24 February 2022
Today’s release of the final report of the Quality Initial Teacher Education Review is an important step forward for teacher education, National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins, said.
“The report builds on the strength of current programs and practices to support the delivery of quality teaching and to ensure Australian students receive a high quality education.
“Its key recommendations are aimed at attracting high-quality, diverse candidates, ensuring evidence-based preparation and inducting new teachers well.”
Ms Collins said Catholic education has been working in partnership with the tertiary sector to develop a range of strategies to support quality initial teacher education and ongoing support for educators.
“We recently launched a national program to build teacher capacity and to address the teaching workforce needs of Catholic schools, particularly in rural, regional and remote areas,” Ms Collins said.
“The program, a partnership with Australian Catholic University and the University of Notre Dame Australia, sees teacher education students employed in Catholic schools as paraprofessionals to address the growing shortage of teachers and provide paid, in-the-classroom experience.
“It enables teaching students to find employment and extend their experience in Catholic schools where they are most needed.
“It is part of a long-term strategy to place highly trained, workplace-ready graduates into Australian Catholic schools and early childhood education centres where they will be supported by mentors, school and tertiary professional learning.”
NCEC is the peak body for Catholic Education in Australia and is responsible for the national coordination and representation of Catholic schools and school authorities.
There are 1,755 Catholic schools educating over 777,000 or one in five Australian students and employing over 100,000 staff.
