Associate Professor Rickie Fisher
PhD (CQU),GradDipTeach(Sec) (CQU), BA (Hons) (CQU), BA (CQU), CertIV TAA
Deputy Dean Learning and Teaching
School of Education and the Arts
Centre for Research in Equity & Advancement of Teaching & Education (CREATE)
- r.j.fisher@cqu.edu.au
- ORCID: 0000-0003-1006-5214
- (07) 4930 9318
-
Rockhampton North
19 - 3.38
About Me
Associate Professor Rickie Fisher is the Deputy Dean Learning and Teaching within the School of Education and the Arts at CQUniversity Australia, based at the Rockhampton North Campus (Darumbal Country).
Rickie has extensive experience in university governance, policy development, and academic quality assurance. He has demonstrated strong leadership in institutional decision-making through his role as Chair of the CQUniversity Education Course Committee, where he oversaw course quality, accreditation requirements, curriculum review, and continuous improvement processes. In addition, Rickie previously served as Deputy Chair of the Curriculum Committee of Academic Board, contributing to strategic academic governance, policy formulation, and the evaluation and approval of curriculum initiatives across the University. Through these leadership roles, he has developed a comprehensive understanding of higher education governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, academic standards, and the implementation of policies and procedures that support excellence in learning and teaching.
Rickie has made a significant contribution to the Australian teacher education landscape over the last 25 years through shaping teacher education policy and practice, offering feedback on national education reforms and advocating for evidence-based, research-led teacher training.
With extensive expertise in professional accreditation of initial teacher education, Rickie continues to chair external accreditation panels for the Queensland College of Teachers assessing initial teacher education courses against the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) National Standards for Initial Teacher Education. Additionally, Rickie has been engaged by AITSL as a consultant to develop a national accreditation exemplar and training package for the preparation of panelists assessing higher education institutions against the National Standards for Initial Teacher Education.
Rickie served as an Executive Member and Policy Chair of the Queensland Council of Deans of Education (QCDE), providing sector-wide leadership on matters relating to teacher education policy, professional standards, and regulatory reform. In this capacity, he contributed to the development of policy positions and strategic responses to issues affecting initial teacher education and the broader education profession.
As an elected Higher Education Institution (HEI) representative on the Professional Standards Committee of the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT), Rickie played an important role in overseeing the implementation and quality assurance of teacher education in Queensland. His responsibilities included contributing to the development and oversight of professional standards for teachers, the accreditation and ongoing monitoring of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements, and policies supporting teachers returning to the profession. Through these leadership roles, Rickie developed extensive expertise in educational governance, professional regulation, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement across the higher education and schooling sectors.
As an Expert Assessor, Rickie has been engaged by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) as an external expert to assess registered higher education providers (without self-accrediting authority) to renew their accreditation of higher education courses of study.
Career transitions into the teaching profession is the focus of Rickie’s research and scholarly work. With a focus on pathways, processes and partnerships, Rickie’s work centres on understanding barriers, creating opportunities, exploring career change into secondary school teaching, investigating the notions of teacher identity, communities of practice in teacher education, and delivery mechanisms for pedagogic engagement in initial teacher education utilising grounded theory methodologies. Fisher’s ‘Theory of Becoming’ (2013) explains the reasons a person who has had a previous non-teaching career would ‘become’ a secondary school teacher by completing a postgraduate preservice teacher education degree and engaging in pedagogies and approaches to learning and teaching that enhance learner’s capabilities to realise their ambitions in their career change in becoming a teacher.
Rickie is a leader in strategic planning, execution, management and evaluation of initial teacher education academic courses with a reputation for innovative course and unit concept, design, implementation, and review with a focus on advocating access to education for those in regional, rural and remote communities.
General
Background
Prior to joining CQUniversity in 2005, Rickie built a strong foundation in education through a successful 10-year career as a secondary school teacher. During this time, he taught across a diverse range of subject areas, including Drama, Media, Film and Television, Visual Art, Music, and Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE). This broad teaching experience provided him with a deep understanding of curriculum design, student engagement, creative pedagogies, and the practical realities of schooling across multiple disciplines.
Following his appointment to CQUniversity, Rickie progressed through a range of academic and leadership positions, culminating in his role as Deputy Dean Learning and Teaching in 2026. In this capacity, he provides strategic and operational leadership for academic staff, educational programs, curriculum development, quality assurance processes, and student outcomes. He is responsible for leading organisational change, fostering a culture of excellence in learning and teaching, supporting staff development and performance, and building partnerships with schools, professional bodies, and community stakeholders.
Drawing upon his extensive experience as both a school educator and university leader, Rickie has developed a comprehensive understanding of the educational continuum from teacher preparation through to professional practice. His career has been characterised by a commitment to educational quality, innovation, and the advancement of the teaching profession, supported by significant contributions to academic governance, policy development, teacher education accreditation, and professional standards at institutional, state, and national levels.
Rickie's expertise in Arts education is further demonstrated through his service as a member of the Rockhampton District Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Senior Film, Television and New Media Panel and the Mackay District QCAA Senior Drama Panel. In these roles, he contributed to the moderation and quality assurance of senior secondary assessment and curriculum implementation. He was also a founding member of the Rockhampton Arts Network, reflecting his long-standing commitment to fostering arts education and cultural engagement within the region. Through these experiences, Rickie has developed significant expertise in Arts curriculum, pedagogy, assessment practices, and creative learning environments.
