TEACHING | TOM CULLINANE

AQUACULTURE | HUNTER BENDELL

SUPPORT WORKER TOTEACHER

writer PETER WHITE

photographer LOGAN WEST

Working with special needs students is way more than just another teaching job for TOM CULLINANE. “It is so enriching to see not just who they are but who they can be. We teach students from new entrants right through to 21-year-olds who are in a community transition programme that helps them get work experience. We cover such a broad aspect,” says Tom. The 26-year-old works for Sommerville Special School in Panmure, Auckland. In Year 12 at Howick College, he took Social Studies, Geography, Statistics, Hospitality, Health and Food Technology. At that point, he was not sure what he wanted to do for a career but the key moment was when he volunteered at LifeKidz Trust. “I didn’t have any clear idea of where I was going when I was at school. I didn’t do Year 13 because I got some part-time work doing support work and caregiving work for special needs children at LifeKidz – that’s an after-school care and holiday care programme for special needs and was my first role as a support worker. “From there, I created a relationship with Sommerville Special School and got a job as a teacher aide. I worked in that role for four or five years before starting my degree. I have done seven years as a teacher aide and almost one year as a fully qualified teacher at Sommerville.”

WE LOOK AT THE STUDENT THROUGH A HOLISTIC LENS AND HOW WE CAN TEACH THEM IN LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL TOO. it’s more THAN JUST A JOB.

TOM CULLINANE

Tom completed a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) – Primary at the University of Auckland. “Getting the degree formalised my journey and the teaching I will be doing with my students. I really enjoyed the connection you make with everyone from different backgrounds who are all working to get the same outcome. It kind of widens your lens more going into a teaching role. “The degree helped me to bring everything together: experiences right from when I was younger to overall life experiences. It also solidified everything I had learnt about being at and working in a school as well.” Tom feels working with special needs children is something innate and natural for him. “The work is so rewarding. Our students don’t need the latest gadgets to be entertained. As long as they are happy with what and who is around them, they are content. And that’s where the best learning comes from. “Our brand is ‘more than a school’ and we encompass children as a whole. We look at the student through a holistic lens and how we can teach them in life beyond school too. It’s more than just a job.” His advice to school leavers considering working with special needs students – you need to have understanding and empathy, be compassionate, be flexible and a good communicator. “The job is not for everyone. I recommend doing some volunteer work first to get a feel for the work. It is also a good start to going down different avenues of health care and teaching in many different roles.”