As a teacher librarian and technology coordinator at St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School, Jacqueline “Jackie” Child, a 46 year veteran of teaching, started the Makerspace, one of the first of its kind in a school library setting.

The dedicated space, where students can explore technology, tinker, create and experiment, is built around Mrs Child's enduring belief in constructionism; that children learn best when they make, create and discover through hands-on experiences.

The Makerspace led to 'STEMies', an afterschool coding and robotics club, and the hugely popular ‘TechMate’ program, where girls in years 4-6 invite a significant male in their lives for an evening of making and creating.

“It provides learning and bonding together,” she said.

“It’s important for students to see themselves as successful and to continue in STEM from a young age. And for their dads, uncles, brothers, etc. to encourage them to realise this too.”

Over many years, Mrs Child has shared her rich experiences in teaching and learning in workshops that bring parents into the conversation. She has tutored pre-service teachers, participated in prominent research projects and shared her expertise at national and international conferences.

Her blog, Tinkering Child, has grown to become a treasured resource for educators as far away as Sweden and Finland.

In a varied teaching career, she has held positions ranging from class teacher to deputy principal in Australia, the Solomon Islands and the UK. And when it comes to the seeds that sowed her passion for teaching, she credits her own enjoyment of learning in school.

“As a child I’d ‘play’ school, reading to my toys, taking them in and out of imaginary buildings for playing and learning,” she recalls.

“My mother predicted I would teach - and she was right!”

The greatest reward, she says, is being contacted by past students, who frequently share memories about the inventive hands-on activities she created, which have ignited a love of learning for generations.

One student recalled how Mrs Child, as one of Britain’s former top rally car drivers, brought her rally car to school for a road safety unit.

“We even had a world-famous rally driver as our quizmaster,” she recalled.

According to Mrs Child, teachers really do make a difference. The key to being part of students' lives, she says, is to share your own and build strong relationships.

“I’m so grateful to have spent so many years with young people, and to be part of their lives.”

Mrs Child is a finalist at the Queensland College of Teachers TEACHX Awards, in Outstanding Contribution to Teaching category.

Winners will be announced October 27th, on the eve of World Teachers' Day in Queensland.