Vanessa Donald

Vanessa Donald, a mother of four living in Taupō, made a career shift from business, human resources, and farming to pursue her love for teaching.

She completed the one-year diploma online, as part of the Univeristy’s NET/online programme, allowing her to stay in her hometown and study full-time.

“It’s challenging and intensive but directly relevant to becoming a teacher in Aotearoa,” Vanessa says.

Her standout experiences included the ‘Teaching in the Aotearoa Context’ paper.

“It was fundamental to understanding our role and identity as teachers and the complex context in which we operate."

Another highlight was the ‘Diversity, Inclusion, Wellbeing’ paper, which taught her how to use physical education in a positive and inclusive environment. 

This learning has set me up to become a confident and capable beginning teacher ready to launch my teaching career.