New staff members join Alice Springs teaching team

A former Swiss Army mechanic is one of three lecturers to join the Charles Darwin University teaching team in Alice Springs for the start of semester two this week.

Alex Eberli, who completed a motor mechanic’s apprenticeship as a civilian employee with the Swiss Army in the 1980s, said he was looking forward to sharing his knowledge with automotive students.

“I’ll be delivering certificate I and II training with Vocation and Educational Training in School students in early August,” he said.

“I’ll also work with apprentices from throughout Central Australia delivering certificate III and IV.”

Mr Eberli has accumulated more than 25 years industry experience since cutting his teeth on vehicles in the Swiss Army.

He worked for a motor vehicle dealership in Armidale upon arriving in Australia about 10 years ago and taught at the New England Institute of TAFE before moving to the Territory as a maintenance manager at Uluru in 2009.

Campus Administrator David Reilly welcomed Mr Eberli and two new community services lecturers, saying they would provide a boost to the VET teaching team as the second half of the academic year unfolds.

“I welcome Alex to our School of Trades, and Jodie Carr and Lauren Wapling to the School of Health, Community and Children’s Services,” he said.

“We have a full complement of teaching staff in Community Services and look forward to continue servicing this vital and valuable sector in our community.”

Mr Reilly said Ms Wapling had expertise as a youth worker and would initially be involved in the VET in Schools program.

Ms Carr brings an enormous wealth of local experience having lived in Alice Springs for more than 30 years and will deliver certificate II, III and IV to town-based and remote students.

Mr Reilly said the semester had started positively with a good turnout at the higher education orientation program on 17 July.

He said the campus would host an information evening for the community on 18 September.

“We have begun developing a program that will showcase the depth and breadth of courses on offer from the campus.

“It’s a key event in our effort to engage more broadly with the community and to demonstrate how we are contributing to tertiary education, training and research in Central Australia.”