Her Excellency the Governor, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and President, Members of the University Council, Deans, CQU staff, Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, and fellow Graduates.

I would like to thank the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce for her words and her time here with us today. Since the beginning of her career as one of the first women to be admitted to the Queensland Bar and continuing through to her present position as Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Ms. Bryce has devoted herself both in her public and private lives, to fighting for the changes essential for the improvement of quality of life for many – but especially women and children. She is a significant role model for women and particularly for a graduate focusing on the current issues and challenges of Early Childhood education. Education offers new horizons and opportunities. This is as true for myself, a mature age female student with a young adult family of her own, as it is for the teenager beginning their tertiary education. This is exemplified in the opportunity for me to stand here today and thank Her Excellency Ms. Quentin Bryce in front of my family and friends. This is an occasion for not only my family, but for all families of today’s graduates to celebrate. My personal experience probably reflects those of many of the graduates present today.

We would find it difficult to succeed in any aspect of life with out our support networks. The most powerful of these networks is our family and friends. I would like thank my husband, Peter, who has been unwavering in his support and love and is also excellent at making late night cups of tea and coffee. I thank my children, Emma, Matthew and Luke who encouraged and counseled me to ‘have a go’ and take a risk in my own life. My brother and sisters who I have been neglected during the past three years but who have still always been there if I needed them. We all have friends, who have patiently listened to us talk endlessly in words and terms that made little sense to them. Thank you. If it wasn’t for your combined support, I doubt we would have persevered through the tears and times of self-doubt. During our time as students we have also made new friendships which will endure for many years to come. These friendships have been founded in sharing common goals and experiencing the same highs and lows of pushing the limits of personal capabilities. They are also founded in having differing beliefs and understandings of the world but a willingness to accept and value alternative points of view. We have become aware of diverse belief systems and ideologies. This is a significant aspect of university life and I’m sure it is true for all students here today. The skills of collaboration, partnerships and earnest communication which have been fostered during this time will be beneficial in our professional careers. Although today is the end of a defining time in our lives, it is also a beginning. A beginning which will see us use the knowledge of theory and practice we have gained, to begin to build professionally. For the education students, we thank all those who have been part of the innovative new approach of the Bachelor of Learning Management, especially those staff members who have been there for us and supported us on a daily basis. Throughout this degree we have been stretched in our thinking, challenged in our hegemonic assumptions and broadened in our understanding of pedagogy and leadership. We have experienced personal growth and empowerment to believe we can be leaders who are able to grasp the entrepreneurial spirit of vision, creativity and risk taking. Yes, teachers do all of these things. Our children, your children, deserve high quality in all spheres of education. Education Queensland’s 2010 documents place teaching in a rapidly changing world with uncertain and alternative futures, identifying that children will need more than specific content knowledge to be successful. They will need to emerge from their years in education as creative critical thinkers. This is our challenge and it begins in Early Childhood.

The graduates here today have been encouraged to be creative, critical thinkers who are prepared to reflect on their own personal practice. With this mindset we will continue to learn and develop professionally as we utilize our degrees in the ‘real world’.

These are exciting times and I wish my peers the best of luck as they begin the next phase in their learning journey.

Thank you.