Promoting Teaching as a career in

NSW Public Schools

Promotes teaching as a career of choice to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders

Increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in NSW public schools

Valuing, developing and retaining quality Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in NSW public schools

Increasing the number of identified School Administrative Support Staff positions for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders

Aboriginal Employment and Career Development,Staffing Services

Key Achievements in Aboriginal Employmentand Career Development – Staffing Services

Established the “ Join Our Mob” recruitment strategy in 2006 with promotion of initiatives across NSW

Established a dedicated team of officers responsible for implementing employment and career development and leadership programs for teachers and schooladministrative and support staff

Increasing the number of Aboriginal teachers andexecutive in permanent positions across NSW public schools with 733 recruited since April 2004.

Increasing the number of teacher education scholarships available each year exclusively for Aboriginal applicants including HSC students, university students and career changers from 20 in 2006 to 80 in 2010

Snapshot of Achievements –

Aboriginal TeachersIncreased representation of Aboriginal people

Current Govt. Bench mark 2.6%

DET 2005 DET 2007 DET 2009 DEC 2011 DEC 2012 DEC 2013

1.4% 1.9% 2.3% 2.8% 3.1% 3.2%

Increased number of Aboriginal teachers - now 733*

*As of 14 October 2013 number of Aboriginal teachers and executive totals 861

Tracking Aboriginal teachers appointed to NSW Public Schools

NSW Initiatives• Join Our Mob promotional campaign including

website, Facebook page and targeted resources

• Teacher Education Scholarship Program – 300 per annum with 220 for teacher training in subject shortfall areas and 80 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to train as primary or secondary teachers

• Priority appointment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers

• Connected Communities initiative in which 15 identified schools have become community hubs to deliver a range of services from birth through school to further training and employment.

Recruitment Strategies

Promoting scholarships and Join Our Mob totertiary providers

“Good to know about the pathways for students into Uni, I have never heard about the pathways before this visit” – Career Advisor, Junee High School

Leader, Aboriginal Employment and Career Development regularly visits, liaises and consults with universities and various staff regarding:

•Identification of students •Presentations to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students•Support that is available•Join Our Mob, Scholarships, Promotions, Beyond the Line, Beyond the Bridge initiatives •Presentations•Career pathways in DEC•“TRACKS” Tertiary Preparation Program•Careers Markets – Expos (sharing information)•University Open Days •Working with the Departmentand the support provided

Networking with universities provides opportunities to strengthen partnerships between schools, TAFE, local communities and universities and is vital in promoting teaching as a career choice at local levels. It also provides me with the knowledge to encourage and deliver support to other SAS staff in schools/offices/local school areas to become teachers, whilst informing Career Advisors and Principals about programs offered by universities and the different pathways available.

It also provides the opportunity to develop and implement initiatives for the effective transition of final year teacher education students into their role as teachers.

“We found your talk very informative and you explained it so well, answering the questions students and staff had. We look forward to further contact with you and once again thank you for empowering our students and sharing your resources with us it was a great time enjoyed by all” – AEO, Mount Austin High School

Benefits of working in partnership with tertiary providers

• Career Expos• School presentations• University presentations • Community networking• Social media• Yarn Ups

Recruitment Strategies

“Please come back to the Young Careers Expo in 2014; I shall see that you get an invitation. This is the first time we have had an Aboriginal person talk to the school/staff/students about programs and employment through the Department” Careers Advisor, Murrumburah High School

The NSW Department of Education and Communities fully support these two programs which promote education and employment to all Aboriginal people and communities.

Our team works with schools, communities and Universities in the promotion of employment opportunities available to Aboriginal people.

The Department offers up to 80 teacher education scholarships each year to Aboriginal students completing their HSC. We also encourage our community members to apply.

Scholarships are offered for talented students to train in secondary maths, science and English and primary or secondary special education. Scholars receive:

•an annual allowance of $5,000 throughout their studies•a guaranteed job as a teacher when they graduate•a $3,000 one-off grant when they begin their career

Our team promote the benefits of becoming a teacher and working for education using promotional materials and resources, social media, attending career expos and personal face to face interaction with our communities.

The Department also recognises the importance and value of having Aboriginal people employed in schools in non-teaching roles ranging from General Assistants to School Administration Managers and Aboriginal Education Officers. Our team conducts Yarn Ups for Aboriginal people in schools and communities encourage and provide support for members wanting to apply for non-teaching roles within schools.

Teaching is Deadly and Join our Mob - Aboriginal Teacher Education Scholarships

enthusemotivateinformencourage

empower inspirelead

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learnenergise

excelengage

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educate enlightenTEACH

Contact details Veronica WillmottAssistant Director Staffing ServicesBlacktown State OfficePhone: (02) 9836 9148Email: veronica.willmott@det.nsw.edu.au

Pam WiddersLeader, Aboriginal Employment and Career DevelopmentStaffing Services Blacktown State OfficePhone: (02) 9836 9263Email: PAMELA.J.WIDDERS@det.nsw.edu.au

Aboriginal Employment and Career Development,Staffing Services