Leanne Hanson has been a language, literacy and numeracy teacher at TAFE Queensland Gold Coast since 2013. Since commencing in her role, Leanne has taught Skills for Education and Employment to primarily disengaged youth through a uniquely inclusive system of learning.

To seek a solution to increasing student absences influenced by drug and behavioural problems, Leanne challenged the traditional norms of workbook teaching methods by implementing a collaborative approach to teaching - encouraging students to influence course topics. Leanne has found the method creates a more inclusive learning environment for students who experience exclusion in their everyday life.

Leanne has also introduced computerised tablets into the classroom to facilitate learning, utilising a range of intuitive apps and programs that the students are leveraging to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. Leanne is presently pioneering the ‘iTunes U project’ which enables course content to be moved to an online environment that students and teachers can access at any time.

Leanne’s innovative teaching methods led to a 300 per cent increase of TAFE Queensland Gold Coast students completing Skills for Education and Employment programmes.