Back: SEE ME organiser Rob Foran, state Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, Teresa Carlson, Jamunarani A/P Rajandran, Rotary club president Richard Carlson, Nur Syazmimie Binti Jamal, Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell and Echuca-Twin River Specialist School assistant principal Ben Ridge. Front: Aisyah Aqilah Binti Halil and Lau Chun Ching (Rachel). Absent: SEE ME organiser Kate Miller.
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The Rotary Club of Echuca Moama has partnered with local and international clubs to bring eight Malaysian teachers to Australia for a four-week Special Education Externship for Malaysian Educators practice and learning tour.
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SEE ME organiser Rob Foran said the program had grown steadily.
“All of the clubs involved are proud of our efforts over the past three years to have brought two groups to Australia and a contingent to Malaysia,” he said.
“We continue working with all levels of the education system to support the growth of teaching practice, professional knowledge and teacher-school resourcing.”
The program is delivered in two phases.
Phase one brings the eight teachers to Australia, while phase two sees one teacher each from Echuca and Bendigo travel to Malaysia to present at seminars and school visits.
Having recently arrived, four teachers are placed at Bendigo Social Development School and Kalianna School, with the remaining four based at Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School.
Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School assistant principal Ben Ridge said the program built on existing ties with Malaysian educators.
“I was supported by Rotary in 2025 to present in Malaysia,” he said.
“Having seen the exceptional quality of the teaching and learning there, it is exciting to be adding to these teachers' pedagogy and practice, with the goal of wider adoption of what they learn.
“Our school is proud to be part of improving outcomes for Malaysian and Australian special education through this program.”
All eight teachers are home-hosted, adding a cultural sharing element to the program.
The program is made financially possible by a Rotary International Global Grant and has the backing of SESMEO SEN, the peak body for special education across 11 south-east Asian nations.
All eight teachers from Malaysia with SEE ME organiser Rob Foran stop off at Mt Alexander on the way from the airport to the area.
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Local dignitaries were on hand to welcome the eight visiting teachers from Malaysia, with Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell welcoming the initiative.
“It’s wonderful that our shire can provide opportunities for the growth and development of these amazing teachers, and that a deep, international relationship of fostering special needs education and friendship has developed through this program,” he said.
A special thanks has also been extended to the Caledonian Hotel in Echuca, which has provided its bus for the duration of the program.
