Australia continues to face a national shortage of teachers, despite a raft of measures by Federal, State and Territory governments to support the profession.
The latest workforce survey by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership shows around a quarter of teachers are considering leaving the profession within the next five years, with administration workload and a perceived lack of support among top reasons.
To address this, a radical new learning approach will see student teachers begin working in a classroom from the first week of their teaching degree.
The Southern Cross University’s ‘Reimagining Teacher Education’ (RiTE) project, in collaboration with the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, is designed to transform how teachers are prepared for the classroom in both primary and secondary schools.
From March 2026, a select group of Master of Teaching students will be placed into Diocese schools in Tweed Heads, Pottsville and Coffs Harbour (where the secondary school teaching cohort will be placed, two days a week).
Master of Teaching students commonly have an undergraduate degree in another discipline and complete two years of postgraduate study to become qualified teachers.
Leading the RiTE project Associate Professor David Turner said it offered immersive, hands-on learning for teaching students who would ultimately be better prepared for the demands of a teaching career.
“We want to nurture resilient, capable teachers who are not only classroom-ready but school-ready, equipped for a satisfying, long-term career in the profession,” Associate Professor Turner said.
A notable innovation in the project is that the student teachers will be supported by experienced school educators who are also Fellows of the University to help close the gap between theory and practice.
“This is a model based on extensive research from a community of practice at Southern Cross University, showing student teachers thrive with early exposure to the dynamics of a school and high quality classroom practice, together with structured mentoring,” he said.
Participants in the project will work alongside experienced educators and be mentored along the way as they build skills and professional networks.
“Our schools are energised by the opportunities this project will bring,” Adam Spencer, Director of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Lismore said.
“Having aspiring teachers learning in our classrooms from the very beginning of their studies means our students and staff will benefit from fresh perspectives and additional support, while these future teachers gain real experience in a supportive environment.”
Spencer added that the Lismore Diocese is proud to be working with Southern Cross University to create a model that strengthens teacher preparation and contributes to the long-term future of the profession.
Associate Professor Turner said the RiTE initiative addresses one of the root causes of the teacher shortage by ensuring that teachers get immersive hands-on experience before they graduate.
“Teaching can be a fantastic, life-long career and our teaching degrees have significant professional placements. We are taking that one step further with RiTE,” he said.
“By immersing student teachers in cohorts in the real world of teaching when they are still students not only develops better teachers, it builds lasting support networks. These graduates will have a much greater chance of success over the course of their working lives.”
Key aspects of the program:
· 50 places available for the 2026 cohort
· Master of Teaching students will be embedded in schools from March 2026
· Two-day-a-week immersive school experience during school terms
· Enhanced support and mentoring from experienced educators
· Primary school places available in Diocese of Lismore schools in Tweed Heads, Pottsville and Coffs Harbour where secondary school placements will be available.
The original version of this story first appeared as a media release from The Southern Cross University.