Up to 280 top university graduates from disciplines including engineering, mathematics and physics are set to become secondary school teachers in some of Western Australia’s most disadvantaged communities.
Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery announced today that the State Government would provide a grant of up to $4.006 million to Teach for Australia to support the graduates.
The non-profit organisation offers an employment-based pathway for high quality university graduates from fields other than education, to become fully qualified teachers.
Known as ‘associates’, they work in secondary schools while also studying a Master of Teaching (Secondary) to become fully qualified teachers.
Prior to commencing, associates complete one quarter of the Master of Teaching course and spend time teaching in the classroom.
Associates receive significant and ongoing support from expert mentor teachers as well as specially-trained representatives from Teach for Australia and its university partner, Australian Catholic University.
Associates teach students in their area of subject expertise.
Using associates also helps to fill critical secondary teacher vacancies in the subject areas of English, science, mathematics and languages.
The new funding will allow for the recruitment of up to 280 associates by 2024.
Associates will be appointed to up to 97 secondary schools around WA for 2021.
Teach for Australia has operated in WA since 2015 and 198 teaching associates have been appointed to WA public schools since that time.
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“The State Government is committed to providing a high quality education for all Western Australian public school students, no matter where they live.
“Teach for Australia has a proven track record in coaching and supporting bright university graduates to make the transition to teaching, for the benefit of students.
“For students, tapping into learning from someone with that depth of expertise in a particular subject would be invaluable and inspiring.
“Associates have the opportunity to positively influence young people’s lives through the power of education.”
