CDU, Teach For Australia partner to deliver 75 more trainee teachers in NT

A first-time partnership is set to plug NT educator shortages by allowing trainee teachers to work while they learn. Here’s how.

CDU Associate Professor in Education Dr Lisa Papatraianou.

A first-time partnership is set to plug NT educator shortages by allowing trainee teachers to work while they learn.

Charles Darwin University has partnered with Teach For Australia to offer 75 Commonwealth Supported Places to students enrolling in a Bachelor of Education Secondary.

The partnership would see students employed as education support staff in TFA schools for the first two years of their studies, and taking on paraprofessional teaching roles in their third year.

It comes weeks after the new CLP government reaffirmed its intention to uphold a teacher pay deal negotiated between the former Labor government, and the NT’s education union.

The pay deal would result in classroom sizes shrinking to become more manageable, while boosting teacher salaries.

Generic school students, school kids, classroom, teacher Picture: Getty Images

At the time of the announcement, there were 158 classroom vacancies across the NT.

CDU Associate Professor in Education Dr Lisa Papatraianou said students would be able to study online and the partnership would go a long way to supporting rural and remote areas and supporting First Nations communities.

“This initiative also strengthens the university’s role as an important regional initial teacher education provider, enabling us to strengthen school partnerships nationwide,” Dr Papatraianou said.

“Delivering the Bachelor of Education Secondary 100 per cent online allows preservice teachers the flexibility to work in a school while they study, gaining hands-on experience in a real classroom from the beginning of their studies while working as student support officers.

“The teachers-in-training will also be networking with other students studying at CDU and those in this specialised employment-based pathway program and will be able to collaborate with peers from different regions, enhancing their learning experience.”

In 2022, TFA had placed 107 trainee teachers in 44 schools across the Territory.

Originally published as CDU, Teach For Australia partner to deliver 75 more trainee teachers in NT