Noella’s career as an educator began in schools teaching children from 5 to 12 years. She then spent 13 years working as a literacy specialist working with teachers in literacy and early intervention before coming to CSU in 2004.

Noella’s masters and doctoral research studies focused on teachers while her program of research at CSU has largely focused on understanding the teaching and learning of writing as a meaning making process. Her research is informed by her ongoing work with classroom teachers, education advisors and policy makers as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Noella’s work has been published in professional (e.g. Practical Literacy & Literacy Learning: the Middle Years) and research journals (e.g. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy & Australian Educational Researcher). Noella has co-edited two texts for teachers and has contributed chapters to a number of books.

Honours/Awards

2017 Program of research selected as one of 6 case studies highlighted on the CSU Website in recognition of research impact. The video and PDF were launched in 2017.

Improving childrens literacy through drawing

• 2012 Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT), citation for outstanding contribution to student learning and for sustained quality in effectively integrating on-campus classes, field experiences and technologies to promote students' understandings and use of contemporary literacies.
• 2011 Faculty Award for Academic Excellence
• 2009 Faculty Award for Academic Excellence
• 2008 Faculty Paper of the Year; Mackenzie, N. M. (2007). Teacher morale: More complex than we think? Australian Educational Researcher, 34(1), 89-104.
• 2002 Invited to be part of the Australian Highly Accomplished Educators Network.
• 2001 Australian College of Educators and NSW Minister for Education Quality Teaching Award in recognition of demonstrated excellence in teaching.