About Us
Mission Statement
GALE promotes the study of German language and culture in Victorian schools. Through partnering with German universities, we facilitate the placement of student teachers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to work as volunteer assistants in classrooms where German is taught in a LOTE program.
Our Core Values
In today’s increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill that gives our children the opportunity to engage with the world in a meaningful way. Whether in our neighbourhood or thousands of miles away — while better preparing all students to succeed in the global economy.
Language skills can be a significant competitive advantage that sets you apart from your monolingual peers. Language competencies are among the top skills required in all occupations — no matter the sector or skill level — and the demand for bilingual professionals is rising exponentially.
The Team at GALE
Our Patron: Associate Professor Axel Fliethmann Axel Fliethmann is an internationally recognised scholar in the fields of literary theory, media philology, and theory of the image.
He studied Literature, History, and Philosophy at the University of Cologne (Germany) where he also received his PhD (DPhil). Before joining Monash University, he was a post-doctoral Fellow at the research centre ‘Medien und Kulturelle Kommunikation’ (Centre for media and cultural communication) at the University of Cologne.
His monograph Stellenlektüre Stifter — Foucault, published by Niemeyer in 2001, engages with epistemological paradoxes in the fields of philology and literary theory. His monograph Texte über Bilder. Zur Gegenwart der Renaissance, published by Rombach in 2014, conceptualises media philology as a new field of inquiry between traditional philology and media theory. His current monograph investigates connections between material images and concepts of imagination in Early Modern Times, in particular intersections between image technologies, the formation of the modern concept of imagination in aesthetic theory, and pathologies of imagination in medical discourse.
He is widely published in the fields of literary theory, visual cultures, and media philology and one of the co-founders and co-editors of Limbus. Australian Yearbook of German Literary and Cultural Studies.
Axel Fliethmann is a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
President: Jaymie Magnik is a Court Registrar at the Children’s Court in Melbourne. She gained her BA (Hons) and her Diploma of Education from Deakin University. Jaymie’s grandparents came to Australia from Austria, and Jaymie is very interested in the German language.
Treasurer: John Magnik is a first-generation Australian of parents who migrated from Austria in the early 1950s. (His German language skills always improve during his visits to family and friends in Europe!)
He has engaged in a somewhat eclectic work career beginning as a doe-eyed apprentice in the Printing Industry as a Hand Compositor. From there he transitioned to Trade Teacher at TAFE and later lectured at university for many years. Whilst actively engaged in the Education sector, he has successfully undertaken a number of roles both within Australia and internationally before retiring from his position as Programs Director at the International Centre of Graphic Technology at RMIT. Remaining within Education, his final position was that of Victorian Education Executive within the Financial Services sector of TAFE.
He is a published author, consultant, lecturer, and has been a Key Note Speaker at international conventions. He holds a Master of Education (Education and Leadership) from RMIT, in addition to a plethora of other qualifications in both Printing and Financial Services.
Hovig Melkonian is passionate about social justice and workers’ rights; to this end he works for UNI Asia Pacific a Global Union Federation as Director of Organising. Hovig recently completed the Monash MBA and has a Bachelor of Mechatronic and Manufacturing Engineering from RMIT University. Hovig is of second-generation German Australian ancestry through his maternal grandparents who came to Australia in the 1950s. Hovig is fluent in German and passionate about the promotion of a linguistically diverse multicultural society.
Secretary: Eva Windisch has taught Humanities in private and public schools in Melbourne, specialising in German language and culture. She organised and facilitated student exchange programs between Australia and Germany. Eva is passionate about literature and for many years was the publishing editor of the literary magazine Tirra Lirra. She taught writing and editing at Swinburne University. Born in Oldenburg in Germany, Eva speaks fluent German.
Suyin Chan is the coordinator of the recently established Lilydale Community House. A qualified Community Development worker, Suyin is passionate about engaging the community in an inclusive way to build connections and resilience. Suyin’s previous role was as a Community Development worker for the Warburton and Jarra Junction franchises of the Bendigo Bank. Suyin runs a charity, Koha Community Café, which provides weekly meals for people who need it.