Career Start – Transforming the First Years of the Teaching Career (Reference 132)
The Career Start Pilot is a structured pilot program for graduate teachers which aims to improve their experience as they are inducted into the profession. It provides new graduate teachers with additional time and support to focus on preparation, learning from others including mentors, targeted professional learning, network opportunities with other graduate teachers through area-based alliances.
The pilot is being delivered in primary, specialist, P–9 and P–12 schools in the areas of North Eastern Melbourne, Western Melbourne and Inner Gippsland.
Two cohort intakes of graduate teachers (2021 and 2022) will be provided with additional time release and support, as will their mentors. Each graduate teacher will participate in the pilot for 2 years.
In 2023, there will be an additional intake of first year graduate teachers (Cohort 3) who will undertake a one-year program.
2021
- Cohort 1 – Year 1
2022
- Cohort 1 – Year 2
- Cohort 2 – Year 1
2023
- Cohort 2 – Year 2
- Cohort 3
A key component of the Pilot is a reduction in face-to-face teaching time for graduate teachers and their mentors. Schools will be funded to employ additional classroom teachers to counteract this reduction and ensure continuity of teaching and learning.
Teacher time release 2023
Graduate teachers – Cohort 2
Cohort 2 graduate teachers (completing their second year of the program in 2023) will be supported with a 2-hour reduction in face-to-face teaching time. Schools will receive funding at 10% of a full-time Classroom Level 2, Range 4 salary.
Graduate teachers – Cohort 3
Cohort 3 graduate teachers will be supported with a 2.5-hour reduction in face-to-face teaching time. This is in addition to the Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) 2022 which provides first year graduates with a 5% reduction of scheduled duties. Schools will receive funding at 11.6% of a Classroom Level 1, Range 5 salary.
Use of graduate time release
This time allocation will be used across multiple graduate teacher activities:
- for participation in Career Start professional learning activities
- for formal and informal mentoring via mentors or school leaders
- for observing lessons
- for participating in activities arranged by their area-based alliance.
School leaders, mentors and graduate teachers will work collaboratively in planning and allocating the time release to enable full participation in the pilot.
A pro-rata time allowance will apply to graduate teachers employed on a part-time basis.
Mentor teachers of graduates in Cohorts 2 and 3
To enable mentor teachers to fully support graduate teachers with their learning and development, the pilot supports a reduction of 1 hour for mentor teachers supporting Cohort 2 or Cohort 3 graduates. Schools will receive funding equivalent to 5% of a Classroom Level 2, Range 6 salary for each graduate teacher they mentor.
Use of mentor time release
The purpose of this funding is to support schools in reducing a mentor’s face-to-face teaching time so they can support the graduate to undertake observational rounds or team teaching activities, attend workshops and alliance meetings, without feeling overburdened by the role. The reduction is funded for the period of graduate engagement in the pilot.
Eligibility in 2023
Graduate teachers – Cohort 2
Graduate teachers are eligible to participate in Year 2 of the program if they are employed in a primary, P–9 or P–12 or specialist school in a pilot area (Inner Gippsland, North Eastern Melbourne and Western Melbourne) and have participated in the pilot in 2022.
Graduate teachers – Cohort 3
Graduate teachers are eligible to participate in Cohort 3 if they are employed in a primary, P–9 or P–12 or specialist school in a pilot area (Inner Gippsland, North Eastern Melbourne and Western Melbourne) and:
- have graduated with a bachelor or master qualification within the last 4 years
- are provisionally registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
- are commencing their first teaching position since gaining VIT provisional registration
- are employed at a Classroom Level 1, Range 1 classification.
A provisionally registered teacher (PRT) who has worked as a Casual Relief Teacher (CRT) is eligible.
A PRT who has worked as a tutor for the Tutor Learning Initiative in 2022 is eligible.
Rates and calculation
The pilot is funded to allow schools to employ additional classroom teachers to counteract the reduction in teaching time provided to graduate teachers and their mentors. These teachers will be responsible for the teaching duties that graduate teachers and mentors will no longer be able to undertake.
Funds will be released to schools on a pro-rata basis.
Graduate teachers – Cohort 2
(0.10 [% of additional time release] × ([Classroom Teacher Level 2, Range 4 classification salary] + [School on-costs]) × [FTE])
Graduate teachers – Cohort 3
(0.116 [% of additional time release] × ([Classroom Teacher Level 1, Range 5 classification salary] + [School on-costs]) × [FTE])
Mentor teachers (Cohorts 2 and 3)
(0.05 [% of additional time release] × ([Level 2, Range 6 classroom teacher salary] + [School on-costs]))
Funds will be transferred to schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP) as a targeted initiative. Funding is allocated as credit funding.
2023 dates: SRP allocation
- Up until 1 March 2023: Confirmed Budget Cycle (March)
- Up until 26 May 2023: Revised Budget Cycle (June)
- Up until 1 December 2023: Additional Budget Cycle – Term 4 (December)
Further information
For further information contact graduate.induction@education.vic.gov.au or visit Career Start – transforming the first years of the teaching .
Reviewed 21 June 2023