Researching in a Modern High School Library

As a Teacher – Librarian with over 25 years experience in working across 3 different schools, I have, for many years, been concerned about how much our staff and students rely on Google to do their research. In the last few years, this concern has extended to social media sites as well.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
An Introduction to the Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS)

What role does the teaching assistant play in a student’s academic journey? Research shows that teachers are not trained to work with teaching assistants, and the lack of role clarity is one of the biggest concerns about teaching assistants (Jackson. C., et al. 2021).

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Rethinking Distance Education: The Need for Flexibility, Community, and Wellbeing

For many students, traditional classroom settings provide an excellent structure for learning. However, for others, a different approach is needed—one that allows them to pursue elite sports, explore creative passions, engage in hands-on learning, or learn from home due to personal or family circumstances.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Overcoming Overwhelm: 3 Strategies for Educators and Leaders

For many educators, this uncertainty feels like a storm cloud looming overhead. The lack of clarity about the future, combined with the usual pressures of teaching, creates a perfect recipe for stress. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Why School Leaders Must Flourish to Thrive

Leadership in schools isn’t just about managing people and policies—it’s about shaping lives, inspiring communities, and navigating an increasingly complex world. The demands placed on school leaders are immense, from driving academic success to fostering a positive school culture.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
From Student Voice to Student Partnership: Building an Inclusive Education for All

Inclusive education requires shifting from traditional models of education, where students are passive recipients of knowledge, to collaborative models where students are active partners in shaping their learning experiences.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
The 5-Minute Leadership Coaching Framework: Why Great Leaders Coach, Not Manage

Enter the Leadership Coaching Framework—a simple yet transformative approach designed to help leaders break this cycle. At its core, this framework shifts the focus from managing tasks to empowering people.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Building a Unified Approach to Wellbeing Communication in Schools

In today's educational landscape, fostering a culture of wellbeing is paramount. A holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools involves not only educators and students but extends to the entire school community.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Data is Golden – Hope is NOT a Strategy!

The challenges facing the teacher workforce are intensifying, with factors such as workload, recognition, and classroom conditions impacting teacher wellbeing and, consequently, retention within the profession. To address these issues, St Joseph’s College Toowoomba has implemented strategic Staff Development and Engagement Plans over the past two years.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Cultivating a Positive and Professional Staff Culture

The challenges facing the teacher workforce are intensifying, with factors such as workload, recognition, and classroom conditions impacting teacher wellbeing and, consequently, retention within the profession. To address these issues, St Joseph’s College Toowoomba has implemented strategic Staff Development and Engagement Plans over the past two years.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Paw-sitive Reading: How Dogs Can Help Struggling Readers Thrive

I’ve always believed that the most meaningful educational programs often have a spark of creativity - the kind that lights up students’ eyes and makes learning feel less like work and more like an exciting discovery. In 2020, I first came across reading-to-dog programs. These initiatives pair struggling readers with a human volunteer and dog team, offering a calm, reassuring space to practice reading aloud.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Beyond Yoga Classes: The True Essence of Flourishing Leadership

Let’s talk about flourishing. It’s not just about doing well personally but thriving collectively, too. For educators, this means finding ways to thrive amidst the daily challenges of teaching, leading, and balancing life. Professor Tyler VanderWeele from Harvard University gives us a pretty inspiring take on flourishing. He says it’s “a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good”—basically, complete well-being.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Well-Being Strategies V Strategies for Well-Being

The topic of well-being is currently very common in the education sector along with other industries. There is a popular push for employers to look after their employees by providing well-being strategies. Education authorities are developing well-being frameworks, promoting their efforts to look after their employees.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Flourishing Leadership: Building Trust, Navigating Change, and Prioritising Well-being

Leadership in any context is both a privilege and a responsibility. Picture this: you’re stepping into a school where things have been a bit of a mess—staff morale is low and parents don’t trust the system anymore. Your first instinct might be to dive in and fix everything, but hold up! What if the real power move is to pause, listen, and genuinely connect with the people who make up this community?

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Prioritising Neurodivergent Voices

There's an awful lot more discussion and insight into neurodiversity these days, with diagnosis methods evolving beyond the standard criteria that's been used for far too long. As a result, more people are now disagnosed, or have a neurodivergent family member, student, peer, or colleague. So, understanding what neurodivergent really means, how it differs from person to person, and how individuals can be helped and accommodated in social settings to feel properly included is steadily growing.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Wellbeing Strategies for Overwhelmed School Principals

As a school leader, I know firsthand how heavy the load can feel as the term progresses. The start of the term may feel fresh, but it’s often the best time to reflect and prepare for the challenges ahead. This very thought inspired my research question: “Who is Caring for the Carers?”

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Developing a Whole School Vision at St Ambrose

In today’s fast-evolving educational landscape, the integration of technology into teaching and learning is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Our approach is rooted in a shared vision, deliberate strategies, and a strong culture of collaboration, all aimed at using technology to support authentic teaching and learning experiences.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
How Inclusive Practices Benefits Everyone in the Classroom

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that over 90% of children with disabilities attend mainstream schools across the country. This statistic initially surprised me, even though I was part of that very group during my time as a student.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
From Theory to Practice: Bringing Educational Leadership to Life Through Authentic Learning

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the journey from classroom teacher to educational leader requires more than just theoretical knowledge—it demands practical skills, real-world application, and a supportive professional network. This reality stands at the heart of an innovative professional development stream at the upcoming National Education Summit, designed specifically for aspiring and current teacher leaders who are ready to elevate their impact on student learning outcomes and simultaneously, grow their leadership.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi
Ganbina: Australia’s Most Successful School-to-Work Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

In Australia, the journey from school to work can be fraught with challenges, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. Socioeconomic barriers, cultural disconnection, and historical disadvantages often hinder their opportunities for meaningful employment and career development.

Read More
Darshana Amarsi