• Bicheno Primary School
• Lindisfarne North Primary School
• Geilston Bay High School
• Rosny College

Elizabeth spent her early years on the east coast of Tasmania, before moving to Hobart, aged 11. She reflects on growing up with the ‘bare essentials’ and, as a teenager, juggling both school and casual work to help her family financially.

Elizabeth was a keen student and dedicated athlete, holding two Australian records in fin swimming and training at the Australian Institute of Sport at the age of 15.

She attributes the support, opportunities and sense of community fostered through her public education, to shaping her life values and helping to guide her in her current role as the State Executive Officer of the Child Health Association of Tasmania, a statewide organisation supporting Tasmanian families. Through her work, Elizabeth advocates for the education of young people and is a firm believer that, ‘to educate is to empower’.

“My own educational experiences, I believe, have shaped the positive attitude to school my children now exhibit. Simply put, without my education I would not be where I am today.”

Simon also owns Dirt Art Walks, a walking trail development company delivering a number of large-scale destination walking trail projects, such as the $30m Grampians Peaks Trail in Victoria.

Once a semi-professional mountain bike racer, Simon always aspired to grow mountain bike and adventure tourism back in his home state of Tasmania. His dream was realised in January 2018, when he opened Maydena Bike Park— the largest bike park in the southern hemisphere. He will soon launch two new adventure tourism attractions in Tasmania. Simon credits his public school education with instilling the core values of respect, dedication, growth and aspiration, much of which he says has led to his success.

“My public education taught me that growth is not a goal to reach any one thing, but rather a life-long commitment to be better at everything I do, while at the same time trying to make the world a better place.”

It was these opportunities which allowed her to discover how other students and communities lived and dreamed, irrespective of their circumstances. Jenny cites teachers as instrumental in helping her understand her strengths, motivating her to achieve, and shaping her personal and professional characteristics.

Jenny has had a long career in and out of public schools since 1978 including teaching and leadership roles across the state. This culminated in 2016 when she was appointed Secretary of the Department for Education, Children and Young People. A keen netballer, Jenny has been involved in the sport for 40 years as a player, coach, umpire and administrator. Jenny says her goal as Head of the State Service is to ensure Tasmanian children are happy, thriving, safe, capable and competent, and have a sense of self-worth, a value she believes her public education gave her.

“I had many wonderful teachers who recognised my strengths and always encouraged me to do better, who helped me to understand that every person is important and should be valued for what they bring, who supported me when I felt challenged and taught me the value of perseverance, and who helped me to understand that there is more than one right way to do things and that you have to find your own way.”

The first in her family to attend university, Carla attributes the opportunities provided to her by the public schools she attended, with allowing her to follow her passions for media, social justice and humanitarianism.

She has found balance with work, as a Judo and Brazilian Jujitsu competitor at state, national and international levels. Carla was a semi-finalist for the Tasmanian Young Achiever Award in 2015 for her work with women living in Ghana with obstetric fistula, and again in 2017 for her work with Tasmanians living with a disability. Carla’s current work with high-risk and vulnerable people demonstrates her genuine desire to help others locally, as well as her humanitarian work globally.

“Learning takes courage. My public schools encouraged me to be the best version of myself, recognising leadership qualities and skills in me and opening up platforms for me to be able to experience and explore that side of myself. By investing in education and respecting learning, we give people the courage to grow – only then will we aspire to greatness.”

Lila completed a Bachelor of Medical Research and a PhD in Neuroscience, with a focus on stroke, fatigue and therapeutic development for nerve injury. Awarded the 2015 Premier’s Young Achiever of the Year and finalist for Young Australian of the Year 2016, Lila has recently been hailed Australia’s 16th ‘Science Superhero’ by the Chief Scientist of Australia. Lila believes public education gives students the ingredients for a rich and rewarding life.

“A public school education sets you free through the opportunities it allows you to create for yourself. With the support I received through my public school education I was able to thrive. It is time to give back to that community.”

Clare speaks candidly about the bullying she experienced during high school, but says she was well-supported by teachers at school who ensured she felt safe and valued and who encouraged her to achieve, allowing the experience to positively shape her.

