What is your role here at Flinders?
I am the Senior Manager, Healthcare Simulation within the College of Health and Enablement.
What initially drew you to the technical support side of teaching?
My background is in engineering, where I began as a lecturer teaching foundation subjects, calculus, and engineering software while also managing teaching laboratories. I later moved into a dedicated lab management role at Monash University Malaysia, overseeing multidisciplinary engineering labs, before transitioning to Charles Darwin University to lead Technical Services across engineering, health, science, and environmental disciplines. That was my introduction to healthcare simulation and clinical laboratories, where my focus shifted almost entirely to technical support.
What drew me to, and has kept me in, technical support comes down to two things. Personally, I enjoy problem solving, tinkering, troubleshooting, and developing better ways of doing things. Professionally, I value the role technical support plays in enabling teaching and learning behind the scenes. It is about making things work and ensuring labs run smoothly, safely, and effectively so others can deliver their teaching at the highest level and students can have the best possible experience. There is a strong sense of satisfaction in seeing everything come together and knowing the team has what they need to achieve great outcomes. That has been a constant since my early days setting up labs and continues today at a broader and more strategic level.
Tell us a bit about the world of healthcare simulation, and what it can offer students.
From my perspective as a non-clinician, healthcare simulation creates realistic, immersive learning environments where students can practise clinical skills in a safe and controlled setting. It allows us to introduce complex scenarios, risks, and decision-making challenges without exposing patients to harm. By the time students go on placement or enter the workforce, they have already experienced a wide range of situations, making them better prepared, more confident, and clinically ready.
What has been your career highlight to date?
That would be receiving the PVC Award at Monash University and the Ryan Family Award at Charles Darwin University, both recognising contributions to technical services and education support. Another key highlight has been bringing technical staff together under one structure in the last 2 Universities I worked at. It is not an easy task, but it is achievable. While disciplines may differ, there are always common grounds that help unite teams. Key is… finding that common ground.
What do you enjoy about working at Flinders?
What stands out to me is the people. Every team has good people, and there is always a way to work through challenges together. The collaborative environment makes a big difference. On top of that, the location is fantastic, the views are hard to beat, and there is strong support and investment in healthcare simulation, making it an exciting space to be in. What I value most, however, is the technical team, both within the College of Health and Enablement and across the University. They are the ones behind the scenes, hands-on and on the ground, making things work, making things fit (when usually it’s not!). Despite the inevitable challenges, their commitment and willingness to keep finding solutions really stand out.
Tell us about your ideal weekend.
Is it wrong to ask for a three-day weekend? Just kidding!
Starting Friday night, a good, affordable dinner somewhere in the CBD. The next morning begins with a bike ride, either road or trail, though I lean more towards trails these days (one weakness: I own eight pushbikes… and counting).
This is followed by a long country or beach drive. Rugged terrain and off the beaten path is my preference. A quick stop at Hahndorf for a Nutella pretzel before heading home if it is just a day trip.
In the evening, ideally catching a metal gig at venues like Lion Arts, The Gov, Ed Castle, Arthur Art Bar. Sunday usually means another ride, followed by a relaxed breakfast at IKEA or the local markets, and a coastal cruise for lunch in my now-completed project car (another weakness, as I have a soft spot for JDM cars!)
Simple pleasures, really: bikes, cars, and metal music.