Students in enabling programs bring a richness and diversity to our universities, but they may also arrive with numerous challenges. For a variety of reasons, students may seek support and advice regarding their non-academic challenges (such as mental health issues) from their lecturers and tutors, rather than from psychologists and counsellors. Starting in 2014, the SIG has a decade long history of collaborations and research in the fields of enabling education and transitions pedagogy, including publications in several education journals. Together, we have formed a diverse community of practitioner researchers who promote wellbeing, producing reportable research outputs while taking care of each other and ourselves through prioritising mental health. In addition, we are interested in the experiences of academic staff in teaching and supporting enabling students; what are the challenges and protective factors for staff? The SIG convenes bi-monthly to exchange experiences, strategies, and insights from the literature, as well as offer collegial support network to members.
Special Interest Groups
~Mental Health
Facilitator/s
Dr Angela Jones
Dr Angela Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Access and Equity, and course coordinator of UniPrep programs at Edith Cowan University, WA. She was previously senior lecturer, curriculum designer and Head of Discipline for University Preparation Pathways at Murdoch University, WA. Angela has published in the field of enabling education and has also led editorialship on two academic edited collections. The latest, Transitioning Students into Higher Education Philosophy, Pedagogy and Practice (2019), focussed “on the relationship between philosophy, pedagogy and practice when designing programs, units or courses for transitioning students to new educational spaces in the university environment” (2019). Angela is a passionate enabling educator and advocate for social justice education.
Anita Maclaurin
Anita Maclaurin is an AAUT award winning enabling educator and trained high school teacher. She has been a Lecturer for University Preparation Pathways at Murdoch University since 2013. Currently she is the Program Coordinator of FlexiTrack High. Previously an International Baccalaureate teacher, a Curriculum Coordinator, and a Teaching and Learning coach, Anita brings to the enabling space 25 years of diverse teaching experience. Her teaching and learning approach is underpinned by social justice and constructivist theory, educational psychology and creative pedagogical process. Her research focus is on authentic and engaging enabling programs, holistic curriculum design, trauma informed pedagogies and the emotional labour demands on enabling educators.
