New guidelines have been released to improve professional experience programs for initial teacher education (ITE) students and address Australia’s school workforce shortages.
Recent studies have shown high school graduates taking up education degrees declined by 20% in 2023 compared to last year – the lowest rate since 2016.
The new ‘Professional Experience Guidelines’, developed by the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and approved by states and territories, are based on research showing teaching students who have positive prac experience are more likely to graduate, make a successful transition to teaching and stay in teaching long term.
“We’re fixing the core content taught at university with the sort of things that teachers say they need to be ready from day one, like how to teach children to read and write and do maths, as well as improving practical training,” Federal Education Minister, Jason Clare, said today.
AITSL CEO Tim Bullard said professional experience offers a supportive environment where future teachers can transform their theory into practice and start to appreciate how they can shape the learning lives of Australian young people.
“The new guidelines will help to clarify roles and responsibilities, improve consistency of quality, and reduce administrative burden for teacher education providers, education systems, schools, early childhood settings and regulatory authorities,” Bullard said.
“We want to set up every pre-service teacher for success and do all that we can to ensure their professional experience is a positive experience – whether they are in a metropolitan city, regional town or remote community, and whether they are 18 years old or have decided to make the shift to teaching mid-career.”
The announcement was welcomed by the Australian Catholic University (ACU) – Australia’s largest provider of teachers.
“It is vital our preservice teachers have diverse in-school experiences and opportunities to blend theory and practice to allow for professional growth and increased confidence in their knowledge, skills, and abilities,” ACU Executive Dean of Education and Arts Professor Mary Ryan said.
“This gives them a chance to put ACU’s evidence-based teachings in areas including explicit teaching, formative assessment, effective classroom management techniques, and literacy and numeracy practices into action.”
Professor Ryan said it is important for teachers as lifelong learners to continue to upskill as the demands on the profession continue to evolve and to grow.
“ACU is a university where initial teacher education students can learn the skills and knowledge to enter the profession at the highest graduate standard, career-changers can access pathways to help them successfully make the move, and established teachers can continue an upward trajectory through further qualifications.”