DIRECTORS' MESSAGE

Welcome to the September edition of TA Talk.

What a month! On 1st September our annual Awards program culminated with the much anticipated announcement of the 2022 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year and the Australian Teacher Aide Team of the Year. Please join us in congratulating Kerry Walker of Wedderburn College in Victoria and the Team Tally Teacher Aides from Tallebudgera State School who won the individual and team awards, respectively. We are looking forward to meeting with the winners, finalists and highly commended nominees next month to learn more about their achievements.

We also hosted our other major annual event, Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week, from 29th August to 2nd September. This event continues to grow each year and, along with the Awards, draws the attention of school leaders, teachers and others in the school community to the important contribution education support staff make to student learning and wellbeing. Congratulations to Good Shepherd College in Victoria for winning a morning tea valued at $100 for their creative competition entry, submitted by Sue Shimmin, a teacher at the college who also looks after staff welfare.

Earlier this month, prior to state and federal education ministers attending a round table conference to address teacher workloads and staff shortages, ATA took the opportunity to brief them on the work we are leading to develop the Australian Standards for Paraprofessional Educators in Schools. More recently, during a live web event, we presented our progress on the draft standards and you can read more about this groundbreaking work, below.

Until we meet again in Term 4, take care and enjoy your holidays!

Warm regards

Stella and Mandy

MEET THE 2022 AUSTRALIAN TEACHER AIDE OF THE YEAR WINNERS

Congratulations to Kerry Walker, a Student Support Coordinator at Wedderburn P-12 College in Victoria, who is the 2022 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year. Kerry was one of eight finalists competing for this year’s coveted title of Australian Teacher Aide of the Year. 

"Kerry is dedicated to helping achieve positive outcomes for our students and families, placing a strong emphasis on ensuring minimal barriers and providing opportunities for all within the community. Kerry is a fierce advocate for our most vulnerable children and families and is often seen as the bridge between the school and wider community in maintaining positive, safe connections and relationships. Her student centred and ‘person first’ approach is unwavering. She is held in very high regard within the wider community and is an invaluable asset to our school.” said nominators Danny Forrest, Principal, and Lea Humphrey, Leading Teacher, at Wedderburn P-12 College. 

Well done, Kerry!

Congratulations to the Teacher Aide Team from Tallebudgera State School in Queensland, who have been named the 2022 Australian Teacher Aide Team of the Year.

“Team Tally Teacher Aides are a critical part of the professional team, and their collective expertise, skill and care ensures that our school is inclusive, effective, safe and enjoyable for all students. Being passionate about the success of our students, school and team, they are known for going above and beyond and making a positive difference in the lives of young people.” said nominators Zoe Harlow, Principal, and Amy Stockbridge, Professional Learning Mentor at Tallebudgera State School. 

Well done Team Tally Teacher Aides!

THANK YOU TO OUR AWARD JUDGES

Our annual awards program requires significant input from a small team of committed education professionals, including our panelists who volunteer their valuable time to assess the shortlisted nominees. This year, our panelists were:

Michelle Smith, Holland Park State School, QLD

Rachel Carter, Waverley Christian College, VIC

Mary Griffiths, Kinross Wolaroi School, NSW

Hayley Matas, Greystanes High School, NSW

Thank you Michelle, Rachel, Mary and Hayley! We really appreciate your expertise, and generosity of time. 

UPCOMING EVENT

Building Stronger Teaching Teams – Observations of Teaching Assistants in Action

Tuesday 11 October 2022 @ 3:30pm AEST

In this webinar, Leanne Hillman from Bolster Education will share her observations of teaching assistants in action, and how teachers and teaching assistants are collaborating to build stronger teaching teams through lesson preparation and professional practice.

 NEW RESOURCE

Have Your Say: Australian Standards for Paraprofessional Educators in Schools

In this webinar, Stella Liliendal, project lead and ATA co-founder, presents an introduction to the Australian Standards for Paraprofessional Educators in Schools, explains their purpose, and reveals the seven draft standards.

Australian Teacher Aide, along with an industry reference group, commenced this work 12 months ago, and this is the first  opportunity for you to have your say on this ground-breaking work.

We invite you to view the preview by Claire Jackson from Monash University, on how professional standards can benefit teachers and teaching assistants to work together more effectively.

Then, click through to watch the full video, and use the survey link to provide your input. All feedback will be collated, and reviewed by the industry reference group,

Your feedback is important and will help shape the Standards!

