
Are you looking for EF Central—the hub of the EF community?
Passionate. Innovative. Education Focussed.

“The Education Focussed community comprises our most passionate and innovative educators at UNSW. Their work, individually and as a community, ensures that our students have an engaging and fulfilling learning experience, which they can take forward into their future lives and careers.”
Professor Anne Simmons
Provost, UNSW
For more information about the EF Community and their work, visit EF Central, accessible to all UNSW staff.
Not currently at UNSW? Reach out to the EF Career Development team on [email protected].
About
UNSW is Australia’s global university, improving and transforming lives through outstanding education. Our 2025 Strategy sets out our vision for educational excellence, including the development of Education Focussed (EF) roles to foster and reward educational excellence, nurturing a new generation of educators and recognising the vital contribution they make to student learning.
Formed in 2017, the EF community has grown to over 200 academics by the end of 2018, consisting of current full time UNSW academic staff. In 2019, the EF career model was opened to sessional staff and external academics – attracting the best talent within UNSW and beyond.
The EF career model is focussed on recognising, rewarding and developing academics who make a vital contribution to the delivery of outstanding outcomes for our students and the broader community.
Career Development Support

The EF Career Development Team works directly with EF academics to develop and harness their educational capabilities, as well as advocate for their success individually and as a community. The team’s work includes:
- Grants and Fellowships
UNSW offers grants of up to $5,000 annually to support individual EF academics’ career development (CD). CD activities include presentations at education and discipline-specific conferences, attendance at accredited CD courses, career coaching, and other activities that will generate evidence for promotion.
For ideas on using CD Funding, visit our EF Central. To apply, please use the CD Funding forms.EF academics are also supported in applications for teaching awards, discipline-specific recognition schemes, and Senior or Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy UK.
- Professional Development
Activities include the EF Lunch and Learn series, online learning modules, mentoring, career coaching, and writing retreats.
- Communities of Practice
EF Communities of Practice are dedicated to improving the design, development and delivery of educational initiatives at UNSW. These provide a platform for EFs to work collaboratively across disciplines and contribute to educational excellence at the school, faculty and university levels. Projects include digital assessment, online education resources, and evaluating learning and teaching
- EF Retreat
This annual event brings together the EF community to celebrate successes, identify and address challenges, and plan for the year ahead. It is also a unique opportunity for EF academics to build deeper connections within the community and engage in professional development activities.
Events and news

- EF Lunch & Learn
The EF Lunch and Learn series is hosted by a different faculty on a monthly basis, designed to showcase the great work EFs are doing, as well as enhance their capabilities and career as an EF academic.
The sessions are open to all UNSW staff interested in learning and teaching.
Upcoming
TBA | ||
Past
19 July 2019 | - | EF Lunch and Learn hosted by Built Environment |
17 June 2019 | - | EF Lunch and Learn hosted by Art & Design |
31 May 2019 | - | EF Lunch and Learn hosted by UNSW Canberra |
30 April 2019 | - | EF Lunch and Learn hosted by Science |
29 March 2019 | - | EF Lunch and Learn hosted by Engineering |
8 February 2019 | - | EF Lunch and Learn hosted by Medicine |