Career Start

Use of time release

Time release is provided to graduate teachers to engage in induction supports, including:

• practice-focused mentoring in school
• up to 4 learning alliance meetings, delivered termly
• 4 professional learning workshops, delivered termly.

Mentors receive time release based on the number of graduates they mentor. This allows them the time needed to support their graduate teacher mentees, attend some learning alliance meetings and participate in the professional learning workshops held in Terms 1 and 4.

Practice-focused mentoring

Graduates and mentors observe each other's teaching, engage in conversations about professional practice, and design and moderate assessment tasks to develop effective teaching practices. Practice-focused mentoring also includes engaging in conversations about wellbeing, professional identity, and work-life balance to help graduate teachers thrive.

Learning alliances

Graduates and mentors are part of local learning alliances, led by a dedicated area-based Learning Alliance Leader. The Learning Alliance Leader provides support to graduate teachers and their mentors, including:

• meeting regularly with mentor teachers to provide coaching support for effective graduate teacher induction
• facilitating professional learning
• facilitating learning alliance meetings each term, to build graduates’ professional networks.

Professional learning

Graduate and mentor teachers are supported through a comprehensive professional learning program.

Graduate teachers will participate in 1 day of professional learning per term delivered by Learning Alliance Leaders. This suite of professional learning will support graduate teachers to build their practice, strengthen their professional identity, develop strategies to improve their wellbeing and orientate themselves as early-career teachers. Mentor teachers attend the afternoon sessions in Term 1 (focusing on effective mentoring relationships) and Term 4 (to celebrate graduate and mentor achievements).