VIT releases 2019/20 Annual Report showcasing achievements in extraordinary year

The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) has released its 2019/20 annual report, outlining what it termed “an extraordinary year of achievement” which saw transformations not only in regulatory procedures but also in organisational culture.

 

2020, authors noted, was a year of challenge for VIT, as it was for many other businesses. 

 

“We were forced to rapidly change operations from an office-based model to a home-based one. This came when we were embarking on our most ambitious project to date: the development of an enterprise-wide technology platform for our teacher registration, investigation case management and initial teacher education program accreditation functions.”

 

The 2019-20 Annual Report was tabled in parliament last month, and details achievements and key initiatives made by VIT, which include completing the final stages of its review of the Victorian Teaching Profession’s Code of Conduct, aligning the VIT regulatory scheme with that of Working with Children Victoria, implementing a new technology platform, and dealing with the “immense responsibility and workload” that comes with new levels of community awareness regarding teacher conduct.

 

In relation to early childhood teachers (ECTs) specifically, VIT noted the alignment of Victoria’s registration scheme for teachers and early childhood teachers with the scheme under the Working with Children Act 2005 (including the development and implementation of a Suitability to Teach Framework as well as policies about fitness to teach, impairment and voluntary suspension by agreement) as a key achievement, along with increased engagement with school principals and early childhood leaders through improved readership and click through rates of circulars.

 

VIT also noted the way in which early childhood teachers put their own concerns aside to support children and families, and allow Victorians to more easily move into remote working environments during the height of COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria. 

 

Of the136,470 registered teachers in Victoria, 6,967 hold early childhood teacher (ECT) registration and 3,128 hold dual registration.  

 

The annual report also features detailed information on registered teachers in Victoria and case studies that provide insight into how VIT carries out its work.

 

To access the annual report, please see here.