Professional Staff
- Graduate Studies
- Continuing Professional Education
- Library and Information Services
Claire Farrington
BA (NSW), GradCertAdEd (New England), MLMEd (Newcastle)
Manager, Graduate Education
E-mail: claire.farrington@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0811
Biography
Claire Farrington is Manager, Graduate Education at the Renwick Centre. Claire has supported the professional development and academic programs of the Renwick Centre since 1995. As part of the Renwick Centre’s management team, Claire is responsible for the efficient administration of the postgraduate program, the management of permanent and sessional academic staff and oversight of the delivery of library and information services.
Lena Karam
Diploma in Business Administration (TAFE NSW)
Centre Administration and Support Officer
E-mail: lena.karam@ridbc.org.au
Phone/TTY: (02) 9872 0303
Fax: (02) 9873 1614
Office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
Biography
As Administrative and Support Officer, Lena is the first point of contact within the Renwick Centre. Lena provides broadbased support to the students of the graduate program; a busy team of academic and management staff; and the Director, RIDBC Renwick Centre. In addition, Lena supports the Professional Experience Co-ordinator and is responsible for essential student liaison and initial logistics of the professional experience unit. Lena is also responsible for maintenance of the ACVIR database project. Lena’s passions are accessible access to information, continual systems review and keeping the Renwick team laughing.
Trudy Smith
Diploma of Jazz: Saxophone (Qld Conservatorium of Music), Bachelor of Special Education: Hearing (Griffith University), Master of Education: Language and Literacy (Deakin University), PhD Candidate (Deakin University), Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist, PhD Candidate (Deakin University)
Manager, Continuing Professional Education
E-mail: Trudy.smith@ridbc.org.au
Phone: 0408 403 829 or (02) 9872 0302
Biography
Trudy is the Manager of Continuing Professional Education at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) Renwick Centre.
She has been a Teacher of the Deaf for over 20 years and has worked in education settings in Queensland and New South Wales as a classroom teacher, itinerant support teacher and as the Statewide Education Advisor.
She worked as an AV Therapist at the Hear and Say Centre in Brisbane and as a Rehabilitation Manager for MED-EL, providing coaching and guiding for therapists, teachers and parents supporting students with hearing loss in over 20 countries around the world.
Trudy is the current state and national president of the National Association of Australian Teachers of the Deaf (NAATD).
Research Interests
- The role, identity and professionalism of Australian Teachers of the Deaf
- Family Centred Early Intervention
- Adult learning styles
Carla Silveira
Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
Events and Production Coordinator, Continuing Professional Education
E-mail: carla.silveira@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0207
Biography
Carla is the Events and Administration Coordinator of Continuing Professional Education at the Renwick Centre, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.
Carla is responsible for the implementation and management of professional courses for both internal and external audiences, education content generation and production, and day to day administration of the CPE program. Additionally, Carla is responsible for digital, graphic, and video production of webinars, resources, and other content provided through the Renwick Centre.
Andrew Spencer
BTech (Env.Geo) (Macquarie), GradDipAppSc (Library & Information Management) (Charles Sturt), AALIA (CP).
Manager, Library and Information Services
E-mail: andrew.spencer@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0396
Biography
Andrew is the Manager, Library and Information Services at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) Renwick Centre.
Andrew began his library career in 2003, and joined RIDBC in July 2018. He has experience working in university and hospital libraries, and has provided library services to postgraduate students, academic staff and researchers, and professional and clinical staff. Andrew’s role involves ensuring that the staff and students of the Renwick Centre and RIDBC have access to library services and resources that meet their study, research, and professional needs.