By Belinda Nolan
ANN Robinson is a master in the art of positive psychology.
A business manager at Caroline Springs College’s Springside Campus, Ms Robinson knows you can achieve more with a smile than a frown.
In almost a decade at the college, the 39-year-old has made it a personal mission to foster a positive working environment for her staff.
“I believe it’s important to look after yourself so that you come to work feeling good,” Ms Robinson said.
“We’ve found that focusing on the well-being of our staff has made a big difference at the school.”
Ms Robinson said the college worked hard to nurture its employees, providing individual support and organising interesting conferences and activities.
Ms Robinson said she relished her role and felt particularly privileged to work in the school system.
“The role of a business manager is really diverse,” she said.
“Put simply, you have to deal with absolutely everything.
“Anything could walk into your office and you would have to deal with it.
“You just never know what’s around the corner.”
Ms Robinson’s hard work was recently recognised when she was named as a finalist in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
Ms Robinson is one of three business managers in the state who were short-listed for the awards, vying for $10,000 in prize money to install a professional development program at the school.
Ms Robinson said she was thrilled to be considered for the awards and hoped to use the money to travel to Philadelphia for the second World Congress of Positive Psychology in July.
“All the latest research will be discussed and it would be absolutely fantastic to be able to bring that back home with me,” Ms Robinson said.
Copperfield College and Taylors Lakes Secondary College were also singled out for praise in the Outstanding School Leadership Team Award category.
The winners will be announced at a gala presentation at Crown Palladium on Friday.
