Cadi McCarthy

I am an accomplished arts education specialist with a passion for integrating the arts into primary education. I have worked with children and young peoples across the arts, as a specialist and consultant.

Since 2012, I have been engaged in implementing, designing, and delivering arts programs for children and young people across the Hunter, Lake Macquarie, Gosford, and Port Macquarie regions, as well as professional development programs to teachers, and pre-service teachers at the University of Newcastle lecturing and tutoring in the School of Education: Foundations of Creative Arts for Early Childhood and Primary Teachers.

As a lecturer and tutor at the University of Newcastle, I have been equipping future teachers with rigorous teaching methodologies, lesson plans and practical skills to incorporate creative arts into early childhood and primary education. I am current with child-centered collaborative practices in the arts.

I have worked as an arts specialist across numerous schools in WA, ACT and NSW including the Hunter School of Performing Arts, Aspire: Catholic Education Diocese, Arts Unit: NSW Department of Education, and developed programs within the community. I have taught programs for K-6, 7-12 and developed special needs programs for young people across Australia.

My commitment to the arts is exemplified through my roles as Artistic Director with two not-for-profit professional arts organization's: Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub and Buzz Dance Theatre, Australia's premier dance theatre company for children and young people.

In both roles I have implemented professional work, education and outreach programs across primary and secondary schools, and community in metropolitan, regional and remote schools, working as a specialist arts teacher across hundreds of primary and secondary schools in WA, NSW, and WA.

I have also run, consulted for, and delivered extensive arts programs for youth arts festivals in WA, ACT and NSW including Canberra Youth Dance Festival, (ACT) Awesome Youth Arts Festival (WA), QL2 youth dance company, Canberra and the Hunter Youth Dance Festival (NSW), I have also been a member of ASSITEJ international. Youth Dance Australia Board Member and the Hunter Dance Festival Committee.

My expertise also has extended to consultancy roles with leading dance organizations, including the WA Ballet and Queensland Ballet Education Programs, where I successfully infused their programs to align with the primary and secondary educational settings, teaching workshops and professional development programs for teachers.

I was the lead consultant for the WACE K-6 arts curriculum, "Every Chance to Learn," and have worked as a creative advisor for the ACARA National curriculum, enhancing arts education across Australia, and was a consultant on the BSSS dance curriculum in the ACT.

I have also received accolades for my work in the professional arts sector including: a Churchill Fellowship, Regional Mid-Career Arts Awards, and two Australian Dance Awards for Outstanding Achievement in youth and community dance programs.

Since living in NSW, I have not been based within one school, I have worked across a myriad of primary and secondary schools developing specific programs to suit their requirements

Through my roles, I I have an incredible understanding of the NSW primary arts curriculum. An example of a program I developed: The Flipside Project - for young people age (8 – 26) a collaborative arts program. This program has received an Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth and Community Dance.

I have also received WA Dance Award for delivering outstanding youth dance programs, the Arts and Aboriginal Health Award, Canberra Critics Circle Awards and two CONDA awards for dance programs.

Through these diverse roles, I continue to inspire educators and students alike, fostering creativity and artistic expression in the classroom across all arts domains. Well-versed creative arts educator with track record for consistently engaging students in stimulating and relevant material. I am a conscientious educator with learning objectives of each student in mind.

• Create NSW mid-career Fellowship
• Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth and Community programming
• Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth and Community programming
• Aboriginal Arts and Health Award
• Western Australia Dance Awards - Outstanding Achievement in Youth and Community programming
• Recipient of a Churchill Fellowship
• Artistic Director of Australia's premier dance company for children and young people
• Artistic Director and Founder of Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub