Paulina was born in Darwin and grew up in Perth. Her First Nations connections are to the Kungarakan and Yanyuwa peoples of the Northern Territory.

Paulina is Director, Aboriginal Education Teaching and Learning in the WA Department of Education. She has a wealth of experience in education, including as a teacher and academic tutor in Western Australia, and as a teacher and school leader in the Northern Territory. Paulina was recently an Assistant Professor within the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Western Australia.

Paulina’s current role is to lead the planning and development of support to improve teaching and learning for WA’s Aboriginal students, consistent with the strategic directions of the public school system. The foundation and driver for this is implementation of the Department’s Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework.

Paulina is particularly interested in the importance of transformative learning and how this is positioned in initial teacher education, teacher development and administration.  Paulina is focused on having high expectations for Aboriginal students and values the importance of equity and diversity as strengths and a resource in individuals, schools and communities.