My story:
A personal reflection on migration, teaching, and transformation
When I boarded a flight from Mumbai, India to Melbourne, Australia, I was not just leaving behind a country; she was stepping into an unknown world—one where my deep-rooted understanding of pedagogy would be challenged, reshaped, and ultimately transformed. My journey from padhana (पढ़ाना)—the traditional, rigid, rote-learning-focused teaching approach in India—to the play-based pedagogy of Australian early childhood education has been nothing short of an odyssey of self-discovery, resistance, and growth. You can read about my journey here:
Adjusting to Australia’s early education system meant unlearning and relearning. Instead of choosing between structured and play-based teaching, I found a way to blend the best of both worlds—keeping the rigour and discipline of padhana while embracing the joy, curiosity, and autonomy of play-based learning. But as I made sense of this transformation, I kept wondering: How do other immigrant educators experience this shift? How do they redefine themselves in a new educational landscape? These questions led me to my next big adventure—doctoral research at Monash University You can read my doctoral thesis here:
At present, I am a lecturer at RMIT University, and I absolutely love supporting and guiding future educators on their journey. There’s something truly rewarding about seeing the excitement and passion in my student’s eyes as they step into the world of teaching (see below).
But at my core, I am still a teacher. I love mentoring, storytelling, and bridging cultures through education. Whether in the classroom, in research, or in the community, my goal is simple—to ensure that every educator’s journey is valued and that every child’s learning experience is enriched by the diversity of those who teach them.
From Mumbai to Melbourne, my story is one of growth, discovery, and an unwavering love for lifelong learning—and I’m just getting started.
Explore my profile and research outputs on RMIT University website.
