Last year, Michelle Cartwright was named as the joint winner of the 2021 Education Support Person of the Year at the ACT Public Education Awards, for her work as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) at Monash Primary School. Michelle has been a member of the Monash Primary School community for over eight years now, starting out as a parent volunteer before accepting an official position.
What is your role as a Learning Support Assistant at Monash Primary School?
Primarily, LSAs provide support to students with a range of additional needs - that could be physical, social, emotional, personal or academic needs. For me personally, I work one on one with a student who is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair. Every day, I do everything I can to include her in what the class is doing. It can be as simple as helping hold her hand up when she’s got something to say, to helping her communicate through Augmented and Alternate Communication (AAC). She has a speech device that she uses, and I assist her in using that and we’ve come up with our own little signs and gestures and things. The teacher works out the plan for what they want taught and then at their direction, I make the learning accessible for her. For example, where some children might use standard dice and counters for a maths game, I source bigger materials. She has big foam dice and I had special counters made that she can pick up. At the swimming carnival, I get in the water. We do cross country where I run around the course with her – as much as I can run! We’re very much a little team, the two of us.
What originally drew you to working as an LSA?
I have a Bachelor of Science and originally worked at an analytical lab here in Canberra. When I started my family, I stayed home with them and then when they started school, I became a parent volunteer. I just loved going in to read with the kids. I still remember very clearly, one particular child who was way behind in his reading, so I would always make sure he got a turn to read. I still remember the day it clicked for him – he was just so excited. I actually had an appointment that I had to go to that morning. He finished the book, looked at me and asked, “can we read another one?” We ended up reading 3 or 4 books that day and I was late to my appointment. That was incredible and that’s part of what attracted me to the work.
For around four years I was at the school every morning for a couple of hours, so when a position came up, they offered it to me. With the shorter hours and school holidays, it meant that I could still care for my kids when they were little.
What do you love most about the role?
I love the relationships that you build with all the kids. I love that the kids trust you and know that they can come to you if there’s a problem. With the student I support in particular, I feel really honoured that she trusts me as much as she does. Also, just seeing the children meet their goals. Particularly with the student I support, as I know how hard it can be for her. When achieves something it just melts your heart.
We have great staff to work with here at Monash Primary School and the executive really do take care of us. I feel valued and I can’t imagine ever leaving! When I retire, I could even see myself going back in to volunteer to read with the children like I used to.