Staff Profile

Fiona Matthews

I was born in England in 1958 and spent my first few years of life travelling the world with my mother and grandparents living in The Ivory Coast and Kenya but spending quite a few years in Aden.  I then moved back to England only to move to Australia in 1968.

I did my secondary schooling in a small country town in Victoria called Birchip. It was in my year 12 year that I decided that I was going to become a teacher.

I graduated from Rusden State College in 1981 with a Bachelor’s degree. I was awarded a studentship whilst there, which meant I had no choice of which school I could go to for three years after graduation. I was appointed to Rainbow in the Mallee (yes, there is a pot of gold there) and stayed there for 4 years. During that time I married my husband and in my last year in Rainbow, he lived in Melbourne and I lived in Rainbow – a 5 1/2 hour drive each way.

In 1985 I moved back to Melbourne and was appointed to Scoresby High School where I stayed until I had my 2 children in 1995 and 1998. 

In the early 1990’s I became active in supporting teachers across the state and became a member of the board of my subject association where I first met Mrs. Major who was employed by that association as their Executive Officer. I also wrote several text books for my subject and was the Chair or the VCE Exam Setting Panel as well as Chief Examiner for this subject.

After family leave, I worked for a few years until an opportunity to become a Teaching and Learning Coach in the Knox Secondary Learning Community came up and so in 2006 I left Scoresby to work between Wantirna, Rowville, Boronia, Bayswater and Scoresby Secondary Colleges.  In 2009 I did a year as a coach in 2 lovely primary schools in the ‘hills’; The Patch and Selby.

Returning to Scoresby I have continued to work doing diverse roles as year 7 coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator, Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Reporting coordinator as well as teaching in all learning areas in the school (except LOTE).

In 2017 I became a Specialist Teacher in Health and Personal and Social Capabilities incorporating Respectful Relationships with the VCAA and since then have worked half time with them and half time at Scoresby. This job has taken me all over the state working with teachers planning curriculum.

In 2018 I took up sessional work at Deakin University teaching undergraduate teachers.

My hobbies include horse riding where have recently begun competing again.  This is the horse I ride – Charlie.