Visiting professor inspires students with calm, engaging presence

Calma in name, calmer in nature, was the impression Professor Tom Calma gave to the students at the Geraldton Flexible Learning Centre when he recently visited the facility, which is part of Edmund Rice Education Australia’s national initiative Youth+.

But it wasn’t only the students who were impressed.

So was the well-respected professor from the Eastern States.

Professor Calma is one of the seven members of the Melbourne-based Education Council, which has commissioned a review of senior secondary pathways to examine how students can be supported to choose the best pathway into work, further education or training. The review will provide advice and recommendations to the Education Council on the skills and knowledge young people need to thrive beyond school.

GFLC was chosen by the Education Council to ensure a broad range of views were presented from a diverse range of schools for its review into senior secondary options.

GFLC head of campus Heather Brett said the students found Professor Calma “a very interesting and highly engaging visitor”.

“He spent time with them and with staff talking about future transition pathways to employment and further training,” Ms Brett said.