Universities Studied At
Doctor of Philosophy CQUniversity
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) CQUniversity
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) CQUniversity
Bachelor of Arts CQUniversity
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment CSaT
Universities Worked At
CQUniversity 2005 - Present
Awards
2025 Queensland College of Teachers TEACHX Emeritus Professor Nola Alloway Excellence in Teacher Education Award
Rickie is the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Queensland College of Teachers TEACHX Emeritus Professor Nola Alloway Excellence in Teacher Education Award, recognising his significant contribution to teacher education over 24 years at CQUniversity. This included pioneering Queensland's first fully online postgraduate teacher education program, which has expanded access for aspiring teachers in regional and remote communities. Rickie's contribution to the teaching profession continues through his advocacy and commitment to providing equitable access to high-quality teacher education, strengthening pathways into the profession, and supporting the preparation of well-equipped, classroom-ready graduates. Through his leadership, innovation, and dedication to educational excellence, he has made a lasting impact on teacher education, professional standards, and the development of the teaching workforce across Queensland and Australia.
Media Citations
Schooling for the Future (July 2026) (CQU Be Magazine)
Ultimate education power list: Who really runs Queensland schools (10 June 2026) (Courier Mail)
TEACHX Awards: Top Queensland teachers honoured (16 October 2025) (Education Review)
Award honour for educator (21 October 2025) (CQToday)
Educator recognised among Queensland’s best (8 October 2025) (CQUni News)
CQUni’s hand in learning at home initiative to have big imprint (18 June 2020) (CQUni News)
Parents not expected to replicate classroom experience, says Education expert (8 April 2020) (CQUni News)
CQUni’s hand in learning at home initiative to have big imprint (18 June 2020) (CQUni News)
Students Teaching Teachers (July 2019) (Capricornus Quarterly - The Rockhampton Grammar School)
Fast-tracking a greater diversity of teachers for Aussie classrooms (29 August 2017) (CQUni News)
Budding teachers offered helping hand (7 June 2017) (CQUni News)
Schools happy to 'byte' into Uni's stock of surplus computers (15 August 2011) (CQUni News)
Back to school for student teachers (24 September, 2010) (CQUni News)
Jet pilot lands job as 'rocket science' teacher (10 August 2010) (CQUni News)
Kate off to Rome thanks to 'saint praise' (2 August 2010) (CQUni News)
Fledgling teachers scoop pool in national WebQuest competition (26 March 2009) (CQUni News)
Book launch recognises scholarly projects (20 March 2008) (CQUni News)
Jade secures teaching position before finishingstudy (January 2007) (CQUni News)
Students hoping to 'perform' well in job market (8 March 2006) (CQUni News)
Unconventional staging a feature of performance (27 May 2005) (CQUni News)
Previous teaching
Department of Education, Queensland
- Pioneer State High School (1997 - 1999) Subject Coordinator (Drama)
- Yeppoon State High School (2000 - 2004) Head of Department (The Arts)
Professional Experience
Originally seconded from the Department of Education, Queensland to teach within the secondary initial teacher education course to bring industry currency, Rickie is now a teaching scholar and full-time academic within the School of Education and the Arts.
Rickie has had extensive experience in tertiary training for pre-service teachers, as well as drama and theatre studies within The Arts.
RIckie has also designed and taught units in Contemporary Performance within the Bachelor of Arts course at CQUniversity and Stagecraft and Design and Staging Performance units within the Bachelor of Performing Arts course at CQUniversity.
Rickie has designed, implemented and managed the external professional accreditation for a range of teacher education courses at CQUniversity as Head of Course:
- Master of Teaching (Primary)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
- Diploma of Secondary School Teaching (Major)
- Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (Secondary)
- Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (Primary)
- Bachelor of Learning Management (Secondary and Vocational Education and Training)
Professional Memberships
Queensland College of Teachers (Registered Teacher) - Registration Number 774961
Queensland Council of Deans of Education (QCDE)
Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM)
Drama Queensland
Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA)
Queensland Art Teachers Association (QATA)
Responsibilities
Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching), CQUniversity
As Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching), Rickie provides strategic leadership for learning and teaching across the School, driving excellence in student learning, curriculum innovation, academic quality, and student success.
The role involves overseeing curriculum development and review, accreditation and compliance processes, quality assurance activities, and the implementation of institutional and national higher education standards.
Working closely with academic staff, university leadership, professional bodies, and external stakeholders, Rickie leads initiatives that enhance the student experience, support evidence-based teaching practices, strengthen graduate outcomes, and advance the School's strategic learning and teaching priorities.
His responsibilities also include fostering academic staff capability, leading continuous improvement processes, and ensuring programs remain relevant, responsive, and aligned with industry and professional requirements.
Key Achievements
Accredited Professional Accreditation Panelist
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Stage 1 Chair Training (completed 14 November 2016)
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Stage 1 Panelist Training (completed 15-16 November 2016)
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Stage 2 Chair Training (completed 24 March 2018)
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Stage 2 Panelist Training (completed 24 March 2018)
Queensland College of Teacher (QCT) Core Content Panelist Training (completed 23 April 2025)
Consultancy Work
National Training Package
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) (2019) National Training Package for Initial Teacher Education
Expert Advisory Groups
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) (2018 - 2019) Stage 2 Professional Accreditation Expert Advisory Group
National Course Accreditation (TEQSA)
Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) Supply of expert advisory services - External Review of HEI Initial Teacher Education Courses for Accreditation
National External Professional Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Courses Panel (AITSL/QCT)
Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) (2017- current) Chair - Professional Accreditation Panel - National Stage 1 and 2 Accreditation against the AITSL (2015) Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia - Standards and Procedures
Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) (2014) Member - Professional Accreditation Panel - Queensland Accreditation against the QCT (2007) Program Approval Guidelines for Preservice Teacher Education
Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) (2013) Member - Professional Accreditation Panel - Queensland Accreditation against the QCT (2007) Program Approval Guidelines for Preservice Teacher Education
Research Supervision
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 3904 Specialist Studies in Education
Current Capacity
Current Supervision
Research Interests
Specialist Studies in Education - Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators
