Associate Professor Nicole Masters and Associate Lecturer Victoria Hinkley have been celebrated by the Australian Awards for University Teaching, for their ‘Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.

The award recognises their meaningful impact on the education and experience of first-year students at the University of the Sunshine Coast, as course coordinators for LFS103 Introductory Bioscience.

Dr Masters said they were honoured to receive the award and emphasised the importance of equitable, student-centred education.

“We are incredibly passionate about the first-year student experience,” she said.

“We love the challenge of breaking down complex scientific concepts in ways that are engaging, accessible, and relevant to their future careers. Seeing students build confidence in their abilities and discover their potential in the health sciences is incredibly rewarding.”

The course is among the largest offered by UniSC, with more than 1,300 students enrolling each year, and forms the foundation for several health and science degrees.

As one of the first subjects many new UniSC students encounter, Victoria Hinkley said they were conscious of creating a positive early experience for a diverse range of students.

“We try to understand the challenges students face and actively work to remove barriers to learning,” she said.

“When students feel supported, they are more likely to engage and persist. Flexibility, empathy and a commitment to continuous improvement are key traits of an effective educator.”

“We’re also privileged to be joined by 25 academic and casual staff who share our passion for enhancing the student experience. To be recognised nationally is a testament to the dedication of the whole team and the impact we’ve been able to make on student learning.”

The award further bolsters UniSC’s already strong reputation for teaching and student experience in the university sector.

Among public universities, UniSC is ranked number one in Queensland for undergraduate overall educational experience, and second equal in Australia for postgraduate teaching quality in the latest national Student Experience Survey.

UniSC also has five-star ratings in teaching quality, overall educational experience, learning resources, skills development, social equity, student support and learner engagement according to the Good Universities Guide 2024/25.