Queensland Academies Health Sciences (QAHS) was proudly represented at the Australian Science Teachers' Conference, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 10 July, during the school holidays.
Our IB Biology teacher, Mrs Kavitha Sabapathy, was invited to present a professional learning session titled "What I Wish I Knew When I Started", where she shared her journey as a new International Baccalaureate (IB) Science teacher. The presentation explored the realities of transitioning into the IB curriculum, offering practical lessons learned, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies for successfully navigating the IB subject guides and assessment requirements.
The session also focused on one of the key challenges faced by many educators—finding the balance between inquiry-based learning, academic rigour, and student wellbeing. Drawing on her experiences at QAHS, Mrs Sabapathy shared classroom strategies that promote deep conceptual understanding while maintaining high expectations and supporting student success.
The presentation provided a valuable opportunity to network with science educators from a range of educational settings, exchange ideas and resources, and contribute to the broader professional learning community.
Reflecting on the experience, Mrs Sabapathy said, "It was a privilege to represent QAHS on a national stage and to share the practices that have helped me grow as an IB educator. The conference reinforced the importance of collaboration and reminded me how fortunate we are to work in a school that values innovation, excellence, and continuous professional learning."
Vanessa Rebgetz
Principal