Rate My Professor Neville Jennings

Dr Neville Jennings serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England, a Graduate Diploma in Institutional Studies from Mt Larcom Adult Education Centre, a Master of Education from Deakin University, and a PhD from James Cook University in 2003. His doctoral thesis, titled 'Transforming civics and citizenship education in the middle years of schooling: an exploration of critical issues informing teachers' theories of action,' examined teachers' approaches to engaging young adolescents in meaningful civics learning through action research in schools across northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. Jennings brings extensive experience as an educator across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. From the early 1990s, he lectured at Southern Cross University's Lismore and Tweed Heads campuses, playing a key role in preparing primary and secondary teachers for rural and remote schools in New South Wales and Queensland. He taught units in the Master of Education program, contributed to teachers' professional development initiatives, and facilitated practical experiences such as bush tours and classroom placements for student teachers. Jennings organized seminars on topics like young adolescents' needs and coordinated international exchanges, such as with Canadian educators. He also led the 50-year celebration of teacher training at the Lismore campus in 2020 and remains active on the university's History Committee, maintaining strong connections with former staff and students.

Jennings' research interests center on teacher professional development, civics and citizenship education, and services for children and young people. Affiliated with the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University, he co-authored reports including 'In search of a needs-led, evidence-based service delivery model for diverse cultural groups in regional areas' with Rashmere Bhatti, and 'It takes a town: portrayal evaluation' with Elizabeth C. Reimer in 2020. Other publications encompass 'Evaluation of the Building Bundjalung Cultural Bridges Program' for Lismore City Council, 'Australians and Asia' (2007), and 'Professional development needs of teachers for delivery of the curriculum in the 21st century' (2000). His work emphasizes evidence-based practices to enhance educational outcomes in regional contexts and cultural competency.