Maria Bennet

Teaching and Research Staff

Maria Bennet

DipT, RCAE; GradCert (SpecEd), MSpecEd, CSU, MEd, CSU; Grad Cert University Teaching & Learning; TAFE Wiradjuri Language 1 & 11

Lecturer
Dubbo
Building 904, Room 4

As a school based practitioner, Maria has taught from Kindergarten to Year 6 before diversifying in supporting students with learning difficulties in regional NSW schools. Her concurrent work with TAFE provided rich opportunities to engage with VET and adult education course development and delivery. Since 2004, Maria has worked as a lecturer in the Faculty of Education. Maria’s interest in undergraduate teachers’ capacity to engage with Aboriginal students has resulted in a number of cultural activities involving on-campus and field experiences. She has continued to work on her various national projects (ALTC, AITSL and OLT) as well as community (TAFE Ochre Hub) and school projects. Her research profile reflects her work in developing pre-service capacity to work with Aboriginal students, their families and their communities.

Maria is the Subject Convenor for EEA202(Classroom management) and EML440(Literacy K-2) as well as teaching into EML106 and EPT127, both subjects focusing on literacy.

Awards

  • 2015 CSU Faculty of Business Team Award for Teaching Excellence: First Year Mathematics Teaching Team.
  • 2009 Australian College of Educators: Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contribution to the Community.

University Committees

  • SOTE Learning and Teaching Committee
  • Dubbo Campus Environmental Committee

Memberships to Community Organisations

  • Member of Local Aboriginal and Educational Consultative Group (AECG)
  • PETAA (Primary English Teaching Association of Australia)

Grants

  • Edwards-Taylor, F., Bennet, M., Chida, I., Roberio Milograna, S. (2020). HEPPP Dubbo Enabling Project. $106.000
  • Bennet, M., (2018). CSU Green Grass Roots Grant. $1 000 awarded by CSU Green to build Stage 1 of a sustainable garden.
  • Bennet, M., & Moriarty, B. (2017). Staff and Students Cultural immersion activities: Bathurst and Dubbo. $7000 grant through SOTE RAP committee.
  • Bennet, M., & Moriarty, B. (2016). Narran Lakes Cultural Immersion field trip: $2 000 grant awarded by CSU Student Representative Council, Dubbo.
  • Moriarty, B., & Bennet, M. (2015). NSW AECG modified Healthy Culture: Healthy Country program: $5 000 ($2 500 NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and $2 500 Charles Sturt University Community Initiated Grant).
  • Bennet, M. (2012). Tutoring the Tutor. $100 000 grant from DEEWR Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Project.
  • Bennet, M. (2011). Tutoring the Tutor. $88 000 grant from DEEWR Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Project
  • Bennet, M. (2010). Tutoring the Tutor. $5 000 grant from DEEWR Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Project.
  • Bennet, M. (2006). Apollo House Reading program. $6 000 from Dubbo RSL Community Grant to purchase readers for a community reading project.

Maria’s research interest is in examining the capacity of undergraduate teacher education students to engage with and work with Aboriginal students, their families and communities. Her current work with an OLT project builds on previous AITSL and ALTC projects.

Book Chapters

  • Moriarty, B., Bennet, M., & Doolan, M. (2017). Developing understanding of Indigenous culture: Experiences of Australian pre-service teachers. In: P. Whitinui, C. Rodriguez de France & O. McIvor (Eds.), Promising Practices in Indigenous Teacher Education (pp. 57-69). Springer, Singapore.
  • Bennet, M., & Moriarty, B. (2016). Pre-service teachers, Aboriginal students and the cross-cultural ‘playing field’: Empowering futures. In T. Brabazon (Ed.), Play: A theory of learning and change (pp. 83-94). New York: Springer.

Journal Articles

  • Bennet, M., & Moriarty, B. (2016). Lifelong Learning theory and pre-service teachers’ development of knowledge and dispositions to work with Australian Aboriginal students. International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning, 31, 1-9.
  • Moriarty, B., & Bennet, M. (2016). Practicing teachers’ reflections: Indigenous Australian student mobility and implications for teacher education. Social Inclusion, 4(1), 32-41.
  • Bennet, M., & Moriarty, B. (2015). Language, relationships and pedagogical practices: Pre-service teachers in an Indigenous context. International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning, 10(1), 1-12.
  • Bennet, M., & Lancaster, J. (2013). Improving reading in culturally situated contexts. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 41(2), 208-217.
  • Owens, K., Paraides, P., Nutti, J., Johansson, G., Bennet, M., Doolan, P., Peckham, R., Hill, J., Doolan, F., O'Sullivan, D., Murray, L., Logan, P., McNair, M., Sunnari, V., Murray, B., Miller, A., Nolan, J., Simpson, A., Ohrin, C., Doolan, T., Doolan, M., & Taylor, P. (2012). Continuities in Education: Pedagogical perspectives and the role of Elders in education for Indigenous students. Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, 15 (1), 20-39.
  • Owens, K., Paraides, P., Nutti, J., Johansson, G., Bennet, M., Doolan, P., Peckham, R., Hill, J., Doolan, F., O'Sullivan, D., Murray, L., Logan, P., McNair, M., Sunnari, V., Murray, B., Miller, A., Nolan, J., Simpson, A., Ohrin, C., Doolan T., Doolan, M., & Taylor, P. (2012). Cultural horizons for mathematics. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 23(2), 253-274.

Refereed Conference Proceedings

  • White, S., Anderson, P., Gower, G., Byrne, M., Bennet, M., Quin, A., & Darling, A. (2019). Engaging and Partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and caregivers, Australian Teacher Education Association.
  • Bennet, M., & Moriarty, B. (2013). Impacting practice: The undergraduate teacher and the Aboriginal student. Knowledge makers and notice teachers: Teacher education research impacting policy and practice, Australian Teacher Education Association.

Reports

  • White, S., Anderson, P., Gower, G., Byrne, M., Bennet, M., Quin, A., & Darling, A. (2019). Engaging and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait parents and caregivers. www.yourstoryourjourney.net
  • Vozzo, L., Hatton, C., Reid, J., Pietsch, M., Bennet, M., Nanholy, P., Moran, W., & Labonne, E. (2014). Assessing professional teaching standards in practicum using digital technologies with Indigenous and non-Indigenous pre-service teachers.

Maria lectures in undergraduate subjects in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) Course in literacy, professional experience and inclusive education subjects.

Project Work

  • Queensland University of Technology, Edith Cowan University and Charles Sturt University. (2016-2019). Engaging and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and community to improve student outcomes. Project funded by OLT.
  • Monash University, Edith Cowan University and Charles Sturt University. (2013). A unit outline and content for professional learning units to support teachers in meeting Standards 1.4 and 2.4. Project funded by AITSL.
  • University of Western Sydney, Charles Sturt University and Australian Catholic University. (2014). Assessing professional teaching standards in practicum using digital technologies with Aboriginal and other pre-service teachers. Project funded by ALTC.

Community Engagement

  • 2019: TAFE NSW OCHRE Hub Literacy project
  • Community engagement involves working with different workplace providers to develop and run specific literacy programs to support Aboriginal students from Kindergarten to Year 9 to enhance and improve their reading and writing skills.
  • 2005-2009: Apollo House After- School Literacy Projects
  • 2005-2009: Smith Family Literacy Projects
  • 2010-2012: DEEWR Funded Community Literacy projects for Aboriginal students K-Y9.
  • 2013-2017: Indigenous Teacher Education in Community Project
  • 2017: TAFE NSW OCHRE Hub Literacy project
  • 2018: TAFE NSW OCHRE Hub Literacy project