DIRECTORS' MESSAGE

Welcome to the August edition of TA Talk.

August is historically one of our busiest months, and this year has been no different!

The first few weeks found us delightfully absorbed in award nominations. We had the pleasure of reading over 150 nominations this year, and as usual we were deeply inspired by the impact education support staff are making in schools, all over Australia. We published the state finalists and highly commended nominees on 14th August, and we are looking forward to announcing the individual and team winners on Thursday 4th September during Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week.

We had some insightful conversations with attendees at the National Education Summit in Brisbane earlier in the month, and tomorrow we will be exhibiting and speaking at the National Education Summit in Melbourne. If you are visiting the Melbourne conference, we encourage you to attend the ATA Spotlight session where Kim Nuske will be sharing the new Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards, including how this national framework will support professional growth and improve collaboration in the classroom.

Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week, 1 – 5 September, is just around the corner, and we hope your school is gearing up to acknowledge and celebrate your TAs in some way. As usual, we have lots of ideas, templates and special things happening every day so make sure you check out the Appreciation Week page on our website.

As we juggle all of these special events, we remain grounded in our core business, which is the provision of professional learning that is accessible, practical, evidence-based and designed especially for education support staff in Australian schools.

We love what we do, and we are grateful for the community we get to serve each day.

Warm regards

Stella and Mandy

APPRECIATION WEEK

Are you ready to celebrate?

Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week kicks off next week, from 1–5 September, and we can’t wait to celebrate the incredible work of teacher aides across Australia!

We hope everyone is feeling excited and has had the chance to check out our celebration resources. If not, don’t worry – there’s still time to get involved! From thank you notes and class activities to morning teas and shout-outs at assembly, every effort helps shine a light on the vital role of teacher aides.

Don’t forget to capture the celebrations with plenty of photos and videos, and then enter our competition for a chance to win a morning tea for all the teacher aides at your school!

NEW! ON THE ATA WEBSITE

Tools and Templates (Under the Resource Centre tab)

We’ve created a brand-new Tools and Templates page on our website, designed to make your work as a teacher aide and the support you receive from your school even stronger.

You’ll find ready-to-use checklists, surveys, and guides to help you reflect on your practice, track student progress, and grow your professional skills.

For schools and leaders, these resources also provide practical ways to encourage staff engagement in professional learning, strengthen collaboration between teachers and teacher aides, and support the onboarding of new team members.

Whether you’re looking for a simple record sheet for small group work, an induction checklist for new staff, or a guide to building stronger teaching teams, our new collection has something for you.

UPCOMING EVENT

Stronger Together: Resilience Through Better Communication and Relationships

In today’s fast-paced world, thriving through challenges while maintaining meaningful relationships is more important than ever. The key? Authentic communication.

Join ATA guest presenter and international mindset speaker, Patty Duque, in our upcoming live web event, Stronger Together: Resilience Through Better Communication and Relationships, and discover where the neuroscience of resilience meets the art of connection.

Learn how to train your brain to overcome obstacles, navigate tough conversations, and build trust that lasts.

Discover strategies to strengthen relationships, bounce back from setbacks with confidence, and create meaningful bonds that stand the test of time.

 NEW RESOURCE

What Students Need to Hear From Teaching Assistants

As teacher aides, one of the biggest challenges is knowing how much support to give. It’s natural to want to step in and help, but too much assistance can sometimes hold students back from developing their own problem-solving skills.

Our latest resource, What Students Need to Hear from Teaching Assistants, highlights how the scaffolding framework can help with making those decisions confidently. This practical approach breaks down when to step in and guide, and when to step back and give students the space to think, explore, and build resilience.

By applying this framework, student learning is strengthened, while confidence and independence in the classroom are nurtured.

 ATA AT THE NATIONAL EDUCATION SUMMIT

Sharing insights and building connections

We recently had the pleasure of attending the National Education Summit in Brisbane, where ATA teacher and ATAPS facilitator, Kim Nuske, spoke at the Knowledge Centre about our new Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS).

It was wonderful to meet so many inspiring educators, put faces to our valued member schools, and forge new connections across the education community.

Our team is now attending the Melbourne NES, and we look forward to connecting with even more of you. If you’re attending on Thursday or Friday this week, be sure to stop by and say hello!

 UNDERSTANDING ATAPS - ONE STANDARD AT A TIME

Standard 7 - Engage and communicate professionally with colleagues and the school community.

It is important that teaching assistants understand their role (what their job is) and responsibilities (how/when/where they do their job) to ensure we are maximising the impact they have when supporting learning and teaching. As staff members, TAs must also comply with legal and ethical obligations, and with school policy and procedures.

Standard 7 outlines the responsibility of compliance, role understanding, and professionalism:

• Focus Area 7.1 - Comply with legal and ethical obligations in the school environment.
• Focus Area 7.2 - Comply with school policies and procedures.
• Focus Area 7.3 - Demonstrate understanding of the teaching assistant role.
• Focus Area 7.4 - Demonstrate professionalism in interactions with colleagues and the school community.

Here are a few resources to explore:

• (Video) Your Words Create Your Future with Patty Duque
• (Video) Step Up Stand Tall - Changing the Mindset of the Paraprofessional
• (PDF) Survey Tool – Inclusive Teacher Aide Practices in Schools: Inclusive TA Practices in Schools
• (PDF) Sample Teacher Aide Induction Checklist: Teacher Aide Induction Checklist

 READ OUR LATEST BLOG

Teacher aides across Australia want meaningful PD, time to learn and clear career pathways.

We’re committed to ensuring that every teacher aide has access to the support and opportunities they need to grow in their role.

In our latest blog, we explore how Australian Teacher Aide and the Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS) can empower teacher aides to strengthen their skills, gain recognition, and build rewarding careers, while also addressing the challenges schools face in ensuring TAs have time for professional growth.

ATA IS A BUSINESS FOR GOOD

Empowering change together - 4,447 impacts to date!

Educators understand better than anyone that even the smallest actions can create lasting change.

At Australian Teacher Aide, our vision goes beyond building a strong organisation, we’re committed to creating opportunities.

Every time a membership is purchased or renewed, whether by an individual, a school, or a training organisation, that choice helps deliver education, resources, clean water, and hope to children around the world who need it most.

We welcome more schools and educators to join this journey. With every new member, the collective impact grows even stronger.

Thank you for being part of this movement. Your support is changing lives both here and across the globe.

OUTSTANDING PARTICIPATION IN ATA PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

Congratulations to the following schools for achieving most highly, over the past month, in their professional development journey:

Mount St Benedict College NSW

Newbury Primary School VIC

Galen Catholic College - Wangaratta VIC

Denison College of Secondary Education - Kelso High Campus NSW

Keep up the great work, everyone!

WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE

No words needed!

Our most popular Facebook post this month perfectly captured that special connection between teacher aides and teachers. 

It’s a fun reminder that the best partnerships are built on understanding, teamwork, and a great sense of humour!

34,390 views
148 reactions, 100 comments and 22 shares

Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools

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