31 October 2024
A Perth educator has been awarded an inaugural scholarship to study a Master of Education Leadership overseas.
Shenton College teacher Anish Badgeri was named recipient of the new Geoff Gallop John Monash Scholarship.
Current Shenton College teacher and former Perth Modern School student Anish Badgeri was named recipient of the new Geoff Gallop John Monash Scholarship.
The scholarship, in recognition of former WA Premier Dr Geoff Gallop, is a new annual initiative awarded by the General Sir John Monash Foundation to allow an outstanding Western Australian to undertake postgraduate studies at a top overseas program.
Mr Badgeri attended Perth Modern School before studying at The University of Western Australia as a Fogarty Scholar, where he completed a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) and received a New Colombo Plan Scholarship to pursue an immersive honours research program in Taipei.
In 2019, he completed his Master of Teaching (Secondary) degree at the Australian Catholic University as part of Teach for Australia.
The scholarship will now allow Mr Badgeri to pursue a one-year Master of Education Leadership course at University College London.
Mr Badgeri said it was deeply humbling to receive the inaugural scholarship.
“Geoff Gallop and General Sir John Monash are both highly esteemed Australian leaders, and it is a privilege to be awarded a Scholarship in their name,” he said.
“It means a lot to me that we are able to celebrate and acknowledge the impact of teachers on our future generations, and I’m grateful for the General Sir John Monash Foundation’s support and investment in educational leadership.
“Personally, I’m hopeful that seeing an educator like me receiving the scholarship helps enhance the social mindset about educators and encourages aspiring and potential young teachers to perceive education as a prestigious and impactful career choice.”
Mr Badgeri said education was critical to empowering individuals and fostering a more inclusive and diverse society.
“As someone from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, whose parents migrated to Australia in pursuit of a better education for my brother and me, I have a deep personal appreciation for the impact of public education in Western Australia in changing lives,” he said.
“I’m intending to use my Geoff Gallop John Monash Scholarship to study at the world-leading University College London Institute of Education in 2025 to learn about effective models and strategies for attracting, and retaining, our brightest and most diverse minds in our classrooms.
“Upon returning to Western Australia, I want to make an impact in the not-for-profit and policy spheres by supporting and mentoring young and diverse early career teachers, and advocating for better public perceptions towards the profession.”