Happy Students, Happy Clients

Don't just take our word for it – our fantastic previous students think we're pretty good too...

Haylee T.

I would have to say that I am lucky and very honoured, to have had Spencer Steiner as one of my Teachers at Federation University Australia, for the Diploma/Advanced Diploma of Live Production, Theatre and Events/Technical Services/Technical Management.

Without Spencer I would not have been able to get where I am today, and that is including in my career and my life. Going into the course I already knew a lot about Theatre and Live Production at High School, but I learnt more at University with Spencer.

The way Spencer teaches is fantastic, he always made sure everyone understood what we were learning about, he was very hands on with teaching us about Health and Safety, Lighting Fixtures, Rigging, Programming, and Production Management.

Even when it came to putting on our fortnightly shows, he was always checking on us to see if there were any problems he could help with, he would even jump on the follow spot if we needed an extra hand, you could always count on him to be there to guide us.

Nothing was a dumb question with Spencer, he always encouraged us to learn and push ourselves to do and be the best we can be. The knowledge that I have learnt from Spencer regarding Lighting and Theatre and Production Management inspired me to get out into those fields of work.

A few years ago, I got a job with Carnival Cruise Lines as a Lighting Technician, and I can honestly say that without Spencer’s help in University I probably would not have been as successful in that job. As I am a female in the field, sometimes people do not believe you when you know about the technical side of things. But I remembered everything Spencer taught me, about Lighting, how to program lights, how to change bulbs correctly, how intelligent lighting works, Health and safety procedures and time management skills.

Fast forward to now and I am volunteering with my local theatre company every year doing Lighting Design/ Programming/Operating and assisting in Health and Safety. I do not think I would be able to help my community without the skills and knowledge that I learnt from Spencer’s teachings.

I wish him and his future students all the best of success in their chosen field of interest.

Kiran B.

My name is Kiran, and I am a former student of Mr. Spencer Steiner, formerly at Ballarat School of Minds now Federation University. Under his educational rigor I gained a greater understanding and knowledge of Theatre Arts and Technical Production skills, in particular Lighting, Sound and Audio Visual rigging and stage design, stage management and video editing techniques. His confident yet approachable manner of teaching made my time with him both fun and highly educational and gave me the skills I still use to this day. I’ve utilised and practiced the lessons learned from Spencer throughout my employment history and I reflect fondly on those times in particular the confidence he gave me while working and operating safely at height.

Spencer brings a unique and valuable energy that is immediately recognisable, he is not just a teacher but a great friend and confidant when such situations arise, in addition to his personality, he demonstrates a high range of skills in both technical knowledge and teaching styles, he adapts himself to every situation and has a strong empathetic sense for other peoples character and finds the best way to bring his students out of themselves and into their study and work. I know I, and my fellow students got a great deal of long term, successful education both formally and informally from Spencer and he would often join us for after school projects and lead us as mentor and friend in the following months after study in helping connect us with employment opportunities as well as just being a springboard for myself and others to bounce ideas off. If you are currently considering Spencer for your institution I cannot recommend him highly enough, he is of outstanding character and has had a lasting positive effect on me both professionally and emotionally, he carries himself I a way that inspires others to emulate his actions and he always leads by example, you can trust a man like Spencer to look out for you and give you honest and constructive feedback.

Thank you for taking the time to read my recommendation as I can honestly attest to Spencer’s character as both a teacher and a person, people like him are a rarity and you’d be making a best choice learning from him.

Nathan A.

I have had the pleasure of knowing and training under Mr. Spencer Steiner during my time of study at Federation University Ballarat Victoria. Spencer was appointed to Federation University during my second year of my Advanced Diploma in Live Production Theatre and Events.

Upon his arrival he immediately increased the quality and profile of the studies at the University, to an incredible new level – renowned by the industry around Victoria and New South Wales.

He provided me an excellent knowledge in Theatre operation specialising in Lighting, Lighting Design, Lighting operations, Occupational Health and Safety, Procedures and Policies, Rigging, and Safe Work practices, and Production Management.

Above all as many were distant learners travelling long distances to attend University, he provided support for study programming, live events, examinations and personal welfare.

Spencer’s teaching methods exceeded the norm with him encouraging his students to find the best method for themselves and working alongside them in the way they see fit.

Spencer has an outstanding knowledge of the entertainment industry – particularly focusing on lighting. His worldly experience gave incredible insight into the industry that I was aspiring to enter

I have always found Spencer to be honest, reliable and trustworthy.

He is an expert at what he does, an outstanding teacher and mentor, and has at all times the student’s interests foremost.

I found him to be a wonderful educator, communicator, mentor that was always willing to go over and above for the benefits of the students.

I have been truly blessed to have learnt my profession from such a wonderful person.

I have no hesitation in recommending Spencer as an outstanding person to fulfil any role associated within the Teaching profession.

Markus M.

My time learning from Mr. Steiner was not just academically enriching, but also assisted me in personal growth in a number of other areas of my life. For example one such area was managing my anxiety while undertaking stressful tasks. I had a rather healthy fear of heights before undertaking the coarse.

I was lucky enough to learn from Mr. Steiner at Federation University SMB campus when he trained my class in a number of disciplines, including but not limited to :

• Developing, maintaining and implementing WHS (work health & safety) management systems.

• Realizing lighting designs.

• Collaboration of creative projects.

• Introduction to stage lighting.

• Colour theory. Including additive and subtractive colour mixing.

Upon beginning work for the first task I learned we would be working at height throughout the next few years I became anxious, as did a few other students. Mr. Steiner took the time to help each student individually work on becoming more comfortable with working at height. I happened to need more time, and as a result Mr. Steiner allowed me to stay after class a few times that week and sat with me at the top of the scaffolding until I felt comfortable enough to stand.

Eventually I was able to hang a light on my own and before I knew it working atop the scaffolding was one of my favourite tasks.

Mr. Steiner takes the time and effort to ensure each student feels safe, comfortable and capable of each task before he moves on, including spending additional time with students who might need some additional support or guidance.

Mr. Steiner is approachable, hardworking, friendly and extremely competent for any role.

He always had a lesson plan prepared well in advance, and was able to manage assisting students with overdue work while also presenting a new technique or subject to the class in a way that was easy to follow along and learn. He encouraged students to share ideas and fostered a healthy learning environment in both theory and practical classes.

I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to study something I am so passionate about under a teacher who is so experienced and open to sharing his knowledge.

In summary, I highly recommend and support Mr. Steiner in his ambition to tutor future students.

ANDREW H.

Spencer taught me everything I know about this industry and I could not be more grateful. There is always one thing I always remembered Spencer telling us every day, that has stuck with me even years later, and that is “never assume anything”. Which to me can translate to so many things in everyday life as well as in the theatre production industry.

Spencer is an amazing teacher; he always has his students’ best interest at heart and strives for them to learn every day. You would be very fortunate to have Spencer teach you what he knows, and I can truly say he has a positive impact on everyone around him. I wish all the best for my former teacher, I hope you can see why students like me were so lucky and proud to have someone like Spencer throughout University, he may be a teacher but he is also a friend and a mentor.