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"West Oak’s success has come from always putting our clients’ best interests first and always finding ways to improve and add more value to them"
Andrew mcquiston,
west oak family office, wellington-altus private wealth
At St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, Michelle Fitzpatrick, head of technology and enterprise, is leading a world-class problem-based entrepreneurial learning experience for Year 10 students. This experience involves some of the largest businesses in Australia.
Through an initiative she spearheaded, Fitzpatrick has negotiated a formal partnership agreement with Bankwest to provide mentoring for students and expertise in hosting and organising training events for students and staff.
“After several students from our ‘Creating Apps’ elective were successful in national and global STEM competitions and met experts from tech giants in Brisbane, Sydney and Silicon Valley, we developed the i3 Program [interdisciplinary intelligence and innovation], introducing STEM role models to all students,” Fitzpatrick tells The Educator.
“Anecdotally, the number of students that have pursued STEM-based university degrees since the i3 Program launched has increased from 43% to between 59% and 68%.”
Fitzpatrick says one student secured a five-figure contract to create an app, and by age 17, she had established her own company.
“Many students have secured work experience opportunities through the program, while others return to mentor current students.”
“More than 500 experts have volunteered as mentors, guest speakers and judges; we had over 100 on campus this year. Bankwest is our 2022 Diamond Partner. We have 15 core companies, which extends to [a total of 49] companies that have built our community of partners. The extended companies [change] annually when [the UN Sustainable Development Goals] change.”
Fitzpatrick says partnerships “extend beyond the four walls of the classroom” and expose St Mary's students to their community and the world.
“By finding the right partners, we provide our girls with positive role models, a different perspective, encouragement and inspiration to be curious, think deeper, [solve problems] and persevere to achieve their goals.”
“It is my view that many high school graduates lack crucial work-ready skills. Over time, the i3 Program has sought to equip our students with 25 essential skills that will give them an advantage when they are entering university and industry.”
Fitzpatrick says it is imperative that schools give all students opportunities to become future leaders and changemakers.
“We built natural feedback mechanisms into the i3 Program, which allows all stakeholders to develop openness to change. In recent years, additional admin support and leadership time has enabled the i3 Program to grow and improve. Watch this space, we have exciting developments coming in 2023.”
Fitzpatrick is a nominee for the 2022 Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia’s Roslyn Otzen Award for Exceptional Teaching. Earlier this year, she told the world about St Mary’s i3 Program when presenting at the 2022 Global Forum on Girls’ Education. She is also a member of the 2019 Apple Distinguished Educators class.
75 Elliott Road, Karrinyup, WA
(08) 9341 9111
mfitzpatrick@stmarys.wa.edu.au
linkedin.com/in/michellecfitzpatrick
stmarys.wa.edu.au
Michelle Fitzpatrick
Head of Technology and Enterprise
St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School
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2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2000-2003
2003-2008
2009-2010
2013-present
2016–present
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Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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2000–2003
2003-2008
2009–2010
2013–present
2016–present
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2022
2013–present
2009–2010
2003–2008
2000–2003
2016–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Head of Teaching and Learning (F-12) at Balcombe Grammar School
2022: Received an award for Innovation in Curriculum Design at the Australian Education Awards
2022: Successfully completed the Harvard Business School Certificate in School Management and Leadership
2016–present
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2013-present
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Head of Technology and Enterprise at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School
2013-present
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2009–2010
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Deputy Subject Leader at Vyners School, United Kingdom
2009–2010
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2003-2008
Human Resources Magazine | key media
2003–2006: Head of ICT at Heathfield School, United Kingdom
2006–2008: Director of ICT Development at Heathfield School, United Kingdom
2006–2008: ICT Educational Consultant at Girls’ Day School Trust, United Kingdom and 28 other schools
2003-2008
1997
2000-2003
human resources | key media
Coordinator of ICT Learning at Haydon School, United Kingdom
2000-2003
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Milestones
2016–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
2022
Excellence awardee – Independent Mortgage Adviser of the Year category at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards
2022
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2022
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
