Lloyd Godson
Hastings Secondary College, Westport Campus, NSW
Teaching Fellow
Lloyd knocks on doors in the local business community to fund these programs, determined that no student will miss out. He has also established a social business enterprise with his students - an onsite recycling project ‘Precious Plastics’, where plastic waste is converted into usable products that his students design and sell.
Being a teacher was not in Lloyd Godson’s life plan, but he could not be happier about the mid-life career change.
His old business cards described him as an adventurer. Working with the likes of the Australian Geographic Society, and Dr Bob Ballard, who located the Titanic, he combined cutting-edge exploration science with intense physical challenges.
Lloyd now teaches Science, STEM and Marine Studies at Hastings Secondary College in Port Macquarie, NSW, inspired by the teachers he met in his former life. “I saw the way these educators worked with young people and the amazing things their students were able to achieve when given the opportunity and mentoring,” he said.
He is passionate about getting students out of the classroom and into the community and the world. Calling on his professional networks, Lloyd runs scientific excursions to the Great Barrier Reef, and guides student underwater robotics teams to win international competitions. He knocks on doors in the local business community to fund these programs, determined that no student will miss out. He has also established a social business enterprise with his students – an onsite recycling project ‘Precious Plastics’, where plastic waste is converted into usable products that his students design and sell.
With a focus on real world learning underpinned by 21st century skills and student-centred practice, Lloyd is attracting more students to his classes and an increasing number of his students are pursuing higher learning and careers in science and environmental fields.
“Teaching has definitely been a meaningful and fulfilling career change for me,” Lloyd says.