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Teach for Australia top of the class

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Twenty-eight high-achieving university graduates selected to Teach for Australia will take up posts in 18 schools across Victoria.

Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession Peter Hall and Education Minister Martin Dixon today congratulated the third cohort of Teach for Australia associates who have just completed an intensive six-week training program at The University of Melbourne and will take up their posts in schools from this month.

"Today marks an important milestone for these passionate and dedicated university graduates who come from very different fields of study including law, science and acting, but have one thing in common – they have all answered a call to teaching," Mr Hall said.

"While some of the associates have previously worked in their fields of study, others have decided they want to take a different path to make a difference in the lives of students and are embarking on what will no doubt be a rewarding and challenging career in teaching.

"Life is often full of detours and opportunities before settling on a chosen career and programs like Teach for Australia allow some of our top university graduates to consider a career in front of the classroom and combine study and teaching," Mr Hall said.

Education Minister Martin Dixon said the associates joined more than 70 participants in the Teach for Australia program in Victoria since it began in 2010.

"They also join more than 70,000 government and non-government teachers in Victoria who do an amazing job of inspiring and motivating students to learn and realise their full potential," Mr Dixon said.

"The associates will be supported by an outstanding group of people, including the principals of participating schools, who will provide advice and leadership and can share their many years of experience at the forefront of education."

Adam Ross, a former University of Melbourne law graduate who is among the 28 associates participating in the Teach for Australia program this year, is excited about making the transition from the private sector to the classroom.

"The task of closing the education gap requires a fresh approach and I feel that Teach for Australia's model of effecting systemic change through building a community of leaders who are passionate about education is one model to address this disadvantage," Mr Ross said.

Teach for Australia is part of the Federal Government's $550 million Smarter Schools Quality Teaching National Partnership with states and territories, which aims to attract, train and retrain university graduates to the nation's classrooms.

The program aims to tackle educational disadvantage and participants will receive mentoring support throughout their two-year placement.

This year the program is operating in 16 government schools and two Catholic schools.

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