Support for beginning teachers in Catholic systemic schools

The various Work Practices Agreements across NSW and the ACT make clear provision for support/mentoring and appropriate induction into the teaching profession. The agreements also provide release for mentors.

The NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2017 makes it abundantly clear in Clause 11.4 (a) as follows.

Support for graduate teachers

It is the responsibility of the individual graduate teacher to achieve accreditation or registration at the level of Proficient Teacher within the required timeframes. The employer will support the graduate teacher to obtain accreditation or registration at the Proficient Teacher standard, which will include participation in an orientation and/or induction program, mentoring, and appropriate classroom release for both the graduate teacher and their mentor(s) and other measures that the employer may deem as appropriate. Additional provisions may be contained in the diocesan annexures to this agreement or Work Practices Agreements.

Bathurst

Support will be provided to beginning teachers by the provision of one hour of release per week for each beginning teacher and one hour of release for each appointed mentor to participate in a school based program.

Canberra-Goulburn

A 0.1 FTE allocation per year is available for the mentoring program for early career teachers. The program will be provided to early career teachers who have been appointed at 0.5 FTE or greater for a minimum of two terms. The employer will ensure that the teacher and their mentor are informed on commencement of the support that is available.

Parramatta

CEDP will provide an allocation of 18 days per beginning teacher to assist the beginning teacher by providing release time for planning, programming and consultation and to release other teachers for the specific purpose of assisting the beginning teacher.

Support is also provided for teachers in their second year of full time teaching. The allocation is nine days per teacher and must be used to assist the teacher by providing release time for planning, programming and consultation and to release other teachers for the specific purpose of assisting the teacher.

Wagga Wagga

Provisionally or Conditionally Accredited (Graduate) Teachers and their mentors are entitled to four days release in their first year. In Year 2, the graduate teacher receives four days and the mentor two days. In addition, the system provides two days release in Year 1 and one in Year 2 for CSO training.

Armidale

Armidale will provide an allocation of 18 days per beginning teacher to assist the beginning teacher by providing extra release time for planning, programming and consultation and to release other staff members for the specific purpose of assisting the beginning teacher.

Broken Bay

The CSO provides a share release allocation of 16 days to all early career teachers to work with a supervisor/coach over the first two years of their teaching career.

Lismore

Year 1: 16 days in the first year – four of these are systems days Year 2: 8 days in the second year – four of these are system days.

Maitland-Newcastle

The allocation of 0.05 FTE (half a day per fortnight pro rata for part time teachers) release time will be provided to each Provisionally and Conditionally Accredited Teacher other than casuals in their initial year of service with the employer and 0.05 FTE (1/2 a day per fortnight) release time for the teacher’s mentor (pro rata for part time teachers).

Sydney – primary and secondary

Twelve days release per teacher from the commencement of employment of which, one day is to participate in the SCS’s new teacher orientation day, seven days for teacher support and four days for the teacher’s supervisor.

Wollongong

A loading of 0.075 FTE is available for each full time beginning teacher on 1.0 FTE in their first year of teaching. This may be prorated for staff not on full time or on less than 1.0FTE. 0.075 FTE equates to a total of 15 days.

A loading of 0.025 FTE is available for each full time beginning teacher on 1.0 FTE in their second year of teaching.

Further details are available in the complete Work Practices Agreement for each particular diocese. Please contact your IEU organiser if you are experiencing difficulties in accessing support.

Mark Northam
Assistant Secretary