In this edition, we focus on the outstanding commitment by schools to building the capability of their support staff through professional learning.

Firstly, our congratulations go to all Catholic member schools on their bicentenary.

40% of Catholic schools are located in regional, rural and remote communities, and Wilcannia Forbes and the Wagga Wagga Dioceses have been leaders in enabling staff in all of their schools to access ATA online professional learning.

We are also delighted to congratulate another three professional learning champion schools. Emmanuel College, Kolbe Catholic College, and Rosella Park School have been ATA members for five years, and we look forward to sharing their successful performance and development strategies with you, soon.  

We are regularly impressed by the amount of professional learning our members do, and it is not unusual to receive requests for certificates on a weekend! So far this month, we have issued almost 200 certificates of completion, and one of the most popular resources is the three-part series, Essential Behaviour Support Skills for Schools.

Since introducing a 'request certificate' link below each resource in our Professional Learning library, more members have taken advantage of this feature, using their CPD Diary entries as proof of participation.

Our next open professional learning event is presented by guest expert, Louise Griffiths, on 8 June. If you work with students who live with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or who have survived trauma, we recommend you register for this event. Louise will help you hone your skills on avoiding or minimising the likelihood of meltdowns in students. If you are planning to participate in this event, we recommend you act soon, as there are over 200 people registered, already.

We wish you all the best for the coming month.

Warm regards,

Stella and Mandy

Awards open to all schools!

Australian Teacher Aide of the Year is the only national award for education support staff, and many schools have already submitted their nominations!

This award is open to all education sectors. We have already received nominations from State, Independent and Catholic schools in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria.

The awards close on the 16 July, but don’t leave it to the last minute, as we all know how time flies! As a reminder, why not post the awards flyer on your staff notice board?

Simply click on the image to download the flyer!

How to avoid and manage meltdowns in students

Tuesday 8th June 2021 @ 3:30pm AEST

Guest expert, Louise Griffiths, is a teacher at Mount Evelyn Christian School, and works in The Butterfly Centre, a specialised classroom for students who live with Autism Spectrum Disorder or who have survived trauma.

In this webinar, Louise will share her extensive experience working with children and young people who are prone to meltdowns, and will explain how she coaches the education support team at her school to avoid or minimise the likelihood of meltdowns in students.

Be quick! Register today. It's free!

Building school capability to support students with hearing loss

If you support students with hearing loss or hearing impairment this webinar is for you!

Zoe Molgaard, Head of Special Education Services at Tagai State College in the Torres Strait, and Thomas Kulich, Students with Disability Teacher, share their significant expertise in building staff capability to support students with hearing loss.

You will learn many practical strategies you can implement in the classroom, including an activity you can do with students every day, to reduce the impact of hearing loss. 

We wish to congratulate the following schools that, over the past 5 years, have built the capability of their support staff with ATA Professional Learning. These schools now join our growing ranks of Professional Learning Champions. We think you are awesome!

• