Brisbane Catholic Education’s FisherONE serves as an online offering for traditional schools to enhance educational offerings and flexibility to deliver subjects such as Specialist Mathematics.  

This year, 23 Year 11 students from Catholic schools across Queensland have joined Narelle’s Specialist Maths class – from Cairns to Gladstone to the Gold Coast.  

“To be able to focus solely on my area of expertise with students who are highly motivated and high achievers has truly reignited my love for teaching,” Narelle said.  

Students access subjects via FisherOne for a number of reasons - it may be a timetabling clash or low interest at the base school - but one of the main reasons is the access to specialist teachers in regional and rural areas.  

“I was looking to retire from full-time school teaching, but I wasn’t ready to retire from Mathematics education,” Narelle said.  

“FisherONE has given me the flexibility to continue to share my skills and experience with students who may not have had the opportunity to take this specialist course.”  

FisherONE Principal, Britt Gurnett said there were so many benefits for Brisbane Catholic Education to be able to retain specialist teachers who are looking for a more flexible way of working outside of a traditional school environment.   

“It takes a special teacher to be successful in a virtual classroom as you need to be able to connect and engage and build relationships within a very short time frame each week,” Britt said.  

FisherONE teachers are passionate about their area of expertise, and this translates into the virtual classroom.  

“Our teachers are all fantastic – they are doing exactly what they love doing, they’re motivated and keen to share and learn from each other.”  

In 2023, FisherONE was named a Microsoft Showcase School, one of only six in Australia recognised for pioneering innovative approaches to learning. Using powerful Microsoft 365 tools allows educators to deliver lessons that are interactive, engaging, and accessible to all students.   

“FisherONE is not just adapting to the changing educational landscape; we are actively shaping the future of online education,” Britt said.    

“By fully utilising Microsoft 365 technology, we create student-centered, immersive, and inclusive learning environments that inspire lifelong learning and cultivate essential future-ready skills – regardless of where the students live.”   

If you’re interested in learning more about building a career at FisherONE reach out to careersbce@bne.catholic.edu.