Meet the ATOMVic Education Committee

The Education Office is strongly supported by an experienced active group of media educators and media industry professionals who volunteer to form the Education Committee. The Education Committee provides an opportunity for teachers to have a direct say in what professional learning ATOMVic offers, have access to increased professional learning opportunities themselves, to network with other like-minded teachers and further develop teaching, writing and presenting skills.

The ATOMVic Education Office is managed by Education Officer, Quinton Li.

Quinton works three days a week – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Contact the ATOMVic Office:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: Book a call with us

Being more actively involved with ATOMVic will help you further your career and the study of Media in a fun and forward thinking environment. Contact us to get involved!

I have been working as a Media, Art and English teacher for over 20 years and have been a consultant with VCAA in the development of study designs and curriculum resources. I have a deep commitment to creativity and critical thinking in education, and as the Chair of ATOM education committee, I am fortunate to work with like-minded teachers across the state.
In my work with ATOM I have developed many professional learning events and resources for Media teachers across Victoria. With over 20 years’ experience teaching Media, English and Visual Arts in London, Collingwood College and Fitzroy High, I currently lead the Arts and Technology team at Wurun Senior Campus, where I have established a highly successful VCE Arts curriculum.

I am also a sessional workshop facilitator at Victoria University, and have published research on the use of Video Essays in English and Media classes. I have been a curriculum writer for ACARA and VCAA, revising the VCE Media Study Design as well as Art: Making and Exhibiting, and I was on the Top Screen selection panel.

Since 2019, I have also written a column for AEUNews Victoria, in which I reflect on contemporary problems facing educators.

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Zac Alaimo is the currently a Learning Specialist and VCE Media and Theatre Studies teacher at Richmond High School.

Zac has toured and performed in an original musical media performance at Adelaide Fringe Festival. Zac had the incredible experience of completing one of his teaching placements in Northern Territory, where he lived in a remote Indigenous community working at their high school and running a 5 week Media program there. Zac loves chatting all things pop culture, film and gaming and will happily tell you his Four Favourites as per his Letterboxd account. Zac is excited to join the ATOM Committee and work with such an exceptional teacher organisation that aims to innovate and support all Media students and teachers.

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Alison has been teaching in the Media classroom for over 20 years, and more recently the film IB classroom. She has proudly worked in various schools in the public education system and is now settled at Williamstown High School Senior Campus (used to be her own high school….many years ago). She has been an ATOM Ed Com member for two years and is trying to face some fears of public speaking by forcing herself to run some professional development. Alison has a passion for all things film analysis and film making, with her favourite film genre being war movies, closely followed by a good old fashioned rom com (especially one where there is consent given by all parties). She loves her cat, Tico, a little too much.

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Daniel Christiansz is a VCE Media Teacher with experience directing and producing short documentary videos in nine countries. He has taught Audiovisual Communications at a Masters level at the University of Melbourne and currently works as a Year 12 Media Teacher and Coursewriter at Virtual School Victoria. Daniel also has a passion for virtual reality documentary content that helps drive audience empathy. He is a current member of the Australian Teachers of Media Education sub-committee where he helps facilitate professional development and networking for media teachers.

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Oliver Dolbey is currently a teacher of both Media and Performing Arts. He has taught a wide of range of topics in these subject areas across all levels from Year 7 through to Year 12. Oliver also teaches in the subject areas of English and Humanities, and brings into these
areas multiple aspects from his Drama and Media background. Oliver is big on the cross-
curriculum skills aspect of teaching and enjoys combining different subject areas together to create meaningful, creative, engaging and purposeful learning activities to engage the
students.

Whilst his real dream job would be to the Red Power Ranger, outside of the classroom,
Oliver is heavily involved in extra-curricular activities, especially in the area of School
Productions and School Musicals. Oliver has directed, assisted directed and stage designed
multiple school productions and musicals. Outside of the school environment, Oliver has
also had ample experience in Emceeing and hosting multiple different style of Events,
Shows and Functions.

Oliver also puts a big emphasis on the Wellbeing of his students. Oliver’s main goal in the
classroom is to get students to look beyond the basic academics of what a subject offers and to encourage and encage them to focus on the skills they are developing and were these skills can take them / how they can apply these skills to benefit their future, regardless of which career pathway the students take. Fostering an engaging learning experience both in and outside of the classroom. He is excited to join the ATOM Committee and work with such an exceptional teacher organisation that aims to innovate and support all Media students and teachers.

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Daniel Hennequin is a distinguished media education specialist based in Melbourne, where he serves as a tutor at Monash University and teaches Units 1 – 4 VCE Media Studies for Year 11 and 12, as well as Media for Years 9 to 10. His teaching portfolio also includes VET Screen and Media, VCE Studio Art, and English. Additionally, he is involved with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) in roles focused on VCE Media exam assessing and development. As an active Board Member and Education Committee member of the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM), Daniel has delivered several seminars on Media Studies assessment tasks and exam preparation through ATOM, Engage Education, and TSSM. He possesses expert knowledge in film theory, podcast production, film production, photography, and art.

