FAQs for schools
Is my school eligible?
To be eligible for the program your school must fall into the lower 50 percent on socio-economic or performance measures for your jurisdiction. To further discuss the eligibility of your school please email your query to schools@teachforaustralia.org.
How are Associates selected?
How are Associates matched to schools?
Associates are matched to schools based on their subject areas, the curriculum needs of the school and the capacity of the school to support the Associate.
Schools must nominate particular vacancies that they would like to be filled by Teach For Australian Associates. In government schools, Associates must be placed in vacancies notified to the relevant State Department of Education.
We commit to working with schools and Associates to find the most suitable matches. Where, in rare occurrences, a match cannot be found, we commit to communicating this as soon as is possible to allow schools and Associates to pursue other avenues to fill vacancies.
Can I meet my Associate before they start in my school?
Schools will have access to the background and full profile of available Associates during the placement process, and will be able to choose the Associates that most closely match their needs. Teach For Australia then conducts a matching process and notifies schools of the matches. Principals and Associates will have the opportunity to meet/speak before the Initial Intensive, however we discourage a formal interview process as Associates have already gone through a rigorous and robust selection process.
In some cases we recognise that there may be a specific reason for the school to meet the Associate before the match is confirmed (e.g. a specific religious or cultural requirements that the Associate must demonstrate). In these instances, we will facilitate where possible a meeting before the match is confirmed.
How many Associates are placed at each school?
Associates are placed in clusters of at least two. This allows them to provide support and advice to one another.
What do placement schools commit to?
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Salary of a para-professional teacher for two years
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Time release for Associates - 0.2 FTE
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Time release for a Mentor - 2-4 hours in Year 1 and 1-2 hours in Year 2, per week. The mentor receives funded education from the University of Melbourne
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Supportive environment for Associates and the Teach For Australia program.
Government schools are able to receive funding support to enable the time release of the Associate and their In-School mentor.
What happens after the two years?
Associates are employed for a fixed-term period of two years and commit to teaching in their placement school for the two years. Upon successful completion of the program they gain qualifications with a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Teach For Australia) and full teacher registration. This allows them to continue in the classroom if they wish.
