A Student Learning Support Officer (SLSO) at Mungindi Central School, Noah Gafa, has received the 2026 Excellence Award for Early Career Teacher Aide, and is now looking to study to become a teacher.

Noah was on holiday with his high school teacher girlfriend when he learnt that the underground coal mine, where he worked, had folded.

When his girlfriend received an offer of work at Mungindi Central School, she was asked if she knew someone who could be a male role model in youth or student-support work. Noah had experience of working in student support on the Gold Coast.

He arrived at the school in Mungindi, a town on NSW-Queensland border, in Term 4, 2024 planning to stay for a term, but that quickly changed.

“I fell in love with the country and the town and the teachers, and I’m still here,” Noah said.

“I think getting the award put a little fire in my belly to realise that I can do something in a town like this, and in the next few months I’d like to be studying.”

Learning and Support Teacher, Kerri Daly, who supervises the school’s SLSOs, says Noah’s role ranges from supporting classroom work to sitting with a student if they need help calming down.

“A lot of our students have named him as their support person, so when they’re upset, they’d call Noah to help them calm down.”

Noah works throughout the school, including the preschool, running primary and secondary student activities before school, and co-leading the Boys Hands-on Learning group for Years 5 to 8, combining practical work with lessons about responsibility and community contribution.

Kerri also nominated Noah’s colleague Lena Schreiner in the awards, and she received a Highly Commended certificate.

Noah is grateful for the personal recognition but knows success for students at school is always a combined effort.

“You don’t get good SLSOs without having good leaders of a good team around you,” he said.