Having left school at 17, Coral returned to education in her mid 30s, completing a BSc in psychology, immediately followed by a PhD in Forensic Cognition. Coral’s teaching practice quickly evolved, experientially shaped by her own learning experiences as a mature student and a former police officer. She was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2012 for her widening participation agenda, providing access to diverse learning opportunities, in the community and the workplace, as well as in traditional learning environments.