Our Staff

I have been working with Aurora College since 2015 and have a deep passion and understanding of high performing and gifted as well as rural and remote education. I am now based at the Sydney office in Lindfield, after spending 14+ years in the far west town of Cobar raising 2 sons on a large farm while working at the local high school. I have had many different roles during my time with Aurora ranging from classroom teacher, Head Teacher English, HSIE &  Languages, Community Liaison Officer, and now Deputy Principal as well as a parent to a son studying courses in Stage 6 with Aurora College. I have always felt that it is a privilege to work with the students, parents, schools and communities across the state to ensure greater equity for the students we educate.

Beth Hodson has been a teacher for 18 years, working as an Assistant Principal for 12 years. Working across a range of schools and settings in Sydney, Canada and on the MidNorth Coast, Beth has developed several professional networks encompassing tertiary, collegial and community institutions. She has post graduate degrees in Gifted Education and in Educational Technology. Beth has participated in a number of research projects, including Bemel Gardoo and Elegance and Power in Mathematics with Academic Partners from the University of Sydney, and Teacher Induction Research with UNSW and Macquarie University.

Beth’s specific interests lie within the STEM field, innovative learning environments, Aboriginal Education, developing awareness of High Potential and Gifted Education strategies. She has worked extensively with The Arts Unit Education, supporting students and teachers with State level participation in Drama, Public Speaking and Debating. Beth’s current projects include working with the Regional and Rural Opportunity Class Network and implementing mentoring programs for Early Career Teachers.

I have been working with Aurora College since its inception and have a passion for both gifted and rural and remote education. As Instructional Leader at Aurora College my focus is on ensuring our staff, students and Aurora College Coordinators have the skills, knowledge and information required to be successful in our online learning environment. I am continually researching and developing professional learning and induction sessions to introduce new technologies to improve our practices and drive deeper more engaging learning through a variety of online tools and platforms. I am based at Dunedoo Central School in the state’s Central West and as one of our Community Liaison Officers I also have the privilege to be able to visit schools across NSW to meet with Staff, Students and parents in the Aurora Network through the year. 

A teaching career that has included teaching in rural and remote communities through to large High Schools in Newcastle, Mr New is all things systems at Aurora College. He is the port of call for timetables, and manages many of the background systems of Aurora College. Mr New also enjoys travelling out to our partner schools, working with the staff and students to ensure the continued success of our students and their schools. When not at school, Mr New can usually be found around a hockey field (coaching, umpiring or playing) or out on the golf course trying to improve his game.

Jowen Hillyer has been a teacher, head teacher and teacher educator for 26 years and a Head Teacher for 20 years. Her experience is in both rural and disadvantaged public schools, as well as 3 years as an Associate Lecturer at The University of Sydney.

Jowen’s leading and learning focus is in new approaches, innovation and student engagement. Her research interests are centred on project based learning, writing in the middle years, innovative teaching practices and mentoring programs for beginning English teachers. She has published widely academically, most recently peer reviewed in the Journal of Professional Learning and the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. 

Julie Ruming has been teaching with the Department of Education for over 20 years. During that time she has worked as Languages Teacher and Learning and Support Teacher at Erina High School and as R/Language Officer Learning and Leadership Portfolio Secondary Education Directorate. Julie has also delivered the Stage 6 Japanese Beginners course at Aurora College since 2018 and, in 2021, was successful in gaining the position of Head Teacher Wellbeing. Julie takes a whole community approach to wellbeing; evidence suggests that whole-school approaches to promoting wellbeing can have a positive effect on academic attainment as well as other educational outcomes including school attendance and student self-efficacy.

I began teaching English and history in 2000. I have taught in Batlow, London, Vincentia, and Kanahooka, in English, History, Drama, and Library. My highlight has been working at Aurora College which is challenging and rewarding, as I'm able to share my passion for great literature and great writing. I love my work as it brings the world to our partner communities in a new and exciting way.

As Rlg. Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, I am responsible for planning and managing the Masterclasses, Professional Learning, HSC Study Days, and other series of events that Aurora College holds for students, parents, teachers, and all the public school community in NSW.

Karen Bellamy has been teaching for over 15 years. Firstly at Wadalba Community School and then at Gorokan High School as Head Teacher Mathematics before obtaining full time work at Aurora College. She is passionate about Mathematics and making it accessible to a wide range of students. Karen believes that all students are capable mathematicians and it is her aim to change students mindset to “I can do Maths”. Student lightbulb moments are the highlight of her teaching.  

Dr Silvia Rudmann has been teaching for over 20 years. Firstly, at University and later in public high schools. Her passion for science and gifted education leads her to complete her PhD in Biology and the GERRIC certificate in gifted education with the UNSW. She is the author lead of the award winner textbook series Investigating Science in Focus, and she has developed the new syllabus and textbook for the Biology Foundation Course for RMIT Melbourne. She is the digital consultant for Cengage, Melbourne.