Professional Experience (Teaching & Research)

Florence Boulard 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 as an international student to pursue her tertiary studies. An alumna from the University of Queensland, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in modern languages in 2006. 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 tutor 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 also the Director of the Academy of Modern Languages which has been running for over 20 years at the Townsville campus and was extended to Cairns under her leadership in 2015. 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.

Leadership for Community Engagement

1. Young Language Ambassador

Program started in 2014 which engages each year over 50 schools across QLD and the Pacific Islands. To date, Florence successfully planned and delivered 10 conferences which welcomed over 1500 students and teachers across Queensland as well as the Pacific Islands (Vanuatu and French Polynesia). The aim of the program is to support language education (both teachers and students) at all levels (primary, secondary and terriary). Florence successfully applied and 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. The AML junior program is supported by the Department of Education QLD since 2016. To date over 200 scholarships were secured and distributed to students in North and Far North QLD. In 2020 due to the COVID19 pandemic, AML classes were offered online and the Department of Education International provided over 150 scholarships for students throughout QLD to participate in our JCU language short courses. Total funding received to date for this program is over $150,000.

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 since 2017. Total funding received to date is over $70,000.

Video: Young Explorers in Vanuatu and New Caledonia

Teaching

BA1001: Time, Truth and the Human Condition (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
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)
FR1201: Intermediate French 1 (Level 1; TSV)
FR2201: Intermediate French 1 (Level 2; TSV)

Interests

Research

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

Experience

2020 to present - ACER Consultant (Secondary Education Curriculum Development for the French Pacific) In partnership with DFAT and the Ministry of Education (Paris, France.), Australian Council for Educational Research
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 JCU)
2018 to present - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2013 to present - Director, Academy of Modern Languages, JCU (Townsville and Cairns)
2019 to 2020 - Guest Lecturer, P&O Cruise (Pacific Islands Region)
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

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

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 - Selected JCU Finalist for National OTL Citation Awards for Teaching and Learning, Australia.
2015 - Award of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, JCU.
2011 - Highly Commended for Excellence in Beginning to Teach, Queensland College of Teachers.

Fellowships

2021 - Journal Editor and Vice President of QLD Modern Language Teachers Association
2021 - Director on AAAE Board (Australian Alliance of of Associations in Education)
2020 - Vice-President Modern Language Teachers Association Queensland (MLTAQ)
2019 - Adjunct Associate Professor at Tahiti Business School (ECT), French Polynesia

Memberships

2020 - Academic Board Member JCU (Teaching Expert acting role from February to September 2020)
2012 - MLTAQ member
2008 - Alliance Francaise Member

Other

2021 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for Vanuatu $33,000
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

Publications

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 (2021) Report on the Language Teachers’ Forum 22 October 2020. MLTAQ Journal, 172, pp. 23-26.
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 Funding

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

French Embassy - Australia - Fonds Pacifique

Smart Islands Program: Fostering Collaboration between Australians and Polynesians

Indicative Funding: $14,650 over 1 year
Summary: This project primarily aims at contributing to the French Polynesian Smart Islands program, a spearhead initiative of the Polynesian Government. Research wise, the objective is to focus on two of the four core pillars of the program: Tourism and the Circular Economy. While applied research and transfer of expertise remain the catalyst of our contribution as a team, the project also involves broader aspects: education to issues specific to the Pacific (e.g. climate change) and student exchanges (DFTA NCP); commercial relations through the French Polynesia Regional Group and institutional partnership with Tahiti Business School, of key importance to diplomatic funding.
Investigators: Florence Boulard and Stephane Le Queux in collaboration with Tingzhen Chen, Adrian Kuah, Breda McCarthy and Laurie Murphy (College of Arts, Society & Education, College of Business, Law & Governance and Corporate P&L)
Keywords: Tourism; Circular Economy; Sustainable Development; Education to Pacific Societies

Supervision

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)