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ABC personality joins ranks of postgraduates

February 08, 2005

Jody Gunders thumb.jpgThe University of New England has welcomed a local celebrity to its student ranks – Tamworth based ABC New England North West morning presenter Jodie Gunders.
Ms Gunders has been accepted as an external student to study a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education.
“My goal is to eventually teach secondary students in either History, Social Science or Media Studies,” Ms Gunders said during a break from her residential school studies.
She aims to fulfil that goal within four years and has just attended her first residential school at UNE as part of her study for the diploma.
Residential schools are held on campus four times a year, to complement studies taken by external students.
While the experience can be intense, usually running over a week, it is a way of uniting lecturers face-to-face with students who choose to study off-campus.
Said Ms Gunders: “I’m impressed that the residential school is so hands-on and practical.

“ I relish the encouragement given through this type of approach to immerse myself back into study.
“I also love the diversity of the residential school and have met fellow students from around the country who work in differing fields.
“I even met a fireman, another local journalist and an academic with a Master’s degree in Peace Studies, who of whom are all undertaking the same studies.”
Ms Gunders completed a BA at the University of Southern Queensland, where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and Australian History.
Part of that course allowed her to experience journalism first-hand, producing a weekly radio and television news broadcast. The experience provided a springboard to her first job in journalism, gaining a position as a journalist in the ABC Radio Longreach newsroom in Queensland.
She has been working in Tamworth for the past three years and is soon to take up a position with ABC Coast FM on the Gold Coast Radio.
She decided to return to study last year to broaden her skill base.
“I was attracted to UNE because it offered the course I was looking for and I was able to gain all the information I needed from the UNE website,” Ms Gunders said.
She found enrolling into the course straightforward.
Professor Victor Minichiello, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies, welcomed Ms Gunders to UNE and wished her well in her studies.
“Our School of Education has been shown to be among the best in Australia,” Professor Minichiello said.
“The School has a very high standard and not all who apply to the course are successful, so I congratulate Jodie on being accepted into the course.”

Posted by Lydia Roberts at February 8, 2005 12:48 PM