Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My child doesn’t like to do schoolwork and can be a defiant learner at times. How will you help?
I am a very patient person and I have worked with countless reluctant learners in the past. I believe that all students are different and the ‘same old’ approach to education cannot be used in every situation. I will spend time getting to know your child and will plan future lessons to reflect his/her personality, learning styles, and educational needs.

The one-on-one nature of each session allows me to identify any learning issues that may arise and plan for them in future sessions. Something that is true for most learners is that success breeds success. With this in mind, I also ensure that your child experiences success in learning, which is something that can help to improve both academic performance and behaviour in the long-term.

• Daytime
• Evenings
• Weekends

Please contact me with a time that will suit you and I will do my best to accommodate.

The benefits of tutoring are well known amongst educational professionals; teachers report an increase in their students’ confidence, motivation, self-discipline and academic performance.

Students often have a closer connection with their tutor than with their classroom teacher, due to the one-on-one nature of the lessons.

You can pay for lessons in three ways: Cash Direct Deposit Cheque Payment is required at the conclusion of each lesson, or before the lesson takes place (e.g. direct deposit). If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please let me know.

If you are an adult wanting a tutor for yourself or another adult, please call or email and I will do my best to help you. I specialise in all things English, including reading, comprehension, spelling, grammar and punctuation, essay and speech writing, as well as resume and cover letter development. I have plenty of experience in adult education across the Townsville region and I have completed extra studies in this area.

If the lesson is cancelled at short notice (less than 48 hours), it is expected that you will still pay for the lesson; the tasks that the student would have completed during the session will still be supplied. Students should attempt to complete the tasks and activities during the week, in the lead up to the next tutoring session. In the next session I will go through the tasks set for your child to ensure that he/she has learned the skills and concepts necessary to move onto the next lesson.

Lessons are carefully planned and scaffolded to meet the learning needs of individual students, as well as meet long-term goals and targets. When students miss tutoring sessions, they may not meet the long-term goals and targets that have been agreed to by the tutor, parents and student. They miss out on valuable time that could be spent acquiring new skills or expanding knowledge and understanding of important concepts. Due to the targeted nature of the lessons, I need to plan and prepare for them in advance, which can take a lot of time.

When you pay for a lesson, you are also paying for the work that is done to prepare for that lesson and future lessons. You are paying for the creation of assessment items, progress reports, unit plans and learning activities specifically for your child. Sometimes the unexpected happens and you may need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. If this happens, please call on 0421 506 221 or email to discuss your options.

Parents choose tutors for their children for multiple reasons:

Classrooms are sometimes chaotic; not every student receives the one-on-one attention needed and, as a result, their grades do not reflect their ability.
Their child finds a particular subject challenging and needs assistance to catch up and/or keep pace with the class.
Their child is interested in a particular subject; parents HIRE a tutor to help expand their child’s understanding of this subject.
They want their child to develop a range of life-long skills that apply in most academic situations, such as study and assessment techniques, self-discipline and time management.
Their child or children are being homeschooled; parents find it helpful to have extra assistance for their child, especially when their tutor is a trained and registered teacher.

These are just a few of the reasons to choose a professional tutor for your child. If you’d like to discuss any of these options further, please don’t hesitate to call or email.

We don’t mind if you choose a second person that isn’t a sibling of your child.

In order to best prepare for a tutoring session, there are a number of things that students can do:

Prepare any questions about schoolwork ahead of time, and bring them to the appointment.
Attend school during the week, do homework and note down anything that is complicated or difficult to understand.
Bring these notes to sessions and we can focus on the areas where the most help is needed.

I love to see learners begin to realise their own potential, especially when they are skeptical or reluctant about their own abilities. Often, as students gradually expand their intellectual capabilities, they begin to understand that a good education is something that can be obtained with a bit of hard work and guidance.

In most situations, people who change the world, lead others or achieve success on a grand scale have received a good education. I have taught countless students, but I never tire from seeing even the most reluctant learner’s face light up when he/she begins to realise their own potential.