ALISON HILLIER

The Senior Learning Advisor manages the team of Learning Advisors, who are responsible for the delivery of academic learning support programs and programs related to skills for learning in a higher education environment, including online and blended environments, and/or for targeted student cohorts, to enhance student success at University. This role leads the design, coordination and evaluation of appropriate support offerings that will ensure all students develop the skills that will allow them to have a high quality experience in their program of study.

• Supervising large (15+) team of professional staff, including recruitment and onboarding of new staff
• Improving communication for team members, academic, and professional staff in the wider university
• Benchmarking support services against comparable institutions and current evidence based practice
• Co-creator of award winning student experience project in 2021
• Using information systems to update and evaluate performance data for reporting to university management to demonstrate improvement and effectiveness
• Developing and implementing performance review and development strategies for team members to enhance high quality learning activities for students

• Guided Indigenous students to maximise their academic and broader university experience
• Developed integrated programs of academic and social skills for Indigenous students
• Creation and maintenance of the dedicated student information portal Túnbilliko
• Contributed to problem-solving and service improvement for Indigenous students
• Development and implementation of academic support programs for Indigenous students
• Contributed to evaluation of academic support programs for Indigenous students

• Collaboration with academic staff to improve student experience and engagement
• Contributed to negotiations with external stakeholders to improve articulation processes for new students
• Collaborated with diverse student support services to promote active student engagement throughout the student life cycle
• Identified issues that hindered student academic achievement
• Developed and taught classes related to academic and study skills
• Prepared students for later educational experiences by encouraging exploration of learning opportunities and perseverance through challenging tasks
• Taught diverse student population by employing various learning styles and abilities
• Created excitement and enthusiasm in classroom by delivering engaging subject matter
• Built strong rapport with students through class discussions and academic advisement
• Conducted engaging in-class discussions to facilitate learning and encourage participation
• Created materials and exercises to illustrate application of course concepts
• Helped students develop organisational, time management and study skills

• Developed and facilitated professional development for sessional academic staff to improve teaching practice in higher education settings
• Consulted with sessional academics on specific issues
• Co-ordination of symposium for sessional academics including sourcing expertise and presenters, promotional items, budgeting, suppliers and logistics
• Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule.

• Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule
• Maintained energy and enthusiasm in fast-paced environment
• Identified issues that hindered student academic achievement
• Taught classes and presented self-help or information sessions on subjects related to academic and study skills
• Prepared students for later educational experiences by encouraging exploration of learning opportunities and perseverance through challenging tasks
• Helped students develop organizational, time management and study skills.

Educational Psychology, Foundations of Australian History, Sociology of Education

• Taught diverse student population by employing various learning styles and abilities
• Created excitement and enthusiasm in classroom by delivering engaging subject matter
• Built strong rapport with students through class discussions and academic advisement
• Conducted engaging in-class discussions to facilitate learning and encourage participation
• Created materials and exercises to illustrate application of course concepts.

Newcastle/Armidale/regional NSW

Various NSW and federal government administrative, casual early child care, disability education and respite support, and retail positions