Brett Dascombe, a senior teacher at Wavell State High School, has been named a top-10 finalist for the prestigious Global Teacher Prize. While he remains modest about his chances of taking out the US$1 million award, his pioneering work in geospatial technologies has already made a significant impact in the classroom and beyond.
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Mr Dascombe expressed doubt about progressing further in the competition, acknowledging that many compelling stories, particularly from less developed countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, could have a greater need for the prize.
Despite his humility, Mr Dascombe is no stranger to recognition. His innovative approach to teaching has earned him multiple accolades, including a 2023 Schools Plus Teaching Awards Fellowship, a TEACHX Innovation in Teaching award, the Peter Doherty STEM Award, and a Showcase Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Queensland education department.
The Global Teacher Prize, run by the Varkey Foundation, is one of the most prestigious education awards worldwide. While he downplays his chances, Mr Dascombe has already considered how he would use the prize money if he won.
He has expressed a desire to fund peer learning projects with his students in the Pacific and in First Nations communities in Australia, seeing this as a meaningful way to share technology and skills, particularly in areas facing climate change challenges.
A Passion for Geospatial Technology
Mr Dascombe’s interest in geospatial technologies began during his university days as an Arts student. He recalls developing a passion for GIS (geographic information systems) and spatial technologies and seeing their potential applications. He integrated these tools into his teaching career for two decades, but in the past five years, he has explored their greater impact in the classroom, particularly in alignment with the new Queensland geography syllabus.
This dedication is evident in the projects he creates for his students. As the new school year begins, he is already working on a new initiative: mapping food deserts in Brisbane. He plans to have students identify food deserts in their communities and examine the locations of community gardens.
Beyond the classroom, Mr Dascombe ensures his students engage with real-world issues. In one project, his class identified high levels of E. coli at a beach on North Stradbroke Island and traced the contamination back to overflowing septic tanks. The students then took action by contacting a septic tank company to address the issue. He acknowledges that this kind of geography work may not always seem glamorous but highlights its practical impact.
Showcasing Student Work
Mr Dascombe is committed to making sure his students’ work gets the recognition it deserves. He recalls that, in the past, student assignments were typically stored away for years, despite their exceptional quality.
About five years ago, he began obtaining permission to share student projects, leading to numerous awards and opportunities, including Australian Geospatial Awards and state conference presentations. He believes students’ personalities come through in their work, making it important to showcase their efforts.
For Mr Dascombe, geography extends far beyond mapping. He emphasises that the subject now encompasses elements of design, economics, sustainability, and community impact, making it a much more holistic field of study, which excites him.
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Encouraging Teachers to Celebrate Their Achievements
Mr Dascombe also believes educators should take pride in their successes. He feels that teachers often do not highlight their achievements enough and notes that there are many incredible teachers in Australia.
He actively uses LinkedIn to share the innovative work being done at Wavell State High School, hoping that this visibility encourages other educators to explore new ideas and teaching methods.
The Global Teacher Prize will announce its winner at the World Government Summit in Dubai from February 11 to 13. Whether or not he wins, Brett Dascombe has already left a lasting impact on his students and the field of geography education.
Published 4-February-2025
