“I trained as a secondary education teacher, and now I’m at the tertiary level. It wasn't what I planned to do, but following a pathway to an opportunity, certainly linked to that idea of being fearless and not knowing what comes next.”
‘Failing safely’. How the right support makes all the difference
Educators talk about ‘failing safely’ – a philosophy that allows people to experience a range of opportunities without necessarily knowing the outcomes in advance. Christian’s pathway from secondary to tertiary educator is linked to that idea. He had levels of support around him that allowed him to successfully make the shift, and he’s determined to ensure that everyone at Flinders has the support they need to safely follow their own paths.
“Sometimes we have some minority groups that aren't heard, aren't represented, are unrecognised, and really lack that visibility, to say, ‘hey, this is who I am’. And it's important. We've been working quite hard with a range of groups across the university to ensure that each group has a strong representation, in particular the LGBTQIA+ community, so that we ensure that all students are included, represented and feel like they belong.”
Flinders’ Pride Network – advocating for inclusivity
Christian’s involvement with Flinders’ Pride Network helped it draw together a whole range of staff from across the university that were passionate for some recognition in that area. The network allows people to join in and be involved in events, advocacy, education, and make sure that everyone really does have a voice and it's valid.
Christian’s main focus is on health education for people who are studying to be pre-service teaches in schools. But his passion for inclusivity, and his determination that the people around him feel supported are evident in everything he does.
“I think part of what adds to my ability to be fearless is knowing that I've got a supportive environment around me. You need people that will have your back, people that will ensure that you can give things a go and who are going to be there to ensure that you can attempt that.”
