This was my second trip with GT and I loved every moment of it. Sri Lanka was so beautiful and every person I met was lovely and so happy to share their culture and country with me. The school was a fantastic experience. We were welcomed the minute we got there and students and teachers were so eager to learn from us. Fair warning, you'll need a second suitcase to fit all the gifts given to you by staff, students and families! I travelled with an amazing group. With everyone being so open minded and flexible, we got to visit places not in the original itinerary, including a safari where I got to see the beautiful elephants in their natural environment. Absolutely recommend to anyone looking to fill their soul and remember why you went into education in the first place.

Travelling to Vanuatu in 2026 with Global Teacher was an incredibly enriching and life-changing experience. It was the ultimate win-win: I had the privilege of fully immersing myself in a beautiful culture while collaborating with local educators to share professional knowledge and skills. The Global Teacher leaders were true professionals who handled every logistics detail seamlessly but also had a great sense of humour. No challenge was too big for them, and their constant support allowed us to focus entirely on our mission. One of the absolute highlights was witnessing the pure, radiant joy on the children's faces when we brought out bubbles and chalk for some playtime. It is a heartwarming memory I will cherish forever. I have made lifelong friends through this journey, and I truly believe that every educator should experience a Global Teacher program. It is an invaluable opportunity to grow both personally and professionally!

The trip to Vanuatu was an amazing experience. It only did I get to work with beautiful children ,I met some incredible educators. Everything about the experience was so well organized and an experience I won't forget.I recommend it to all teachers

Sri Lanka has been such a phenomenal experience through the GT program. It was the first time any of us had been to Sri Lanka and the first time this program had been run there, which made it even more special. We all met in Colombo and instantly clicked as a group. From there, we travelled by private van to Batticaloa, stopping along the way to visit a national park where we saw beautiful elephants in their natural habitat. We also had the opportunity to climb Pidurangala Rock, with incredible views overlooking Sigiriya (Lion Rock). The history of Lion Rock was amazing to learn about. Arriving in Batticaloa, the school completely stole my heart. The campus was surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, creating such a peaceful environment to learn in. We were welcomed with so much kindness and gratitude by Father Roshan, and it didn’t take long to build genuine connections with the staff. My time at the school was truly unforgettable. I was surrounded by an amazing team, and I formed such strong connections with both the students and staff. I loved seeing the different ways they approached learning, and they were so open and excited to embrace some of the teaching strategies I shared. Leaving the school was incredibly difficult because the relationships we built became so meaningful. Receiving personalised cards from the students and staff was such a thoughtful gesture that I will always treasure. After our time at the school, we had the chance to unwind in the beautiful beaches of Pasikudah before travelling to Kandy, where we enjoyed an incredible cultural dance performance. We also added Bentota to our journey, which was the perfect way to finish the trip with a relaxing river safari before returning to Colombo. A huge thank you to Mike, whose leadership, flexibility and support throughout the trip were exceptional. He made the experience seamless and enjoyable for everyone. This trip has given me memories that I’ll cherish forever, friendships, and experiences that I will never forget. I cannot recommend Sri Lanka enough. It is a country filled with breathtaking beauty, incredibly kind people, and experiences that will stay with you long after you leave.

This was my first experience with Global Teacher (to Vanuatu) and without a doubt it has a had a big impact on my life. To see how fellow educators practice their craft (both those from Australia and those in the local setting) was a great learning experience for me. As a believer that we need to be lifelong students, going to a new environment stretches you and this experience is a powerful teacher. I have a greater appreciation of how many resources we actually have at our finger tips (though often don't realise or acknowledge how privileged we are) and the power of teaching with minimum resources and being flexible. While the local teachers appreciated receiving resources and being encouraged to expand their skills, they too had a lot to offer us. Their ability to be creative and productive, with what many of us might deem as out of date or inadequate, was evident in their enthusiasm and commitment to do their best with what they had. Meeting the children was a highlight. How happy they were with life in general and so excited to see us return each day - it just melted your heart. How I wish children in Australia could see what can be achieved with little, and then I turn learn to be more content with less. Watching the children here play, engage, and be excited to be at school was a joy to see. There is also a lot to be learnt about being flexible, non judgemental, open to change, and not tied to a time schedule or clock/watch. The preparation, communication and direction/guidance of the leadership, pre-trip and while we were there was fantastic. Sheridan and Ilana lead us with confidence, flexibility and inclusively. They, along with Mike, did much behind the scene work, negotiating with departmental officials, local schools, principals and staff with patience and integrity. When Ilana needed to return home due to illness, Sheridan stepped up even more to carry the responsibilities on her own, and was diligent in communicating what needed to be done and when. One cannot ignore that the program also gave time to enjoy many of the delights of the country. We were free to select additional adventures on our own, or with others, depending on who was interested, available and game to totally push yourself outside your comfort zone. As a group, we often chose to do things together, either as a whole group or smaller groups, but for those needing some space for themselves, that was also available. It is my intention to join another team, be it returning to Vanuatu and/or another country. I would highly recommend for all teachers to consider signing up for a Global Teacher experience, so well planned and executed by Mike Stanley and his team of dedicated and well organised leaders.