Associate development

Teach For Australia’s award-winning Leadership Development Program develops highly effective teachers and leaders, building their knowledge, skills and mindsets to ensure that they have a positive impact on students and schools and make a lifelong commitment to breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

Leadership development

Teach For Australia delivers executive-style intensive programs, online learning, bespoke professional development sessions and ongoing peer and expert coaching and feedback.

Leadership development activities are designed to build the knowledge, skills and mindsets underpinned by the teaching and leadership principals. Leadership development activities also complement the Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Professional Practice) coursework and accelerate Associates’ progression against the Australian Professional Standards of Teachers.

The design and delivery of leadership development activities are responsive to the needs of Associates, government requirements and information as it updates on best practice in education.

Throughout the program, there is increasing choice at each intensive program and Associates are able to shape their learning to meet their individual strengths, challenges and context.

Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Professional Practice)

 The Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Professional Practice) is delivered by ACU.

Alongside core education studies, Associates complete studies in two secondary learning areas, choosing between: biology, chemistry, business studies, information communication technologies (ICT) and digital technologies, drama, engineering, English, English as a second language (TESOL), environmental science, geography, health, history, humanities, LOTE, mathematics, media studies, music, religious studies, psychology, science and visual arts.

Curriculum

Initial Intensive: October – January

The Initial Intensive (II) is a residential training program held at the beginning of the Program. II is designed to introduce Associates to all aspects of teaching and learning, preparing them to being teaching with a key focus on working in disadvantaged contexts.

During II, Associates:

• undertake learning modules that lay the foundations for their leadership development and teaching practice in the following two years;
• complete 25 per cent of their Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Professional Practice) and participate in a ten-day school practicum;
• learn about the context and needs of the communities in which they will work, meeting and learning from leadership and education speakers; and
• connect with the TFA network.

First year: January – December

By the end of the first year, Associates are able to demonstrate the Australia Professional Standards for Teachers at Graduate level.

• Associates commence teaching at their Teach For Australia partner school and continue to study towards their Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Professional Practice).
• Regional professional development sessions are held throughout the school year and are tailored to the needs of each region and cohort to support regional and national collective impact projects.
• Associates reconnect at Mid-Year Intensive in semester break to continue developing the fundamental techniques of teaching practice, managing personal wellbeing and culturally inclusive classrooms.

Second year: January – December

On completion of the Leadership Development Program, Associates are able to demonstrate the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at Proficient level.

• Inter-cohort Intensive takes place during the summer at the end of first year, allowing Associates to share experiences and resources to fully prepare them for the next school year.
• Throughout second year, Associates continue teaching at their Teach For Australia partner school and complete the remaining study units for their Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Professional Practice).
• Associates reconnect again at Mid-Year Intensive to continue developing the skills, knowledge and mindsets they need to be effective teachers.
• Regional professional development sessions are again delivered throughout the year.
• Associates begin to identify and develop change strategies within their content and building their effectiveness as leaders beyond the classroom.