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Hatice Huseyin is currently a VCE Media teacher at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. Prior to PEGS, Hatice taught Media in the Government System for over 20+ years and taught A Level Media in the United Kingdom.

Hatice completed her Postgraduate Degree in Cinema Studies and prior to that holds a degree in Video Production, Writing for the Mass Media and Psychology. A Diploma in Education introduced Hatice to the world of teaching, and she’s never looked back.
Hatice has also volunteered with Channel 31 back when it was a thing, and worked on many small productions whilst studying video production at VIC Uni and La Trobe Uni.
Hatice’s strengths lie in working in diverse communities and incorporating various government Media initiatives for schools over the years with VIC Roads, Splash Animation, and other film projects.

Hatice recently has been a VCAA assessor for Media and a member of ATOM Ed Comm, delivering professional learning seminars to students and teachers across the state. Hatice is currently a Media practitioner at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.
Hatice is excited to continue working toward progressing Media Literacy across the State and developing her knowledge in a field that is ever evolving.

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Brett Jenkins is an experienced Media and Drama Teacher at Upper Yarra Secondary College, where he has consistently taught VCE Media and Drama for several years. As a dedicated member of the Education Committee for the Australian Teachers Of Media (ATOM), he has delivered engaging presentations at numerous Professional Development seminars for both educators and students. Brett also brings experience as a Casual VCE Media Assessor for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), where he assessed Year 12 examinations.

Most recently, Brett has been actively involved in promoting the integration of video games into the classroom, working to engage teachers and students alike. He has contributed valuable content, both paid and free, to online platforms such as ACMI’s ‘Game Lessons’ and The Education Shop, providing educators with accessible resources for enhancing their teaching methods.

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Collette is a Visual Art and Media teacher at St Peter’s College, Clyde North Campus. Collette has been teaching for 8 years and is piloting VCE Media (Units 1 & 2 in 2024, progressing to units 1-4 in 2025) at the Clyde North campus this year. Collette has been teaching Media-related subjects through years 8-10 as well as VCE for 5+ years but is still relatively new to teaching VCE Media.

Collette is a Photographer and Filmmaker outside of the teaching world and has been working in the Photography/ Film industry for over 10 years. Collette’s main fields are portraiture and event photography, animal photography and car racing photography and video promotion.

Collette also volunteers with Scouts Australia in both leadership and PR roles. She has headed up the Photography team for both State and National events and is currently helping plan and run the Photography team for the 26th Australian Jamboree which is being held in Maryborough QLD in 2025.

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Kayla McCarthy is the Head of Visual Arts at Parkdale Secondary College. She is a member of ATOM Victoria, both as a part of the Education Committee and the board. She has worked as an assessor for VCAA for the Media examinations. She currently teaches Year 10 to 12 Media, as well as Year 7 Art & Design.

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Emma has been a media teacher for 15 years and is currently the Head of Performing Arts at Thornbury High School. Here, she leads crazy and exciting projects like a kids’ TV show and feature films for the school’s bi-annual production. Emma is also undertaking her PhD at Monash University, where she is creating a documentary film about how the Arts connect students with their schools and communities. She is the director and co-founder of ‘Advancing Female Leaders in Education’ (AFLE). You might also recognise her from popping up in Year 12 productions on YouTube, presenting the VCE Media curriculum for Edrolo or from her appearances with ATOM; an organisation she loves being part of!

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Graduate VCE Media and Photography teacher at Box Hill High School, new to the game and an eager advocate for developing media literacy across all curriculum. Very much understanding and accommodating to the needs of new teachers, or teachers new to media!

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Robert Redfern joined the teaching fraternity in 2016 and currently teaches at Collingwood College and its senior campus Wurun Senior (in partnership with Fitzroy High School). Robert’s specialist subjects include Media and Food Studies as well as VET Screen & Media. Prior to teaching, Robert actively worked in the film industry, freelancing in music videos, documentaries and short films. He is also an independent filmmaker and a strong believer that story is king and that filmmaking is not limited to the tools in your hand but rather unlimited, to the imagination in your head.

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Ramona Tilley is the Director of Visual Arts at Balwyn High School. She is a proud member of ATOM Victoria and the Education Committee. In addition to teaching Media for over 10 Years, she has been a panel member for Top Screen selections and is a regular member of the VCAA Assessing team for Media. Prior to moving into high school teaching, Ramona taught Design at Swinburne TAFE and worked as a multimedia and graphic designer.

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Sema Yildirim is a dedicated educator with qualifications in English and Media studies. Whether attending workshops, participating in conferences, or collaborating with fellow educators, she remains committed to staying abreast of the latest trends and developments in the industry.

Sema’s teaching career spans over a decade with her approach to teaching emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and hands-on experience, empowering her students to analyze media messages critically and produce their own compelling content.
Sema’s impact extends beyond the classroom. She actively contributes to the academic community of ATOM, focusing on topics such as media literacy, digital culture, and the influence of media on society.

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Nick Zomer is a VCE Media and Visual Communication Design teacher at Caulfield Grammar in Wheelers Hill. He is an ATOM Board Member and ATOM Education Committee Member. Nick is also a VCAA Exam Assessor for both Media and VCD and enjoys the complexities of teaching two super creative subjects.