They know by heart teaching is their calling

In their transition to the world of work, both women completed traineeships at Banmira Specialist School, formerly Verney Road School, before one ventured into nursing and the other began a degree in health science.

But like orange juice and toothpaste, it just wasn’t right.

“I enjoyed helping people, but nursing wasn’t for me,” Taylor said.

Neither of them had imagined working in education, especially in a setting focused on supporting students with additional needs, yet the more they came to know the school, the more of its resourceful spark they absorbed.

So, they stayed.

“We were both trainees here, and we’ve been here ever since ... what does that tell you?” Georgia said.

It tells us that Georgia and Taylor found their calling.

Now pursuing degrees in education, Taylor majors in Early Childhood and Primary, while Georgia focuses on Secondary Teaching at La Trobe University.

The school principal also provided her own dose of wisdom, encouraging the pair to take on roles as Education Support (ES) staff at Banmira’s junior campus through the Support to Teach program.

This government initiative allows students to earn paid employment while completing their teaching qualifications.

“It was enticing, and we thought the school wouldn’t have brought it up if they hadn’t felt that we could manage the study load and workload ... they believed in us,” Georgia said.

Georgia and Taylor keep a packed schedule at Banmira, assisting students with their daily routines, helping them settle in, engaging in classroom tasks, and taking them outside for movement breaks when needed.

They have impressed as ES staff, and some of their students have impressed them in return.

“This one student, I adored him,” Taylor said.

“I was able to form a great relationship with him, and slowly, he started saying a few word sentences, and by the end of the year, he was able to read his book.

“It was really nice to see him progress and know that a lot of that was my doing because we had such a great relationship.

“This was back in my traineeship, but he still stands out a lot to me.”

Five years later, Taylor is still at Banmira.

Seven years later, Georgia is still there as well.

Both individuals described their experience of working at a school while studying education as a “massive advantage”.

“If I were to go into university fresh out of Year 12, I would have struggled a lot without this real-life experience and knowledge,” Taylor said.

“I recommend it to any student if they have the opportunity to do it,” Georgia said.

Although plans are afoot for a future with freshly obtained degrees and teaching as early as next year, Georgia and Taylor still face some unknowns – only now, it feels exciting.

“At Banmira, we love the unpredictability of it all and that every day is not the same – it keeps us on our toes, really,” Georgia said.

“And the kids, they’re beautiful.”