Our Teachers

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We know exactly what it takes to succeed in the HSC.

Matrix teachers train students to understand key concepts behind the theory, as opposed to memorising information. Matrix Theory Booklets help students to arrive at an in-depth understanding of the syllabus material.

Matrix teachers have HSC exam marking experience and/or extensive experience in writing assessments and exams, and thus they know exactly how to maximise marks in school and HSC exams. Our students are taught the most effective exam techniques. Matrix Work Booklets consist of various exam-style questions to help students practice these skills.

Through repetition and close monitoring, Matrix teachers ensure every student understands and masters all facets of the course content.

Note: Not all academic staff are shown.

Dr Derek Muller

Physics

Position:

Head of Science

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science (Hons), Engineering major, Queens University

Ph.D in Philosophy, Physics Education Research, University of Sydney

Experience:

Derek was the Deputy coordinator of a Department of Education grant to develop multimedia for senior high school physics topics. He has twelve internationally referred publications on student learning in physics and has made several presentations at international conferences on physics education. He has 2 years teaching experience in experimental laboratories at the University of Sydney and assignment and exam marking experience at Queen’s University.

Awards:

- Australian Postgraduate Award

- UCFV Graduate Student Paper Prize

- Chancellor’s Scholarship, Queen’s University

- Governor General’s Bronze Medal as top graduating student, West Vancouver Secondary School

Why I love teaching at Matrix:

I love teaching at Matrix both for the enjoyment of introducing students to fascinating science and for the opportunity to put into practice the theories and methods developed in my research work. Teaching is a passion fueled by the desire to pass along knowledge learned and open up a new world of understanding to curious minds.

Lucy Swiatek

English

Position:

Head of English

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Arts (English)

Diploma of Education

Master of Arts (English)

PhD Candidate (English), Macquarie University

Experience:

Lucy is currently writing her doctoral thesis and teaching English at Macquarie University. She has presented her research at international and local conferences, and has published academic articles on narrative and philosophy. Lucy has teaching experience in many different areas of scholarship and ages, including primary, secondary and tertiary curricula and the disciplines of humanities and behavioural sciences.

Awards:

Macquarie University Research Award for Areas and Centres of Excellence.

Why I love to teach at Matrix:

The teaching and learning environment at Matrix sustains a rigorous academic approach to scholarship and affords both teachers and students the chance to realise their own intellectual and creative goals.

Patricia Rockett

Maths

Position:

Head of Mathematics

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney

Diploma of Education, University of New England

Experience:

Pat has 30 years Mathematics teaching experience within high schools. She has also held a Mathematics Head teacher position for over 20 years. She is an experienced School Certificate and Higher School Certificate Examination marker and has coordinated the Catholic Secondary School Associate (CSSA) Trial Examination for Mathematics. She is a member of the Mathematical Association of NSW (MANSW) and is the author of Matrix Education’s Senior mathematics programs, course materials and assessments.

Why I love to teach at Matrix:

I love working in a friendly and caring environment where there is respect for the individual and this is what Matrix offers its staff and students. The class size is a maximum of 13 which allows me to provide individual attention to our students and assist them more effectively in their learning. It is a pleasure to work with students who love to learn and are willing to take on the many challenges that are offered in the lessons.

Dr Joseph Bevitt

Chemistry

Position:

Chemistry Teacher

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Advanced Science (Hons)

Ph.D in Chemistry, University of Sydney

Experience:

Joseph has 7 years of Chemistry teaching experience at secondary and tertiary levels. He is the Coordinator for Sydney University Gifted and Talented Student Workshops and Royal Australian Chemistry Institute – Young Chemists Division, NSW. He is also a co-author of matrix Chemistry course programs, course materials and assessments.

Awards:

- 2005-2006, AINSE Award for single crystal neutron diffraction experiements at the HIFAR facility

- 2005, George Harris Scholarship for excellence in Inorganic Chemistry

- 2005, Le Fevre Student Lectureship Award

- 2002 - 2005, Australia Postgraduate Award

Why I love teaching at Matrix:

Chemistry is one of those subjects that very few students are given the opportunity to truly understand. If taught correctly, chemistry is a highly accessible science that will fascinate and inspire any student to take a deeper look into the workings of their natural and built environment. When students leave Matrix, they grasp the central role that chemistry plays in their daily lives, becoming ambassadors for a cleaner, more responsible future.

Niven Kumar

English

Position:

English Teacher

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Australian National University

Master of Social Science, University of Singapore

Ph.D Candidate (English), Macquarie University

Experience:

Niven has been teaching English for fifteen years, both in Australia and overseas. He has extensive experience working with students studying English as a Second Language at secondary and tertiary levels, and his detailed knowledge of the HSC English syllabus has enabled his students to achieve excellent results. He teaches English and Drama at Macquarie University and is a guest lecturer at Notre Dame University.

Awards:

Australian Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Why I love to teach at Matrix:

Matrix provides a conducive environment for teaching as well as learning. Because the teaching material is compiled by the most qualified teachers, the Matrix experience becomes an essential starting point for exam and HSC preparation.

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