Brian Hobson

St Joseph's Nudgee College

For more than 30 years award-winning teacher Brian Hobson has helped transform Science teaching at St Joseph’s Nudgee College and mentored younger teachers to make learning engaging for students.

When he started as the college’s Head of Science in 1985, teaching was mainly textbook-driven. Today, Science is inquiry driven, hands-on and humanistic, and some years more than 80 per cent of Year 11 students elect to study a Science subject.

Brian has embedded performance-based assessments which mirror adult tasks, has used a variety of ways to increase feedback to students, and over the past three decades has actively adapted teaching styles to the needs and interests of his students.

He constantly refines the Science curriculum to reflect research on the effective learning and trends in digital literacies.

He also facilitates real-world science opportunities for students through participation in national competitions and forums. Teachers also benefit from his real-world approach: science staff meetings include workshop-style activities which model active and collaborative learning processes.

His efforts have led to numerous awards and accolades, including being selected for the Federal Government’s “Science Summer School” program, receiving an Edmund Rice Staff Award and an Excellence in Teaching Award at the school.   

In 2003 he completed a Master of Science degree in Science Education.

Brian has held a variety of roles with the former Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies and has also been a great contributor to the wider school community. He has spent decades coaching Rugby and Tennis, and has been involved in the school’s Big BBQ social justice activity.

Colleague Peter Kropp says Brian is compassionate and empathetic at all times in his dealings with students and colleagues.

“He also brings a tremendously varied sense of humour and fun to his relationships with fellow staff and students,” Peter says.

Brian has made an enormous difference to tens of thousands of students and colleagues over his 38 years of teaching.

Congratulations Brian on your nomination.