Dr Kenneth Young | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Dr Kenneth Young has been a lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast since 2007. Prior to taking up a Lecturer B position at USC, Kenneth worked for the Queensland Department of Education and Training (DET) as an Industrial Technology and Design teacher from 1985 until 2006. During this time, he taught in rural, remote and provincial secondary and primary schools throughout Queensland. At USC, Kenneth’s first leadership role was the positon of Program Coordinator for the secondary combined degree programs between 2009 and 2011. He then undertook the leadership position of Program Coordinator for the Graduate Diploma in Education, a position he held between 2012 and 2018. Kenneth’s current leadership role is the position of Program Coordinator for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) program.

Kenneth’s engagement projects have included:

• Collaboration with the State University of New York (SUNY) Fredonia campus in the provision of Preservice teacher exchange programs.
• Collaboration with external agents and the Ontario College of Teachers for recruitment of post-graduate preservice teachers in Ontario, Canada.
• Collaboration with school principals on developing preservice teacher transition to employment pathways.
• Collaboration with Queensland Department of Education and Training in the provision of rural school experiences and employment pathways for preservice teachers into rural schools in Queensland.

Kenneth’s doctoral research focused on preservice teacher education - in particular, the perspectives of preservice teachers on the roles and identities of secondary teachers within Queensland state schools. This qualitative research focus on preservice teacher experiences and perspectives is continuing with current research agendas which investigate preservice teacher perspectives of rural schools and teaching experiences.