All tutoring staff are teachers, selected for their personal qualities, communication skills, academic qualifications and teaching experience. All staff have been passed by the “Working with Children Check”. Tutors are trained in the philosophy of the learning centre and undergo specific and ongoing training related to the methods of tuition and the format of tuition sessions for the subjects and levels that they tutor.

Tutors perform the following tasks:

Assess the learning needs of students initially and on an ongoing basis.
Prepare a brief report for oral feedback to student and parent following initial assessment.
Prepare a tuition program to suit the needs of individual students.
Select and develop resources to support the tuition program.
Accurately mark work completed by students and include positive written comments.
Assess the effectiveness of learning activities.
Report on student progress in written form at the end of each term.

Key Staff

Director and proprietor Tony Hollins has been an educator since 1981 and has worked with students at all levels from pre-school through to HSC and university. Tony opened the Education First Tuition Centre in 1996. He recently added a degree in psychology to his master's degree in education, and continues to conduct research in the areas of learning and memory. Tony has written and published many articles on education, some of which are available from the download section of our website. Tony is available to speak to parents by appointment.

Assistant Director Megan Wallace has many years of experience teaching in selective primary schools, most recently in London. She is an expert in literacy from pre-school through junior high school levels. Megan joined Ed First at the start of 2010. Megan is at the centre every day except Tuesday, and is the main contact for parents and students with any educational questions.

Receptionist and Office Administrator Ann O'Brien has been the friendly face of Ed First since 2003. Ann is not an educator, but is the main liaison between parents and tutors and the directors. Ann takes most inquiries from parents, arranges assessments for students and places them in appropriate tutoring sessions. She is responsible for all accounts and fees, and arranges make-up sessions when students are absent.