Woman of influence

Jennifer Star, the founder of Tara.Ed - an NGO that aims to improve education for India’s poor and to build cross-cultural links between Australia and India - has been included in the 2014 list of “Australian 100 Women of Influence.”

Compiled by the “Australian Financial Review” and Westpac, the list of 100 women was divided into ten categories. Ms Star was placed in the “Young Leaders” category for women aged up to 30, who “demonstrate a capacity to influence and act as catalysts for change.”

She is one of two Deakin women to make this category in 2014, along with Deakin Criminologist Dr Kate Fitz-Gibbon.

“The work I do to empower women and girls in a culture that often does not afford the support and freedoms we have in Australia has opened my eyes to the opportunities that are available to women in Australia,” said Ms Star.

“Being an Australian woman is indeed a privilege. I hope to use this award to highlight the plight of others and encourage other Australian women to make a difference to the lives of those less fortunate.”

Jennifer Star is no stranger to success, having been named “NSW Young Australian of the Year” in 2012 for her work with Tara.Ed, which she founded in 2008 at the age of 21.

In 2007, she was named one of only 75 Goldman Sachs Global Leaders worldwide - and she is the recipient of an Order of Australia Commendation Medallion for service to the global and local community.

Initially undertaking training in archaeology, she made the move to education after spending three months as a volunteer in the slums of Jaipur in 2006.

Ms Star completed her teacher training in NSW, followed by a Masters in International and Comparative Education at Oxford University and is now undertaking her PhD, supervised by Deakin’s Professor Christine Halse, Chair in Education in the Faculty of Arts and Education.

“I am thrilled and excited that the valuable work that Jennifer has been doing has been recognised,” said Professor Halse.

“Tara.Ed is an NGO that provides pre-service teachers with experience in working with the most disadvantaged in regional and rural schools in India. Jennifer’s doctoral thesis builds on this practical and valuable work. It will identify the ingredients for an effective pre-service experience in India to create a generation of Australian teachers who are ‘India literate.’”

Tara.Ed facilitates teacher training, teacher tours, scholarships and fundraising to improve resources within Indian schools. It also aims to create cross cultural links between Australian and Indian Schools.

It has been an outstanding success, with 250 Indian and 50 volunteer Australian teachers having worked with 21 schools in India and 6500 children.

Given she has not yet reached 30, Ms Star has big plans for Tara.Ed, so that she can make a real difference in India.  As evidence of her immense determination, she has also been an elite athlete in the sport of Judo, having represented NSW and Australia - and managing to achieve a bronze medal in the 2005 Youth Olympics, despite a broken leg. She was ranked 9th in her division in the World Championships in 2009.

Such strength and determination suggest that if anyone can achieve this goal it will be Jennifer Star.