Schools across the country have welcomed 161 new teachers who are entering classrooms this year in the latest intake of Teach For Australia’s Leadership Development Program.
The Teach For Australia (TFA) Associates are teaching in 94 schools in Tasmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria and South Australia as part of Cohort 2022.
The Leadership Development Program is a two-year study-employment pathway to teaching which recruits exceptional graduates and career changers. Known as ‘Associates’ the TFA teachers are placed in secondary schools where workforce needs are greatest, teaching subjects directly related to their previous careers and studies.
While teaching, TFA Associates complete their Master of Teaching and receive coaching and mentoring to accelerate their professional development.
Around 68 per cent of TFA’s 2022 Associates are teaching in schools in regional or remote locations where subject specialists can be hard to secure, and nearly 50 per cent are qualified to teach STEM subjects, helping to fill vacancies where significant shortages persist.
CEO Melodie Potts Rosevear said Teach for Australia’s impact continues to expand to communities throughout Australia.
“Great teachers can be life-changing for the students in their classroom,” she said.
“This year’s Cohort includes scientists, business managers, engineers, writers, even a couple of professional music and dance teachers, who are joining recent graduates and academics from other tertiary fields begin new careers of impact in education.
“TFA’s Leadership Development Program is Australia’s leading employment-based pathway into teaching. Our high-calibre Associates are recruited through a rigorous process before their skills and subject expertise are matched with existing teacher vacancies in our partner schools.
“The schools and students benefit from the recruitment of additional teachers with exceptional skills and expertise in their field, while the Associates have a supported opportunity to complete their Master’s qualification while having impact in the classroom from day one.
“Students are at the heart of TFA’s work. We develop future educators and leaders because we want all students to have a quality education where they gain the knowledge, skills and confidence they need now and into their future.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impacts our newest Associates bring to their classrooms and wider school communities, where they will teach around 25,000 students over TFA’s two-year program.”
This year marks the 13th Cohort of the Leadership Development Program and applications are now open for next year’s intake.
“We continue to grow a dedicated community of educational leaders who are working together to tackle educational disadvantage in Australia,” Ms Potts Rosevear said.
“Since 2010, more than 1200 teachers have come to the classroom via Teach for Australia, teaching more than 440,000 students – and 88 per cent continue to teach and lead in schools or work with other education-focused organisations.
“Our vision is centred on ensuring a quality education that gives all children, regardless of background, greater choice for their future. If you’re ready to change your life – and so many others – start you application today.”
