Starting a job in a government school (induction)

Help is available when you start a new job in a government school.

For new and beginning teachers

Induction resources

The Graduate Teacher Induction Guide provides graduate teachers with practical advice to participate in induction, and access support and resources.

Graduate Teacher Induction Guide
pdf (2.57mb)  docx (563k.17b)

Induction portal

Guidance to get you started is available in the online induction portal for teachers (eduMail password required).

Graduate teacher learning series

This an online professional learning magazine designed to:

  • address graduate needs
  • reflect graduate voice
  • encourage development of professional networks.

It includes articles on topics that have been identified as areas of challenge to graduate teachers, including:

  • using formative assessment to improve student learning
  • student engagement as a behaviour management strategy
  • teacher wellbeing and resilience.

An invitation to engage with the learning series will be sent via the In Our Classrooms newsletter.

Access the Graduate Teacher Learning Series

For principals who are welcoming new teachers

The Principal and school leader guide to graduate teacher induction provides practical implementation steps for a comprehensive induction process.

Principal and school leader guide to induction of graduate teachers
pdf (2.00mb)  docx (474.39kb)

New teachers need to:

  • understand the culture and ethos of their school
  • know their professional obligations
  • be supported to develop their teaching practice
  • integrate into their school's professional learning communities.

Assisting teachers at the beginning of their careers helps build teaching excellence and improve student outcomes and retains teachers in the profession.

Mentoring

Develop a mentoring culture in your school by encouraging your experienced and enthusiastic teachers to register for the Effective Mentoring Program.

The program focuses on:

  • building knowledge of the Australian professional standards for teachers
  • using the inquiry approach to gather evidence to fulfil the requirements for registration
  • skills and knowledge fundamental to mentoring.

For more information, see: Mentor training for experienced school teachers

Graduate teacher conferences

The Graduate Teacher Conferences (GTCs) build the capacity of graduate teachers and foster a network at the area level.

We invite graduate teachers in their first year of teaching to attend the conference. The conference program gives you an opportunity to:

  • become an active part in your professional community
  • build your professional practice and resilience as professional educators
  • form a strong professional identity.

Conference dates and registrations

The GTC program is delivered by Deakin University on behalf of the Department. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the GTCs will be delivered through an online format in 2020 in order to adhere to Federal and State Government guidelines and ensure participant safety.

To register for your local GTC, please click on the region links below, and select the Area in which your school is located. Registrations are managed by Deakin through Eventbrite.

South Eastern Victoria Region

  • Inner and Outer Gippsland, 28 July
  • Southern Melbourne A, 3 August
  • Southern Melbourne B, 25 August
  • Bayside Peninsula, 28 August

South Western Victoria Region

  • Brimbank Melton, Thursday 30 July
  • Western Melbourne, Friday 31 July
  • Barwon, Tuesday 4 August
  • Wimmera South West, Thursday 6 August
  • Central Highlands, Tuesday 11 August
  • Western Melbourne, Wednesday 19 August

North Eastern Victoria Region

  • Outer East, Friday 7 August
  • Inner East A, Tuesday 18 August
  • Ovens Murray, Wednesday 26 August
  • Inner East B, Tuesday 1 September
  • Goulburn, Thursday 3 September

North Western Victoria Region

  • Loddon Campaspe, Wednesday 12 August
  • Mallee, Friday 14 August
  • Hume/Moreland, Thursday 20 August
  • North East Melbourne, Friday 21 August
  • Combined Areas, 2 September

Conference components

In 2020, Graduate Teacher Conferences will be held in Term 3, with additional conferences offered in growth corridors and areas with high graduate teacher numbers.

Before the conference, we encourage you to read the Graduate Teacher Induction Guide (pdf - 2.69mb), and familiarise yourself with the induction timelines and checklist.

Cost

The program is free.

How to register

Registrations are accessed through Eventbrite. Graduate teachers are encouraged to attend the conference in their school's area. Access your local GTC through the below links:

Get advice

Registration details will be sent directly to graduate teachers and schools early in 2020. This will include information about the broader initiatives to support graduate teachers in schools.

For queries about the Graduate Teacher Conferences contact: brandi.fox@deakin.edu.au

For queries about teacher professional practice, email professional.practice@edumail.vic.gov.au

Conference Resources

These induction resources are provided to you as part of the Graduate Teacher Conferences and contain helpful resources on professional learning, wellbeing and more.

General induction resources

The Graduate to Proficient: Australian guidelines for teacher induction into the profession (the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) guidelines) identifies four focus areas that are critical for effective induction: Professional Practices, Professional Identity, Orientation and Wellbeing. The four focus areas are embedded within the guidance and resources that step out a best practice induction in Victorian Government schools. The following video case studies highlight induction best practice and can be used as a tool for schools when they consider their induction approach.

Orientation



Wellbeing



Professional practice



Professional identity


For first time principals

The principal induction toolkit includes information to assist you in your first appointment as a principal. To log on, see: principal induction toolkit (edumail password required)

Other useful resources are: