About
Smart Study Now works with the principle that students learn in a variety of ways and the key to success is fostering a love for learning. Helping students understand their work is the best answer to motivational problems. Our strong focus is on personalising lesson delivery to cater to every student's academic needs and equip them with the confidence to approach their studies with more interest and motivation.
The goal is to work with our students to cover the fundamentals which may have been missed at school, mentor them through assessments, help revise for upcoming exams or assist in accelerating their knowledge and understanding of their syllabus content.
It is possible for every student to reach their academic goals. For some it comes easily; for others, it takes time. If students have not yet reached their academic goals, tutoring helps to figure out how to get them there and recognise their strengths and challenges to help them achieve their academic personal goals for the future.
Our dedication to our students is the most effective way to inspire them. We understand that learning from our students about their difficulties and building their self confidence to become independent learners is the key to enjoying the learning process.
About Smart Study Now's Founder
Ally Almazan-Appleby, the founder of Smart Study Now, is a dedicated educator and artist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Visual Arts and Literature, and a minor in Philosophy from the Australian Catholic University. Ally’s career in education began after she completed her HSC in 2002, earning a spot on the NSW Board of Studies Honour Roll. During university, she gained practical teaching experience, instructing Year 7 and Year 10 students in English and Visual Arts.
After working as a Workplace Trainer and Assessor in the VET (Vocational Education & Training) sector for organisations like Mission Australia and the Australian Taxation Office, Ally’s passion for teaching led her to tutoring. In 2008, she discovered the joy of entrepreneurship and founded Smart Study Now in 2011. Since then, she has helped hundreds of students succeed, with some even returning as tutors while completing their university degrees. Many of her former students have gone on to achieve remarkable success in various fields.
In addition to her teaching, Ally is an artist, expressing herself through painting, photography, sculpture, digital art, and playing the ukulele. Her work has been featured in ACU exhibits and published in InLife Magazine. In 2021, Ally received the Blacktown City Council’s Creative Arts Fund, which allowed her to create The Art Bucket Project, an art and literacy web video series for primary and early secondary students, blending her passion for art, writing, and teaching.
