Our new educators are supported by an in-school mentor. Mentors offer new educators with both the technical and emotional support they need to feel confident and effective in an often-challenging transition from graduate to proficient teacher.

Mentors play an essential role in supporting new educators and their development. Our mentors receive training and assistance to ensure new educators receive high quality mentoring support in their school. The supports offered by mentors are as diverse as the new educators they support and may include weekly or fortnightly meetings, classroom observations, co-planning, team teaching and moderation.

New educators have a reduced teaching load for the first 3 years of their career. The reduction in teaching time results in additional release from face-to-face teaching. This time is used flexibly, and the specific organisational details are decided by the school to meet the development needs of each new educator.

New educators also receive 2 additional 'New Educator Days' each year to attend Professional Learning.

Like all professions, teaching takes place in an institutional context. This requires understanding of the formal requirements (policies, practices, procedures, and compliance demands) and informal ways of operating (cultural, interpersonal, and administrative).

Our 5-day induction program is for new educators who have joined the ACT Education Directorate. It assists graduates in learning the formal requirements and rules. The program also provides you with information to support the understanding of informal expectations of colleagues and the community. Induction is held in January before the start of the new school year.

Coaching is a professional learning strategy using questioning and conversation to support professional growth. It often involves integrating new or alternative approaches into the professional’s existing repertoire of skills and strategies. Coaching is for teachers who are willing to undertake a process of change to improve their practice.

The opt-in Coaching Program provides new educators with a personalised, in-class professional learning experience facilitated by the Directorate. Participants are encouraged to reflect on and develop their practice using the Teaching Standards as a framework. This program complements and builds on the support provided by schools and in-school mentors.

The New Educator Support Program offers a series of Professional Learning (PL) opportunities over the course of the three years incorporating six full day sessions, optional afternoon workshops and social networking at the end of each school term.

The PL series is divided into early childhood/primary sessions and secondary/college sessions and covers topics such as Positive Behaviours for Learning, inclusion, trauma informed practice, explicit instruction, assessment and reporting, time management, looking after your wellbeing, understanding behaviour, occupational violence, cultural integrity and transitioning to full registration. All PL aligns with the Enabling Pedagogies Framework (the Directorate’s pedagogical framework for schools) and the ATSIL Teaching Standards.

As a qualified teacher you have already met the Graduate Standards. Progressing to Proficient registration requires you to be able to demonstrate your achievement of the Proficient level of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. This is a school-based process undertaken with the support of your mentor, supervisor and school principal.

TQI conducts a number of information sessions and workshops for those working towards Proficient registration and the TQI Portal provides you with further support on your professional journey to Full registration. Most teachers progress to Proficient registration over the course of one to two years while in a full-time teaching role. Of course, it may take longer for those employed on a casual, temporary or contract basis.