PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Access to up-to-date and quality professional development is essential to support our teachers and administrators in their daily work with their students and school communities. It is needed to support:

(i)    Introduction of new systemic and school based initiatives
(ii)    For mainstream teachers working with students at educational risk (SAER)
(iii)    Development of effective school leaders and aspirant leaders
(iv)    Those who are new teachers and school psychologists

Rationale

• Research indicates that the best resource schools can have is teachers who are provided with opportunities to participate in ongoing professional learning
• Teaching is an ever evolving role. Teachers and administrators are called on to engage and embrace new Government/ Department and workplace initiatives on a regular basis. Such initiatives must be supported by appropriate and quality professional development to enable effective implementation
• Classrooms of today are extremely diverse, complex places. High demands and expectations are placed on teachers by employers, parents, governments and the general community to ensure that each and every student has the most appropriate learning environment and the best opportunity to achieve. Access to quality professional development helps teachers do this.  WE WANT THIS TOO!
• The profile of students with special needs has increased in our schools. A student with a ‘special need’ may have an intellectual disability, a specific learning difficulty e.g. dyslexia, be gifted & talented, have physical disabilities, be conflicted by mental health issues, have an illness, carry a history of absenteeism and truancy, struggle with anger management issues, be diagnosed with attention deficit disorders, or come from a dysfunctional family. WE WANT HELP TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THESE YOUNG CHILDREN!
• Members of the teaching profession and school psychologists need to be registered to practice. They have associated obligations with regard to professional development.  They must have access to professional development
• We want the best for our students in diagnosis, psychological support, emergency intervention and identification of best strategies to support students at educational risk. This requires the system to ensure our school psychologists are fully registered and able to access up-to-date professional development
•  A new Australian Curriculum will be implemented in our schools in the near future. Teachers and administrators deserve a commitment from government that will ensure appropriate and timely professional support is available to help them engage with this new curriculum, understand the changes and adjust programs. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS!
• School leaders have a very important role in schools and significant responsibilities for the implementation of effective learning programs of our students. As well, they must manage staff, be up-to-date with new initiatives and educational thought and theory, handle financial responsibilities ... and much more. The development of appropriate professional learning opportunities to support our schools leaders is a fundamental responsibility of the Department and Government. INVESTING IN SCHOOL LEADERS IS INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS!
• New educators continue to need professional support when they enter into schools. Research indicates that about 40-50% of new educators have left within five years. Research also indicates if good mentoring and ongoing professional development is provided to new educators they are more likely to stay. WHAT A GOOD INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW EDUCATORS WOULD BE!