Hey there!
I’m Kirsten Furness, founder of Hello Learning. A qualified teacher, consultant, coach and mentor dedicated to improving the education, wellbeing and life outcomes of young people by empowering the adults who work with them.
It takes a special mix of timing, dreaming, vision, determination, luck and courage to take a step away from my career as a teacher and build a business from the ground up. Or in my case, the kitchen table up.
While Hello Learning became “official” at the end of 2021, the seeds were sown back in 2016 by writing assessment tasks and articles for the Victorian Commercial Teachers Association journal in “my spare time”. As my name started to become recognised, I was then approached to do some writing for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) from 2019. Since then, I’ve continued to expand into a full range of consulting, coaching and mentoring services for students, teachers, schools, state government and local government.
Hello Learning has been built on saying ‘yes’ to interesting and challenging opportunities that have a direct or indirect positive impact on the lives of young people.
My services are highly personalised and tailored to meet the needs of my clients, and characterised by innovative thinking, real world expertise, robust intuition and an innate ability for creating unique solutions to complex problems.
Ultimately, I really enjoy collaborating with great people to create great things which exceed our expectations.
Kirsten
Why is teacher health and wellbeing so important to you?
What is your favourite aspect of Hello Learning?
Hey there!
I’m Kirsten Furness, founder of Hello Learning. A qualified teacher, consultant, coach and mentor dedicated to improving the education, wellbeing and life outcomes of young people by empowering the adults who work with them.
It takes a special mix of timing, dreaming, vision, determination, luck and courage to take a step away from my career as a teacher and build a business from the ground up. Or in my case, the kitchen table up.
While Hello Learning became “official” at the end of 2021, the seeds were sown back in 2016 by writing assessment tasks and articles for the Victorian Commercial Teachers Association journal in “my spare time”. As my name started to become recognised, I was then approached to do some writing for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) from 2019. Since then, I’ve continued to expand into a full range of consulting, coaching and mentoring services for students, teachers, schools, state government and local government.
Hello Learning has been built on saying ‘yes’ to interesting and challenging opportunities that have a direct or indirect positive impact on the lives of young people.
My services are highly personalised and tailored to meet the needs of my clients, and characterised by innovative thinking, real world expertise, robust intuition and an innate ability for creating unique solutions to complex problems.
Ultimately, I really enjoy collaborating with great people to create great things which exceed our expectations.
Kirsten
Career Summary
Passionate educator with 16 years’ experience in teaching, leadership, research, and consulting. Offers a proven track record of applying best practice research and evidence-based approaches to achieve improved outcomes across teaching, learning, curriculum, assessment, and wellbeing, both in school settings and government.
Consulting Experience
- Consulting and coaching of education professionals
- Victorian Senior School Reform (curriculum development, professional learning and supports)
- Resilience and Wellbeing Framework (for natural disaster recovery in schools)
- Performance coaching and development
- VCE mentor for international schools
- 1:1 mentoring of senior secondary students and Monash Alumni
- Professional writing and review of curriculum materials
Council Experience
- Development of Young Communities Strategy
- Community engagement with stakeholder groups
- Development of strategy and action plan (including a version for children and young people)
Teaching Experience
- Substantive Leading Teacher / Learning Specialist
- Whole School Literacy Leader
- Junior School Curriculum Leader
- Acting Assistant Principal
- Acting Curriculum Coordinator
- Acting Head of Junior School
Qualifications
- Graduate Certificate in Educational Research, Monash University (2019) – Thesis: ‘Disciplinary literacy perspectives in VCE Business Management’, Winner of 2019 Dean’s Excellence Award
- Master of Educational Management, University of Melbourne (2010)
- Post Graduate Certificate of Education, University of Melbourne (2009)
- Post Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Monash University (2006)
- Bachelor of Business and Commerce/Bachelor of Communications, Monash University (2000-2003)
- Level 1 Organisational Coaching, Institute for Executive Coaching and Leadership
