Introducing Emma Collett to the Team
We're thrilled to welcome Emma Collett as the Dean of Education for the Centre for Christian Education (CCE)! We praise God for having Emma join our staff team, and asked her a few questions about her vision as she begins her role.
Q: What led you to joining the Youthworks College team?
“I love Youthworks College, and especially its focus on integrating theology and practice.
I have been a long term supporter and partner of Youthworks College. I was a member of the Youthworks College Board of Studies in it’s first decade. From 2010-2019, I was a Children’s Ministry and Primary SRE Advisor with the Ministry Support Team. For all of those years I lectured the Children’s Ministry Skills Course that was offered at Youthworks College.
I have had the privilege of working alongside the College faculty these past two years as a sessional lecturer, and so when this opportunity came up, it really was saying ‘yes’ to my dream job!”
(pictured: Emma Collett - Dean of Education, Centre for Christian Education)
Q: What are you most excited about your role as Dean of Education?
“My experience, gifting and passion is for higher education, and particularly the training and development of teachers and leaders.
My role will be primarily to develop and direct the Centre for Christian Education.
The goal is raising up and training more Christian teachers for the schools of Sydney, NSW and Australia.
Alongside this, I will be supporting the teaching and learning of students and faculty at the College.
For the past two years I have been teaching the Formative Christian Teaching unit at Youthworks College, as part of the Centre for Christian Education. I have loved planning and preparing the course content, and teaching the students. I am looking forward to continuing to develop this course, and will be considering ways that we can make the course accessible to both future and current teachers, and educators.
I am very excited to start meeting with Principals, School Leaders, and Teachers to cultivate new partnerships between Schools and the Centre for Christian Education, and consider the best way to support and equip Christian Teachers.”
Q: What do you hope for in terms of Youthworks College partnering with Christian teachers and schools in the future?
“My hope and prayer is that as we develop a pathway for schools and churches to raise up more Christians for the teaching profession, we will see a groundswell of Christian Teachers who are really sharp and can think critically and theologically in their classrooms.
The Centre for Christian Education is a way for Youthworks College to dedicate some of our resources to raising up more Christian teachers and helping Christian teachers to become better at applying the gospel into their school classrooms and their teaching contexts.
This is another way to bring schools and churches closer together in gospel partnership.”
Q: How can we be praying for you as you begin this role?
“1. That God would provide wisdom and clarity as I settle into a new work environment and staff team.
2. For the developing and strengthening of new partnerships with schools and prospective students.
3. For my health as I had a hip replacement in late August. Recovery has been smooth, but please pray for continued strengthening of my new hip.”