Bess Sajfar

Bess Sajfar

Bess Sajfar is a sessional lecturer in Early Childhood/ Primary education. Her areas of expertise include early childhood mathematics, science, sustainability, nature pedagogy, the arts and play based curriculum theory and design. Bess started her career in the corporate world, but realised that her passion was teaching. Bess has worked in various educational settings from kindergarten, primary, vocational & tertiary education. She has a Master’s degree in education and is currently undertaking her PhD – Titled: A little green is good for the soul: edible gardens enhancing environmental thinking and awareness in early childhood curriculum and pedagogy.

In 2015 Bess was awarded an Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching ‘Citation for Outstanding Contributions to inspiring early childhood students in science with the wonder of nature, through integrated and engaging curriculum teaching’. In 2010, she received special mention in the World Environment Day Competition for designing curriculum based learning to support sustainable practice. Also in 2009, Bess was part of a team that received a Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (TAFE).

Bess has co-authored a science teaching resource book, which subsequently was shortlisted and won highly commended primary teaching resource for the Australian Educational Publishing Awards in 2013.

Bess is passionate about supporting early childhood educators, who will in turn inspire young children to explore, wonder and learn