Professional engagement update: Proficient Teacher and Maintenance

Members may have seen a recent announcement indicating NESA is extending the interim professional development arrangements until 4 February 2022.

This advice is aimed at providers only, and does not change any previous accreditation advice the IEU has provided for members.

Accreditation at Proficient

Not yet Proficient? The IEU professional engagement team has developed a handbook and an accompanying workbook which provide a comprehensive guide through the process. Email accreditation@ieu.asn.au to request a copy.

Maintenance of accreditation

Completing your 100 hours of professional development this calendar year will satisfy the PD requirements for your current maintenance cycle, regardless of your due date. The 100 hours can consist of either accredited or elective PD.

Access more than 50 hours of on-demand PD through the IEUZone. Log in and create your IEUZone profile now. Register any courses you complete on your eTAMS as elective PD.

Email pd@ieu.asn.au for further information.

IEU partnership

IEU members are eligible for a 10% discount on CEMA’s Assessment Literacy (NESA Accredited) and Data Literacy (Elective) modules which can articulate to postgraduate award courses.

Go to the Professional Development page of the IEUZone or email pd@ieu.asn.au for further inquiries.

NCCD update

The IEU continues to engage with employer groups and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) during Term 2, advancing recommendations in the IEU’s report on the survey into the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) process in NSW and ACT schools. You can access and download the IEU's NCCD Report from our website: bit.ly/3xyD7bG

In-person meetings with 10 of the 11 Catholic dioceses and DESE in Canberra have been productive, with substantial support for the IEU’s recommendations on clarification of guidelines and elimination of unnecessary or duplicative collection of data. DESE has asked the IEU NCCD Working Group to provide further feedback on possible amendments to the current guidelines.

Thanks to the NCCD Working Group who met online during the June/July school holidays to discuss current NCCD documentation and propose various changes. Suggestions include eliminating layers of evidence compliance and clarifying protocols for an audit, while satisfying the evidence requirements of the NCCD and maintaining the emphasis on its primary function: support for students with disability.

DESE acknowledged receipt of the suggested amendments and agreed to ongoing consultation. We anticipate online meetings with their senior personnel over the coming weeks.

The Quality Initial Teacher Education Review

On 11 March 2021, Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge announced a review of initial teacher education (ITE). The Quality Initial Teacher Education Review was launched on 15 April in response, followed some weeks later by a discussion paper circulated by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

The discussion paper focuses on attracting high quality candidates into ITE and preparing ITE students to be effective teachers. These areas are further broken down into enquiry around topics such as high-performing school leavers, mid-career professionals, diverse cohorts, completion rates of ITE courses, supply and demand in the teacher workforce, out-of-field teaching and the role of school leaders and teachers in ITE programs.

The IEU notes that there have been numerous reviews into ITE over the last 30 years. The IEUA (the union's federal body) has actively contributed to previous reviews, consistently raising concerns around the diminution of professional teacher training programs for graduates and the failure to provide appropriate resourcing and consultation with the profession regarding current ITE in-school experiences.

State branches of the IEU are collaborating on a submission from our federal office to the current review and discussion paper.

Professional Engagement team

While the primary efforts of the IEU will always focus on industrial issues, we are increasingly required to participate in the broader professional discussions affecting our members. In response, the IEU's Professional Engagement team will look after matters in the following areas:

  • professional development
  • accreditation
  • experienced teacher issues
  • developing education support material (eg Accreditation Handbook/resource videos)
  • developing position/responses to emerging education issues (eg NCCD, Parental Rights Legislation).

The Professional Engagement team comprises:

  • Veronica Yewdall, Education Coordinator/Professional Officer
  • Liz Finlay, Professional Officer
  • Pat Devery, Professional Officer/Organiser
  • Marie-Claude Guilbault, Technology and support.

We look forward to working with the membership and welcome any feedback you might have.