UNE is continuing to recruit academics to work with the Tamworth community and we are pleased to announce some new appointments in the new year. These academics will work with both schools and community to help identify pain-points in teaching, learning and business and bring collaborative solutions.
UNE LAW Senior Lecturer, Dr Julia Day -Capacity Building
Julia joins us in a part-time capacity building role.
She is a leader in the intersection of law and digital engagement, blending over two decades of legal academia with a passion for social media innovation. As a Senior Lecturer at the University of New England (UNE), she has taught and researched across a wide range of areas including introduction to law, social media law, tort law and medical law, while also pioneering research on how social media can enhance student engagement and accessibility in education.
Her PhD thesis, which is titled “Meeting Students on Their Turf: An Exploration of Attitudes Towards Utilising Social Media to Activate Student Engagement and Community Whilst Promoting Accessibility and Skills Development’, delves into how platforms like Linked In, Facebook and Instagram can activate student communities, promote skills development, and bridge accessibility gaps in legal education. This work challenges traditional pedagogies and reimagines the classroom as a dynamic, digital-first space.
Beyond the lecture hall, Julia is the voice behind Academically Blonde, a vibrant online platform where she demystifies complex legal topics through storytelling and accessible commentary. Her blog explores current legal issues, recent cases, and her ongoing research journey, making legal discourse both engaging and relatable.
Her expertise extends to national discussions on digital policy. In 2024, she provided critical insights into the Australian government's proposed social media ban for children under 16, highlighting potential overreach and the importance of balanced regulation.
Julia has also been involved as a trainer and facilitator in UNE’s international capacity building space. As part of this work, Julia has collaborated with participants from countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, ASEAN nations and Pakistan as part of the Meryl Williams Fellowship and John Dillon Fellowship.
If you would like to contact Julia, email her via julia.day@une.edu.au
Brendon Kassman - School Outreach Specialist
With recent changes to the Health and Movement Science syllabus, many of the schools in our region are facing the barrier of accessing specialised equipment to facilitate the new curriculum outcomes.
To help solve this, Brendon says his role is to:
-Mobilise the Health and Movement Science resources of our university and bring them to our regional schools.
-Enhance curriculum outcomes for our region's students and
-Support our schools, our teachers and our communities in all things Health, Movement and Science.
Brendon’s current research is in high performance development in youth athletes, and with over a decade of industry experience working with local, state-, professional and international-level sports teams and athletes his depth of knowledge in this space is a welcome addition to the Tamworth team.
If you would like to connect with Brendon, email him via email bkassma3@une.edu.au
Beth Boland – Early Childhood Lecturer
Beth is partnering with early childhood and school-based educators in Tamworth, aiming to showcase and enhance community-based literacy programs and activities. She works as a Lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Education with UNE's School of Education and is based in Tamworth. She values being able to walk to campus daily and looks forward to the development of our new space.
Teaching has been central to Beth’s life since her teenage years, when she began volunteering with children in her local community. She has worked across diverse settings including Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary English, Higher Education, and adult English language instruction, as well as Curriculum Leadership and expatriate teacher training. From 2014-2019, she lived in Jakarta, working at an international school and helping pioneer a not-for-profit organisation focused on teacher development across Indonesia. This was an unforgettable experience which profoundly shaped her understanding of education in evolving global contexts.
Beth is conducting research in Tamworth in partnership with industry and is enthusiastic to inspire teachers through innovative practice that bridges theory and classroom reality. She enjoys viewing Tamworth and surrounds from the air while learning to fly at our local airport.
If you would like to get in touch with Beth, email her via bboland4@une.edu.au.
