• Charles Sturt University is working with schools in Dubbo and NSW to encourage teacher’s aides to become qualified teachers
• A Bachelor of Educational Studies/Master of Teaching pathway can be completed in three years online while continuing work as a teacher’s aide
• Enrolments are now open on the Charles Sturt website

Charles Sturt University, in collaboration with schools in the Dubbo region, has created a program to retrain teacher’s aides to become qualified teachers in the area.

The program focusses on recognising the skills and previous study of teacher’s aides and to support them to complete an online teaching degree.

Schools involved in the collaborative process for the pathway’s development include Dubbo College, Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, Nyngan High School and St John’s College Dubbo.

The Charles Sturt Bachelor of Educational Studies/ Master of Teaching pathway allows current teacher’s aides to complete an online teaching degree in as little as three years full-time, while still being employed at their current school in the same capacity.

Senior Lecturer with the Charles Sturt School of Education Dr Libbey Murray said it was important to develop pathways like these to increase the number of qualified teachers in our regions.

“Teacher shortages have been widely talked about in the media and in research over the last few years,” Dr Murray said.

“Australia’s population is growing. There are more children in our education systems and there are fewer teachers entering the profession. Our schools and our children need an appropriate number of high-quality teachers and that’s what this pathway will help create.”

The pathway is designed to maximise recognition of current skills within the teaching profession and prior educational qualifications of teacher’s aides, such as Certificate III or IV of Education Support, or a Diploma of School Age Education and Care.

Up to one year of subject credit will be given to students who have completed a relevant qualification and professional experience placement days can be reduced based on experience working in schools.

Headmaster of Macquarie Anglican Grammar School Mr Craig Mansour said the aim was to attract dedicated staff already working within the education profession with the natural synergy of this transition.

“We are aiming to maintain the interest and passion of our current teacher’s aides by offering them this opportunity for further learning and development to retrain as teachers as quickly as possible while continuing the important work they do in the classroom already,” Mr Mansour said.

The Bachelor of Educational Studies course is available to students across the country. Students will choose the key learning area they want to specialise in and Charles Sturt will assist each student to build the right degree tailored to their strengths and interests.

Students will study online and have access to high-level academic support from Charles Sturt staff throughout their studies, as well as use of University campus and library facilities which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Enrolled student Ms Sharon Andrews has been a teacher’s aide for almost 10 years and is excited to be involved in the program.

“This pathway will assist and nurture hardworking and caring staff already in the teaching profession to become teachers,” Ms Andrews said.

Ms Andrews is hopeful this opportunity will enable her to become a fully qualified teacher as quickly as possible.

“This pathway will allow me to be in a classroom faster, while offering me the support I need to complete studies as quickly and efficiently as I can,” she said.

“This way, I can assist with the teacher vacancies in the region.”

Enrolments for the Charles Sturt Bachelor of Educational Studies/ Master of Teaching pathway are now open. To enrol or find out more, visit the Charles Sturt University website here.

ENDS