Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health, Professor Brenda Happell acknowledged "more evidence of the national and international reputation of [CQUniveristy's] Dr Kerry Reid-Searl" when it was announced this week that our senior lecturer had been awarded the inaugural Nurse Educator of the Year by The Australian Nurse Teachers' Society (ANTS) for her brilliant and innovative teaching, curriculum development and research.

"Kerry we are so proud of you!  Such an asset to CQUniversity," exclaimed Professor Happell.

According to ANTS, it was a unanimous decision to choose Dr. Reid- Searl  " because [Kerry] demonstrates her unique ability to make a real difference to student learning."

"The award comes essentially from the student and it's their feedback that drives me; they feel engaged," said Kerry.

 Dr. Reid-Searl uses very realistic latex ‘costumes' which provide safe non-threatening learning environments. Her role play as characters Dudley Dawes, Iva Sore, Ethal Mae, Mertyl Smiff and Cyril Smith is pioneering  and enables students to learn from "patients"  to problem solve. 

The evidence, as reported in ANTS March Bulletin, was compelling.

The true measure of her competence and contribution to student learning comes from the students themselves. It quoted one student:

"Her knowledge- she knows everything, when dressed up as another person it helped us to gain experience and relate to real life... She's as smart as.. She delivered funny well organised classes. Open to questions. She made it fun to learn real life skills in nursing" 

Kerry holds several several teaching awards including; The CQUniversity Vice Chancellor's award for Teacher of the Year in 2007; The Faculty of  Science Engineering and Health Teaching Award in 2007; and an ALTC Citation for her outstanding contribution to student learning. In 2008 she was named CQUniversity 'Teacher of the Year' as voted by students on (unijobs.com).