In her final year of high school, Clare was offered an opportunity to study abroad in France, fostering her with independence and direction. Clare now finds herself teaching Drama and Media Production at the college she once attended. She believes each child deserves an exceptional education and that they have access to this at their local public school.

“The public system provides both breadth and depth of opportunity for students and is an open door for everyone. Public education can take you anywhere.”

It was the public schools she attended and the caring, attentive teachers she turned to, which became her ‘safe haven’, providing Tasha with stability, consistency and a sense of worth— which she admits she lacked at the time.

Tasha attributes the support her education gave to overcome these adversities to helping her become a resilient and compassionate adult, who is now able to help others. Tasha says she is witnessing a welcome shift in awareness and courage to share and teach the important history of the land and First Nations peoples.

“I am pleased to know the current generations are given the opportunity to understand vital information that will allow us to live in a just and sustainable world. As current role models, through our own aspirations, respectful and courageous actions and thoughts, we will lead by example, inspire growth and provide the platforms for younger generations to thrive.”

Hailing from the north-west coast, Tim grew up in Burnie and cites dedicated teachers among those who influenced him most during this impressionable time. Tim is now the world’s leading expert on the Law of Armed Conflict and on the prosecution of war crimes. He believes public education sets Tasmanians up to achieve great things on a global stage and is excited to be back in his home state where he hopes to inspire others to pursue greatness.

“I firmly believe that there is no reason why Tasmanians cannot achieve great things on a global stage and I consider myself a living demonstration of what’s possible. It is important that young Tasmanians have role models that cause them to lift their aspiration, to act courageously and to commit to growth and development to be the best they can be, and to do so out of a sense of humility and respect for others.”

Her research into heart failure and abnormal rhythms has been featured in international conferences and journals. Last year, Ayame started a registry of heart valves at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Ayame was also involved with an international organisation distributing mosquito nets and HIV testing in rural Uganda.

Ayame is as creative as she is academic and is a dedicated member of Hobart’s youth contemporary dance company, DRILL. She says school was where she felt valued, supported and nurtured, and believes it was the many opportunities given to her by public education that fostered self-belief, drive and an appreciation of the arts.

“The diverse community in public schools provides an added element of richness to the learning environment. The range of people ethnically, socio-economically, and in ability provides a platform for education around acceptance of diversity in the greater community. The integration I had with a wide variety of people has made me a more empathetic and socially aware soon-to-be doctor and person.”

Susan, as a young teacher, recalls vividly the pink slip on which she was required to tick a box citing ‘Pregnancy’ as the reason for her resignation from the Department. She also remembers the disappointment she felt when discovering her male colleagues were receiving more pay than her for the same work. Susan marvels now at how remarkably things have changed. She continues to be a lifelong learner and is an advocate for adult literacy through her volunteer work tutoring at Burnie Library and through her active role in the Circular Head community.

“From 1953 to present day I have been proud to witness immense change and growth in public education. I am amazed at how learning styles and resources have changed. From my early days with pen and ink to a future where education is something I cannot imagine. However, one constant is that public school education supports and provides the aspirations, respect, courage and growth to all learners on their pathway to become proud Tasmanians.”

He regards himself as the once ‘naughty kid who talked too much, with energy to burn’. John says he was always drawn to music (playing tuba in the school band), languages and sport.

It was at school he discovered his talent and interest in the dramatic arts and says it was a poetry and prose recital in Year 11—for which he received his first ‘A’—that John ‘finally felt good at something’. His teachers at the time were instrumental in encouraging John to pursue a career as an actor. John is proud of his public education and feels blessed to now watch his young daughter attend a public school.

“In public education it doesn’t matter who you are, your background or beliefs, your sexual orientation or how well off your parents are. You are accepted, nurtured and supported in an open environment that doesn’t discriminate or alienate, but at the same time teaches you that life isn’t always fair and there are always going to be hurdles to overcome in life. It sets you up for the pitfalls you may face through life.”

Mali Davis

Emily Garratt

Kaytlyn Johnson

Toby McKnight

Tom Rockliff

Toby Thorpe