13 March 2015
Local knowledge and long career experience in regional South Australia will be a distinct asset for the new manager of UniSA’s Whyalla campus.
Paul Havelberg has just been appointed to the new position in Whyalla and will move from his current role at Edward John Eyre High School (EJEHS) in March, where he has been principal for the past six years.
A Bachelor of Science with a Graduate Diploma in Education from Flinders University, Havelberg has had almost 30 years’ experience as an educator in the State’s rural and regional communities, starting with his first role as a teacher and coordinator at Orroroo Area School.
At EJEHS he has led strategies to improve both completions and grades for year 12 students and increase the number of students qualifying for tertiary entry. Another key goal has been to increase enrolments for Aboriginal students and improve school attendance.
“My focus has been to improve outcomes and educational opportunities for all of our students but also to build confidence in our teaching staff and foster a culture of excellence and quality for the entire school community,” he says.
Havelberg has been proactive developing important links between the school and training colleges, industry, tertiary institutions and community groups including serving as Chair of the Eyre and Western Trade Schools Governance Group, a member of the Upper Spencer Innovative Community Action Networks management committee, and the Eyre and Western Region Principal representative of the State wide Senior Secondary Curriculum Reference Group.
Havelberg says he is excited to be taking on his new challenge in Whyalla with the University of South Australia.
“The role will provide important opportunity to increase and enhance educational opportunities for students in the region – to take students to the next step and launch valuable careers,” he says.
“UniSA’s Whyalla campus is hugely significant in South Australia not only for what it offers students but for what it represents for regional communities in providing tertiary education opportunities on their home turf.
“Having a university in Whyalla makes achieving a university degree a much more tangible idea for students, it is a focus for aspiration and that is an important symbol in the community. I look forward to working with the team here in Whyalla and across the University to ensure Whyalla continues to play an important role in Education for this region.”
Media contact: Michèle Nardelli office: +61 8 8302 0966 mobile: 0418 823 673 email: michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
