While he hasn’t been working at the school for too long, he has already had a significant impact on students at Mooroopna Primary School.
Ash is a friendly face to all the students, and someone they can come up to when they’re needing a little extra help in and out of the classroom.
Starting as an education support worker at the end of term one, you’d think Ash had been working in this field all his life with the way he interacts with the students.
“I was previously a concreter for 17 years and then when I had health issues come up, I thought it was time for a career change,” Ash said.
“All of my friends and family said I should try education support, as I’d love working with kids, and I’m good with kids.”
Although Ash isn’t from the area, his wife Katie grew up in Mooroopna, attended Mooroopna Primary School, and was a school leader in Year 6.
After having their first daughter, they decided to move to Mooroopna, so his daughters could attend the same school his wife did.
With his oldest now in Year 6, he has been part of the school community for seven years and an education support worker for the past two terms.
“I should have done it years ago,” Ash said.
“When we first moved up here, I should have looked into it, but concreting was all I really knew.”
He enjoys connecting with the students, assisting in and out of the classroom, but most of all, he enjoys being close to his daughters.
“That’s the best part [of the job], I get to bring them to school, and we go home together,” Ash said.
“I will stay in this field for as long as I can, I love being a part of it.”
BY Georgia Tacey
18°C