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Teach For Australia:
- offers an alternative pathway into the teaching profession
- aims to help fill vacancies in regional and rural secondary schools with subject specialists.
The department has been partnered with Teach For Australia since 2021.
Apply now
Applications now open for round 1 recruitment for 2025 on the Teach For Australia website.
About Teach For Australia
Teach For Australia offers an alternative and accelerated pathway into the teaching profession. The program allows talented university graduates with subject specialist skills to teach in a regional classroom while completing their master's teaching qualification.
Participants in the program (referred to as associates) are placed in harder-to-staff secondary vacancies at a participating school in regional, rural or remote locations.
Before starting in the classroom, the associates complete an intensive teaching program as part of their master's degree and qualify for a Special Authority to Teach from the Teachers Registration Board. They then complete their Master in Teaching degree, with formal mentorship, while on a 2 year teaching placement.
Visit Teach For Australia for more information about the program.
Teach For Australia in South Australia
The Teach For Australia program has been operating successfully interstate since 2010.
In 2021, the department began a pilot of the program in selected regional South Australian schools.
Cohort 2024
Five participants (associates) are placed as part of Teach For Australia Cohort 2024. Each associate completed Teach For Australia’s rigorous selection process that assessed their disposition for teaching.
Cohort 2023
Seven participants (associates) are placed as part of Teach For Australia Cohort 2023. Each associate completed Teach For Australia’s rigorous selection process that assessed their disposition for teaching.
Pilot round 2 – cohort 2022 graduated
Twelve participants (associates) are currently placed as part of the pilot’s second round in 2022. Each associate completed Teach For Australia’s rigorous selection process that assessed their disposition for teaching.
The 2022 pilot associates
- Rob Berlin is a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours) graduate. He brings his experience working as a mechanical engineer, school chaplain and youth worker to Allendale East Area School where he's teaching Mathematics and Science.
- Jessica Kovac is a Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) (Honours) and Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Science graduate. She brings her experience working in health research to John Pirie Secondary School in Port Pirie where she's teaching Science.
- Michael Jamieson is also placed at John Pirie Secondary School. He's a Bachelor of Environments (Major in Construction) graduate and has a Diploma of Screen and Media. He brings his experience as a design manager and project coordinator to the school where he's teaching Digital Technologies.
- Neville Hall is also placed at John Pirie Secondary School. He's a Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Majoring in Chemistry) graduate and is teaching Science.
- Bruno Ippedico is a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy, Linguistics) and Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience) graduate. He brings his experience as a tutor and mentor of tertiary students to Lameroo Regional Community School where he's teaching Science and Mathematics.
- PK Saxena is a Bachelor of Psychological Studies and Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering graduate. He brings his experience working as an engineer to Orroroo Area School where he's teaching Mathematics and Physics.
- Jacqueline Miller is a Bachelor of Public Relations (Majoring in English) graduate and also holds a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. She brings her experience as an English teacher in China and Nepal, and her various marketing and project support roles to Port Augusta Secondary School. She's teaching English.
- Stephanie Sinclair is a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) (Majoring in Microbiology and Biochemistry) graduate. She's teaching Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics at Port Lincoln High School.
- Benjamin Henrichs is also placed at Port Lincoln High School. He's a Bachelor of Science (Physics) graduate and is teaching Physics and Mathematics.
- Daniel Fischer is also placed at Port Lincoln High School. He's a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure) graduate and also has a Graduate Diploma in Integrated Water Management. He brings his experience as an engineer to the school where he's teaching Physics.
- Molly Smith is a Bachelor of Science (Genetics) graduate and also holds a Diploma of Languages (French). She's teaching Mathematics and Science at Tintinara Area School.
- Anna Hildebrandt is a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) graduate. She brings her experience as a dance and drama teacher to Whyalla Secondary College where she's teaching Dance and Drama.
Pilot round 1 – cohort 2021 graduated
Three participants (associates) are currently placed as part of the pilot's first round in 2021. Each associate completed Teach For Australia’s rigorous selection process that assessed their disposition for teaching.
The 2021 pilot associates
- David Drummond is a Bachelor of Music graduate. He brings his experience working as a musician and band manager to Whyalla Secondary College.
- Rebecca Magee holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science. She has experience working as a pharmacy assistant and is placed at Roxby Downs Area School teaching STEM subjects.
- Joshua Biermann is also placed at Roxby Downs Area School to teach STEM subjects. He is a Bachelor of Engineering graduate and has been working as a civil engineer in Australia and Vietnam.
Consultation
Consultation has been undertaken with the Australian Education Union and Teachers Registration Board in South Australia. This alternate pathway is accredited under 'Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures'. It's targeted to appropriate vacancies and requires subject specialists to have the appropriate authority and support to teach in the classroom.