BE PD READY FOR 2023

If your school has been 'sitting on the fence' thinking about a membership with ATA, Term 4 is the perfect time to get started. Why? As your school membership is for 12 months from the date of joining, starting now gives you and your team time to link to the school membership, become familiar with the extensive resource choices available, and be prepared for staff PD days in Term 1, 2023.

HOW TO BETTER SUPPORT TEACHERS 

A Report of Significance by the Grattan Institute

Recently, the Grattan Institute published a report on Making Smarter Use of Teaching Assistants, that looks at teacher shortages, and how to better support the teachers who are already in schools.

The report, which preceded the Ministerial Teacher Workforce Round Table, urged the Government to look at the way teaching assistants are currently being deployed in schools, and to evaluate the best ways they can support teachers and students.

ATA took this opportunity to write to the Ministers to inform them of the work we are leading to develop the Australian Standards for Paraprofessional Educators in Schools.

We strongly believe that the Standards will help inform teachers how to better utilise their education support staff, and have the potential to reduce teacher workloads.

WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE

Tell me a word that rhymes with 'pig'

26,447 views
946 reactions, comments and shares

Many of you who work with the younger years could identify with this scenario, and your comments were hilarious! There are a few that we can't repeat ... but oh, so funny!

ATA PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CHAMPION SCHOOLS

Congratulations to the following schools and training organisations celebrating their 5th, 6th and 7th continuous year of membership with ATA! This milestone reflects the commitment of the schools' leaders to the professional growth of their education support teams.

7 year Professional Learning Champion schools

Beerburrum State School QLD

Oak Flats High School NSW

6 year Professional Learning Champion schools

Dakabin State High School QLD

Prince of Peace Lutheran College QLD

VICSEG New Futures QLD

5 year Professional Learning Champion schools

Indooroopilly State High School QLD

Leighland Christian School TAS

St Josephs Catholic School Mount Isa QLD

The Rock Central School NSW

Yarraman P-9 State School QLD

WELCOME TO OUR NEW SCHOOLS AND TRAINING ORGANISATIONS

NSW

Holy Trinity Central School Inverell
McCarthy Catholic College Tamworth
O'Connor Catholic College Armidale
Sacred Heart Primary School Boggabri
St Edward's Primary School South Tamworth
St Francis Xavier's Primary School Narrabri
St Joseph’s Primary School Glen Innes
St Joseph's Primary School Barraba
St Joseph's Primary School Mungindi
St Joseph's Primary School Quirindi
St Joseph's Primary School Tenterfield
St Joseph's Primary School Uralla
St Joseph's Primary School Walgett
St Joseph's Primary School Warialda
St Joseph's Primary School Wee Waa
St Joseph's Primary School West Tamworth
St Mary’s Primary School Armidale
St Mary's College Gunnedah
St Michael's Primary School Manilla
St Nicholas' Primary School Tamworth
St Patrick's Primary School Walcha
St Philomena's Central School Moree
St Xavier’s School Gunnedah

Robert Townson High School

Shoal Bay Public School

St Joseph's High School Aberdeen 

Toomelah Public School

QLD

Biggera Waters State School

Bremer State High School

Chisholm Catholic College

Flagstone State Community College

Groves Christian College

Ipswich Girls Grammar School

Kenmore State High School

Livingstone Christian College

Mount Perry State School

Narangba Valley State High School

Pacific Pines State High School

St Luke's Anglican School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School Maryborough

St Rita's Catholic Primary School

The Hall State School 

SA

Scotch College Adelaide

TAS

The Friends School Incorporated

VIC

Assumption College

Brighton Secondary College

Catholic College Wodonga

Catherine McAuley College

Dandenong Primary School

Deer Park West Primary School

Djerriwarrh Community College

Ilim College

Ivanhoe Grammar School

Mazenod College Mulgrave

Oberon High School

Our Lady of Sion College

Sacred Heart College Yarrawonga

St Columba's College

St Liborius Primary School

Tyndale Christian School

WA

Applecross Senior High School

East Butler Primary School

Byford John Calvin School

John Calvin Christian College

John Calvin School Kelmscott

Rockingham John Calvin School

South West John Calvin Christian College

Onslow Primary School 

St Francis Xavier Primary School Geraldton

St Marks Anglican Community School 

Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools

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