Florence is Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning & senior lecturer in the College of Arts, Society and Education. She is originally from New Caledonia but came to Australia to pursue her tertiary studies. In 2006, she graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in modern languages. A year later she completed her Bachelor of Education while tutoring French for the School of Languages and Comparative Studies in UQ and undertaking translations for the Southbank Modern Art gallery in Brisbane.  In 2008, she moved to Townsville where she worked as a French high school teacher and language coordinator, and as a casual teacher for James Cook University. Her passion for teaching and learning led her to complete her Master in Education in 2011 at JCU for which she wrote a thesis on international education (international-mindedness). At this stage Florence also began teaching Foundation French for the University of New England. The same year, she received a highly commended from the QLD College of Teachers placing her in the top ten early career teachers in the state. After four years studying for her thesis, teaching high-school students full-time and tutoring at university after hours, Florence was offered a position as Modern Languages Coordinator and French lecturer for James Cook University. 

Florence has been an academic at James Cook University since 2012. She is overseeing the languages program which includes, French, Italian, Japanese and German. She is also the Director of the Academy of Modern Languages which runs from both JCU Cairns and Townsville campus. In sharing her passion for languages and culture, Florence works in partnership with a range of schools in Queensland and in the Pacific. Her community engagement work is led by her desire to build stronger internationally-minded communities.

Eager to continue improving her practice as an educator and develop herself as a researcher, she completed her PhD in Education in November 2017. Her thesis is entitled Making Australia's East Side Neighbours Visible.  Through her research, she aspires to develop a Pacific literate nation to help transform the imagery of the Pacific and better connect with all people in our region. 

Community Engagement

1. Young Language Ambassador

Program started in 2014. Received HEPPP B Competitive grant $31,747. Received Funding from Department of Education and Training QLD total since 2016 $50,000. 

Video: Annual YLA Conference

2. Academy of Modern Languages Junior

This program offers short language courses at JCU Cairns and Townsville campus during school holidays. Program started in 2015. Supported by the Department of Education since 2016. Received total funding of over $55,000 to distribute to students. Partnership agreement signed for an additional 120 scholarships until July 2019. 

Video: AML Junior Program

3. Young Explorers of the Tropics

This program is an extension of the YLA program and is combined with the JCU French Immersion program. Received funding from the Department of Education International QLD. Total funding received since 2017 $53,000. 

Video: Young Explorers in Vanuatu and New Caledonia

Teaching

• ED5981: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms and Communities (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
• ED5986: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms and Communities (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
• FR1001: Foundation French 1 (Level 1; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Florence's research focuses on Education, Curriculum, French Language, Virtual Reality, Pacific Studies and Pacific Politics.

Experience

• 2019 to present - Guest Lecturer, P&O Cruise (Pacific Islands Region)
• 2019 to present - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2019 to present - Adjunct Associate Professor, Tahiti Business School (ECT) (Papeete, French Polynesia)
• 2019 to present - Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2013 to present - Director, Academy of Modern Languages, JCU (Townsville and Cairns)
• 2012 to 2018 - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2010 to 2011 - Lecturer, University of New England
• 2009 to 2011 - Tutor (French Language), Academy of Modern Languages (Townsville JCU)
• 2008 to 2011 - Secondary School Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator, Education Queensland (Townsville)
• 2006 to 2007 - Translator (Film), Southbank Modern Art gallery (Brisbane)
• 2005 to 2007 - Tutor (French Language), University of Queensland (Brisbane St Lucia)

Research Disciplines

• Curriculum and Pedagogy (1302)
• Cultural Studies (2002)
• Tourism (1506)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Communication (9502)
• Curriculum (9303)
• Heritage (9503)

Awards

• 2019 - Modern Language Teacher's Association Queensland 60th Award for Excellence Contribution to Language Education in Queensland, Australia.
• 2017 - Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, JCU VC award.
• 2016 - Modern Language Teacher's Association Queensland Award for Excellence in Language Teaching. Queensland, Australia.
• 2015 - Award of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, JCU.
• 2015 - Selected JCU Finalist for National OTL Citation Awards for Teaching and Learning, Australia.
• 2011 - Highly Commended for Excellence in Beginning to Teach, Queensland College of Teachers.

Fellowships

• 2020 - Vice-President Modern Language Teachers Association Queensland (MLTAQ)
• 2019 - Adjunct Associate Professor at Tahiti Business School (ECT), French Polynesia

Memberships

• 2012 - MLTAQ member
• 2008 - Alliance Francaise Member

Other

• 2019 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for French Polynesia $33,000
• 2018 - Competitive Funding ELPSE Southern European Languages supporting JCU students to study in France/Italy/Germany $31,500
• 2017 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for New Caledonia $33,000
• 2016 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for Vanuatu $33,000
• 2015 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for Vanuatu $27,500
• 2014 - Competitive Funding Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program(STMP) for New Caledonia $21,500
• 2013 - Competitive Funding Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program(STMP) for New Caledonia $16,500

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Boulard F (2016) A North and Far North Queensland initiative: rethinking the 'why' when promoting languages education. Babel, 50 (2/3), pp. 1-15.
• Boulard F (2015) Australia's education futures and the east-side neighbours. Etropic: electronic journal of studies in the tropics, 14 (1), pp. 57-63, DOI:10.25120/etropic.14.1.2015.3367.

Book Chapters

• Boulard F (2020) Transformative curriculum in the French language classroom. In: Stimulating Languages and Learning: global perspectives and community engagement. Deep University Press, Blue Mounds, WI, USA

Conference Papers

• Taylor P and Boulard F (2014) Being a language educator in North Queensland: engaging initiatives to assist in the development of teacher quality. Proceedings of the Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference. In: ATEA 2014: Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference, 6-9 July 2014, Sydney, NSW, Australia
• Boulard F (2013) International-mindedness: the implications for pre-service teachers. Proceedings of the Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference. In: ATEA 2013: Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference, 30 June-3 July 2013, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Other research outputs

• Boulard F (2019) New cultures, new experiences: 4 ways to keep kids learning while travelling. The Conversation, .
• Boulard F (2019) The digital student experience in languages at university. [Presented at the 22nd AFMLTA International Languages Conference]. In: 22nd AFMLTA International Languages Conference: languages breaking through walls, 7-9 July 2019, Hobart, TAS, Australia
• Boulard F (2018) French classes in Australia need to acknowledge our Pacific neighbours too. The Conversation, 15 August 2018.
• Boulard F (2017) She is from the East. Etropic: electronic journal of studies in the tropics, 16 (2), p. 10, DOI:10.25120/etropic.16.2.2017.3628.
• Boulard F (2014) Educating for change: international-mindedness towards Australia's east-side neighbours. Posters from the Australian International Education Conference. In: AIEC 2014: Australian International Education conference, 7-10 October 2014, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Parental Involvement in Second Generation Immigrant Children's Japanese Language Maintenance (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Disrupting Power Positions through Translanguaging Pedagogies: The Case of Bangladeshi Higher Education (PhD , Secondary Advisor)