Faces of HEIA - Ngaire Mayo
4th June 2025
Can you tell us a little about your background and what brought you to the HEIA Council?
I have been a Home Economics teacher and a member of HEIA for over 20 years. Before teaching, I worked in Hospitality, which sparked my passion for food. This passion led to my first active involvement with HEIA in 2013, when I joined the Queensland state conference committee for Food! Nutrition! Futures! An education perspective. I quickly found that I enjoyed the collegiate conversations and the professional development that comes with planning a conference. Now, 12 years later, I find myself deeply involved in planning the 2025 HEIA(Q) conference.
In 2019, I was invited to join the HEIA Council as the Queensland representative. Since then, I have served as an Executive Member and, more recently, as Secretary.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the HEIA Council, and what is a recent highlight from your involvement?
The most rewarding aspect of being part of the HEIA Council is the opportunity to learn from experienced home economists across Australia and to work together to advocate for the role of home economics education in today’s schools. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with outstanding educators to deliver professional development workshops at both the state and national levels. I love learning new things and discovering innovative ways of working from my colleagues. 'Teaching the teacher' has been a fantastic way to grow in this profession!
How do you see your role on the Council contributing to HEIA’s goals and future?
I will continue to advocate for our subject area. We’re not just teachers of “sewin’ and cookin’” – we are dynamic, creative, and adaptable educators who challenge students to think critically, design and refine concepts, and apply real-world skills to produce products they can be proud of. As the winner of HEIA(Q)’s student design competition said last year ‘Home Economics is a superpower that changes lives!’
(Source: https://www.instagram.com/heiaqld/p/DHb0UTWIc-b/)
What advice would you give to members looking to get more involved with HEIA’s committees or initiatives?
Get involved! Just do it – no matter how big or small the role, give it a go. You will meet truly inspirational colleagues, expand your knowledge, and know that you are making a difference in supporting home economics now and into the future.
