Monash Uni’s Teaching Academy of Professional Practice program

Freya Lucas

Mar 15, 2024

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39 pre-service teachers, including those working towards becoming early childhood teachers (ECTs) were recently on placement on Victoria’s Bass Coast as part of Monash University's Teaching Academy of Professional Practice program.

Inverloch Childcare Centre, Leongatha Childcare Centre, Phillip Island Early Learning Centre, Bass Coast Specialist School, Bass Valley Primary, Cowes Primary, San Remo Primary, Wonthaggi Primary, Leongatha Secondary College, Mirboo North Secondary College, Bass Coast College and Foster Secondary College provided dedicated mentors for the emerging professionals.

A number of the services have worked with the University for the past seven years, welcoming the insights and perspectives of the pre-service teachers in their settings.

There are 39 pre-service teachers currently living in either Inverloch or Phillip Island together and completing their placement in one of these schools/centres. Each year close to 120 PST teachers go into placement in the region across early childhood education, Primary and Secondary.

There are a number of benefits to both communities and the pre-service teachers from the arrangement including an increased understanding of rural settings, an increase in the likelihood of teachers being willing to work rurally post graduation, and professional development for established and emerging teachers.

Monash’s program runs twice a year, in February for three weeks, and again in November, also for three weeks.

The program has proven very popular in the past, with previous participants describing the experience as rewarding.

To learn more about studying early childhood with Monash please see here. For local coverage of this story please see here.

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