Rebecca Astbury

Social studies and geography teacher

"I wanted a people job, with variety and interest, and I realised that teaching was it!"

Rebecca’s parents are both secondary teachers who excel in their profession and who have taken every opportunity that teaching offers. " We have had interesting overseas trips as a family during school holidays. They exchanged jobs and homes with teachers in other countries several times which gave them unique travel experiences. They are now teaching at an international college in Jakarta."

Yet, despite experiencing all the positive aspects of teaching and the flexibility and variety it offers, it wasn’t an inevitable career choice for Rebecca.

Rebecca enjoyed study and completed a degree in geography, then started on a commerce degree. "After a year I realised that commerce wasn’t for me. I wanted a people job, with variety and interest, and I realised that teaching was it!" she recalls.

" I had learned through my mother that a teaching life did not have to be stressful – she is a great time manager who hardly ever brought too much work home," she says. " Dad was also a superb teacher and I loved his passion for his subject that he conveyed to students."

Three years at Avondale College was followed by a period in the UK, " where I made a conscious decision not to teach, so I worked in a variety of jobs."

Now back at Avondale College, Rebecca says she loves her job. " I love working with students in this age group – 13-17 year olds – and I really enjoy my colleagues, they are such interesting people. Teaching is so flexible – we can take the students on field trips and give them other stimulating experiences. There are lots of opportunities to be creative in teaching. I also really enjoy developing positive caring relationships with students and enjoy witnessing their achievements and success throughout their secondary schooling."