Strategy) 

The day was driven by the passion and vision of multiple generations of teachers, who were story tellers, mentors and deeply ethical human beings, as well as strong advocates of equity and social justice. 

Teachers present to a classroom

Prairiewood High School: Belinda Giudice (Principal), Dilpreet Hayer (English), Daniel Herron (TAS), Cindy Ngo (EAL/D)

As the day wound to a close, there was an overriding feeling of hope. This hope resided in the knowledge that the future of NSW schools was in good hands, not just because of the passion that burnt in the hearts of its newest teachers, but through knowing that the teaching and learning community have got ‘their back.’

Alice Leung leads a classroom of pre-service teachers

Technology enriching learning with Alice Leung, Head Teacher of Secondary Studies, Concord High School

Share
Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share this on LinkedIn
Back to News in Arts and Social Sciences

Related News

  • The Power of School Partnerships
  • How do you manage a positive learning environment?

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility