Creating pathways for aspiring teachers

Senior Lecturer in Education Dr Kristy O’Neill, left, Creating Chances Ben Lawry, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Creating Chances Head Facilitator Emily Hikaiti

03rd May 2023

The University of New England, in collaboration with Creating Chances, has been awarded a $410,222 State Government grant for a new program designed to support Years 9-11 students’ employment pathways.
The program will pilot the Growing Great Teachers (GGT) Strategy at 13 identified primary, central and high schools across Armidale, Tamworth, Glen Innes, Guyra and Uralla.
The Growing Great Teachers program aims to build school employment pathways for future teachers, school learning support officers, community liaison offers and Aboriginal education officers.
Core skills in the program include leadership, teaching and coaching, planning, and communication – I have no doubt these skills will be useful in future employment.
Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of New England Dr Kristy O’Neill said they were excited to receive the funding.
“We are thrilled to secure this grant to benefit youth in the New England region,” Dr O’Neill said.
“Our local youth have identified skill development for career pathways as a top priority to address their needs.
“The Growing Great Teachers program developed in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education has timely benefits for our region.
“The applied research that Professor Pep Baker and I will be conducting around this project has potential to provide a best practice model in addressing the problem of critical teacher shortages more broadly across NSW and Australia.”
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said that with acute teacher shortages being experienced in many schools across country NSW at the moment, especially in key subject areas, this new program comes at a most propitious time.
“I hope Growing Great Teachers will inspire, encourage and open up a pathway for school students to go on to university and into long successful teaching careers,” Mr Marshall said. “Congratulations to Dr Kristy O’Neill on this initiative and for securing the funds to turn it into reality.”
The planning phase identified with schools will commence in Term 2, 2023 with a Term 3 launch.

Going strong for 100 years

Phone	(02) 6779 2347
Email	Contact Us
Social

Creating pathways for aspiring teachers

Menu

News

Contact