For University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Valedictorian Gavin Leslie, there has always been one common theme propelling him forward in his career and his studies: his family.
It was Mr Leslie’s parents and grandparents he said paved the way for him to attend university in the first place.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1997 and went on to become a journalist. In fact, he was the youngest editor of a daily newspaper in all of Australia at one point.
But it was also Mr Leslie’s family – particularly his daughter Imogen – who inspired him to trade in the long hours at the newspaper for a new career in education.
Imogen was born with Down Syndrome, and Mr Leslie said it was because of her that he eventually went on to earn a Masters in Special Education and, now, a Masters in Guidance and Counselling.
“It opened my eyes to how the world is really designed for people who look like me; not like Imogen,” Mr Leslie said.
“When you work in special education, you see how poorly people are treated and sometimes that’s consciously, because people can be awful. And sometimes it’s subconsciously.
“Every day of my life now is spent trying to level the playing field a bit for kids who don’t have that advantage that everyone else has.”
Mr Leslie’s work is not only supporting children with disability he will also use this Masters in Guidance and Counselling to help students who come from a wide range of difficult or disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said a big part of providing that support came from simply getting to know the children.
“The main thing is knowing the students. Not just how they learn, but knowing who they are, who their family is, what makes them tick, what they like, and what they don’t like,” Mr Leslie said.
“Kids need to feel like someone knows them before they’re going to engage in education.
“Everybody needs to feel safe and supported.”
During his Valedictorian speech on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Leslie paid homage to his entire family. But it was the special tribute to his late father, Mal Leslie, which was the most visible.
Mr Leslie opted to wear the traditional Scottish kilt in honour of his dad, who passed away just over 12 months ago.
“Dad left school at 15 to work as a telegram boy just around the corner from this building, and I know he always regretted not being able to stay in school longer than he did,” Mr Leslie said in his speech at the Empire Theatre.
“I know he would have made a terrific teacher, artist or poet, but instead his life’s work was providing for his family.
“My achievements are his, in many ways, as well as my mum’s and my grandparents’.”
Mr Lesile joined hundreds of UniSQ graduands receive their testamurs at the winter Graduation Ceremonies at the Empire Theatre this week.
Find out more about studying Education at the University of Southern Queensland.
