Jess Goldfinch
Associate Lecturer in Education
College of Human Sciences and Culture
Jess Goldfinch is an Associate Lecturer and Teaching Specialist in Initial Teacher Education at Flinders University, specialising in Arts Education. She coordinates and teaches Arts curriculum topics across undergraduate and postgraduate Primary and Secondary programs, with particular expertise in Dance and Performing Arts Education.
Jessica has more than 20 years of experience across arts practice, education and teacher development. Her professional background includes work as an independent contemporary dancer and extensive experience teaching dance and the Arts across early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary and community settings. She has taught in metropolitan and regional South Australia, as well as internationally in the United Kingdom and Thailand.
Her teaching is grounded in embodied, collaborative and practice-based learning. She is committed to creating safe and supportive learning environments in which pre-service teachers can develop the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed to teach the Arts. Her approach emphasises scaffolded creative processes, reflective practice, inclusive participation and meaningful connections between Arts practice, curriculum and pedagogy.
Jessica has a particular interest in strengthening pathways into Arts Education and connecting professional arts training with initial teacher education. This interest is reflected in her ongoing relationship with Adelaide College of the Arts, her contribution to exploratory proposals for future Arts teaching majors, and her out-of-discipline representation on the Course Quality Advisory Groups for the Bachelor of Creative Arts and associated dual awards.
Master of Teaching (Junior Primary/Primary), University of South Australia
Bachelor of Dance Performance, Adelaide College of the Arts
Certificate IV in Small Business Management
- Coordination and teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate Arts Education topics
- Teaching across Primary and Secondary initial teacher education programs
- Coordination and support of multidisciplinary teaching teams
- Development and redevelopment of Arts curriculum, learning activities and assessment
- Support and onboarding for new and casual teaching staff
- Topic coordination mentoring
- Development of partnerships with schools, cultural institutions and professional arts organisations
- Arts Education in initial teacher education
- Dance and Performing Arts Education
- Primary, Middle and Senior Years Arts curriculum and pedagogy
- Embodied, collaborative and practice-based learning
- Inclusive Arts practice
- Integrated Arts learning
- Creative processes and reflective practice
- Technology-enhanced learning and accessible curriculum design
Jessica works with artists, cultural institutions and professional arts organisations to connect initial teacher education with authentic Arts practice. Her current professional engagement includes work with the Flinders University Museum of Art and Australian Dance Theatre.
Jessica maintains a strong professional connection with Adelaide College of the Arts. She contributes an Education perspective as an out-of-discipline representative on the Course Quality Advisory Groups for the Bachelor of Creative Arts and associated dual awards. She has also contributed to exploratory discussions and proposals concerning possible pathways between professional Arts training and initial teacher education, including the potential development of Arts teaching majors.
She has presented her work in Arts Education and teaching innovation at professional and academic conferences, including the Australian Teacher Education Association Conference. Her recent work explores the use of accessible digital learning resources, including AI-assisted educational podcasts, to support student engagement and preparation for practical learning.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
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