DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the December edition of TA Talk.

2025 has been a 'kaleidoscope' of events; a year marked by change, loss and opportunity, but what continues to stand out is the passion and unwavering commitment of our team, our partners, and the educators we support. Your implicit alignment with our mission, We Empower Educators to Help Students Succeed, is the reason our impact in education continues to thrive, and we acknowledge and deeply appreciate the support of all in our community. 

You will read about some of our wins over the past year, below. Of special note is the way schools are embracing the new Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS) and the positive results that are already emerging. We’re hearing stories of teaching assistants feeling more confident and valued in their roles, teachers noticing clearer alignment in classroom practice, and leaders reporting stronger, more consistent support for students. It’s clear that when schools implement ATAPS with intention, it becomes more than a framework - it becomes a driver of genuine school improvement.

If you have been reading our newsletters over the past few months, you will be aware that this month we are busy preparing for the transition to a new website. I would like to thank you for your patience during this time. We know that some features are temporarily unavailable, such as My Portal, and we truly appreciate the understanding you’ve shown during this period. The upgraded platform will allow us to serve you even better, and we’re excited to share it with you in early 2026.

Just a reminder, our office will be closed from 15th December 2025 until 9th January 2026, inclusive.

We will be back on 12th January, and we look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2026, and to supporting even more schools as they strengthen the vital work of teaching assistants. Thank you again for your ongoing commitment to your professional growth, to help students succeed. You truly do make a difference!

Merry Christmas @{aspediacrm-person-firstname}, and best wishes to you, your team, and your family for a safe and joyful break. I hope you find time to rest, recharge, and celebrate the many achievements of the year, and that 2026 brings you much happiness and success, both personally and professionally.

Warm regards

Mandy

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE DATES

Our office will be closed from 15 December to 9 January inclusive.

During this period, our team will be offline and unable to respond to any enquiries, other than those deemed urgent.

Please keep this in mind as you finalise your end-of-term plans.

12 MONTHS, 12 WINS: OUR YEAR AT ATA

As we look back on 2025, we're reminded just how much our community has achieved together. From thousands of hours of learning to hundreds of schools joining our mission, this year has been full of momentum, connection and impact.

Here are 12 wins worth celebrating as we wrap up the year:

1. We proudly issued 8,634 certificates — each one representing dedication and growth from our community.
2. We continued to welcome new teams, delivering 248 school orientations across the country.
3. We cheered for 188 brand-new schools, and hundreds of returning legends.
4. We expanded our leadership network, with 56 new ATAPS facilitators trained and ready to support their teams.
5. We hit “play” on professional learning — a lot — with 7,349 hours of PD watched by our community.
6. We delivered 10 live webinars, sparking conversations, sharing strategies and connecting educators everywhere.
7. We celebrated 167 incredible people through this year’s ATA Awards, recognising those who go above and beyond.
8. We packed our bags for 4 conferences, meeting passionate educators and advocating for the vital work of teacher aides.
9. We stayed in touch with 72 communications (including this one!), keeping our members updated, informed and inspired.
10. We shared 10 new blogs, offering practical advice, research-informed insights and stories from the field.
11. Our online community grew by 1,085 followers, expanding the reach of our message and resources.
12. And finally — we’ve been building a brand-new ATA website, coming in 2026 to offer an even smoother, smarter and more user-friendly experience for all.

Twelve wins, one incredible year!

Thank you for learning with us, partnering with us, and helping create meaningful change in classrooms across Australia. Here’s to an even bigger 2026!

 1,548 IMPACTS MADE IN 2025!

At Australian Teacher Aide, we believe even small actions can create meaningful change.

This year, our community has made 1,548 positive impacts, supporting education, resources, and hope for children who need it most.

Thank you for being part of this journey—together, we’re transforming lives!

2026 WEB EVENTS

We’re kicking off 2026 with our first live web event on Tuesday, 10 February.

We have a full calendar of exciting new professional development sessions lined up for the year ahead.

Stay tuned — it’s going to be a fantastic year of growth and connection!

OUTSTANDING PARTICIPATION IN ATA PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

Special Congratulations to Newbury Primary School for completing the most professional development with us this year — an incredible 309 CPD entries!

Their commitment and consistency to professional development is truly inspiring, and they have often been highlighted as one of our highest-achieving schools.

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

King's Christian College QLD
Cedars Christian College NSW
Islamic College of Melbourne VIC
St Stephen's Catholic College - Mareeba QLD

Keep up the great work, everyone!

OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CHAMPION SCHOOLS (October to December)

10-year Professional Learning Champions
Toukley Public School NSW

9-year Professional Learning Champions
Victoria Park State School QLD

8-year Professional Learning Champions

Leighland Christian School TAS
St Mary's Primary School - Warwick QLD
Sunshine Christian School VIC

7-year Professional Learning Champions

Brisbane School of Distance Education QLD
Kilcoy State High School QLD
Toowoomba Grammar School QLD

6-year Professional Learning Champions

Ayr State School QLD
California Gully Primary School VIC
Dayboro State School QLD
Glenroy College VIC
Lighthouse Christian College VIC
St Ursula's College - Toowoomba QLD
Upper Mount Gravatt State School QLD

5-year Professional Learning Champions

Aquinas College Victoria VIC
Bayside Christian College VIC
Berry Street School VIC
Charlton Christian College NSW
Community College Gippsland VIC
Coppabella State School QLD
Genesis Christian College QLD
Good Shepherd School - Albany Creek QLD
Lyndhurst Secondary College VIC
Padua College VIC
Pallara State School QLD
Rosedale State School QLD
Seven Hills High School NSW
St Andrew's Cathedral School NSW
St Brendan's College - Yeppoon QLD
St James Primary School - Muswellbrook NSW
St Mary's College - Toowoomba QLD
St Patrick's College - Strathfield NSW
Tully State High School QLD

WELCOME TO OUR NEW SCHOOLS AND TRAINING ORGANISATIONS 

ACT

Burgmann Anglican School

NSW

Allegra School Coffs Harbour
Emmaus Catholic College
Kempsey Adventist School
Molong Central School
Shore - Sydney Church of England Grammar School
St Catherine's Catholic College - Newcastle (Diocese of Maitland)
St John's Lutheran School - Jindera
Wollongong Flexible School

QLD

Annandale Christian College
Autism Queensland
Bundaberg State High School
Clayfield College

Ithaca Creek State School

Manly State School

Mount Alvernia College
Runcorn State School
The Y Schools Queensland

SA
St Barbara's Parish School

VIC

Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School
Mount Waverley Secondary College

Sholem Aleichem College

St Mary's School - Hastings

St Michael's Primary School - Berwick
St Richard's Primary School - Kilsyth
St Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Primary School
Sunbury Downs College
Youth2Industry College

WA

Alta-1 College WA
Challis Community Primary School
Gateway Training Academy - Perth
Geraldton Grammar School
Governor Stirling Senior High School
Melville Senior High School
Tambellup Primary School
Warnbro Community High School

WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE

Teaching Tip for Supporting Reluctant Learners

Our most popular post this month was a simple but powerful reminder about supporting reluctant learners. By connecting first, offering meaningful choices, and breaking tasks into manageable steps, educators can transform hesitation into progress. Sometimes it’s the smallest shifts that make the biggest difference.

2,579 views
11 reactions, 4 comments and 2 shares

Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools

This email was sent to: @{aspediacrm-person-email}

Sent from Australian Teacher Aide

PO Box 5784, Maroochydore BC QLD 4558

Manage your communications preferences or Unsubscribe