Organisation is the secret to success for Gympie businesswoman and mother-of-two Lisa Tritton who is USC’s highest-achieving final-year Primary Education student.

After a variety of careers including banking, training and assessing, and co-owning a sheet metal fabrication business in Gympie, the 47-year-old decided to revert to her high school plan of becoming a teacher – and has not looked back.

“I began studying teaching after high school but deferred when I was offered a great job opportunity,” Ms Tritton said. “I have worked in some interesting roles since then but always wanted to finish my Education degree.”

It was not until USC opened its campus in Gympie in 2013 that she finally got her chance.

“Before, I just simply could not afford the time or money to travel away to study,” she said.

Ms Tritton was recently presented with an Excellence Award from USC’s School of Education for achieving a near perfect grade point average of 6.8 out of a possible 7.

The Excellence Awards acknowledge third and final-year students with the highest grades in each USC Education program.

Other recipients were Trina Sims of Buderim (Early Childhood), Madigan Paine of Sippy Downs (Education/Arts), Matthew McCurdy of Landsborough (Education/Science), Jarrod Westell of Marcoola (Secondary Education/Outdoor Environmental Studies) and Hervey Bay’s Julie Curtis (Primary Education Graduate Entry).

“I think my success comes from having lots of real-world experience, being super-organised and being passionate about what I am learning,” Ms Tritton said.

“My children, currently in Year 4 and Year 6, are my biggest supporters and are wonderful for me to try out teaching and behaviour management strategies on.”

Her short-term goal when she completes her studies at the end of the year is a position as a graduate teacher in the Gympie region – then she plans to expand her horizons.

“I have ambitions to teach in international schools and to gain further qualifications to enable me to lecture at university,” she said.

Associate Lecturer in Education Natalie McMaster said Ms Tritton was an outstanding student who was passionate about becoming a teacher.

“Lisa is a pleasure to teach and I have had the opportunity to watch her grow into a wonderful teacher who will be an asset to any school that she works in,” Ms McMaster said.

Ms Tritton said excellent academic staff, a friendly atmosphere and the convenient location of USC’s Gympie campus had created a wonderful study experience.

“We are a small and close-knit community that works very collaboratively to cement our learning and support each other to achieve our best.”

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— Clare McKay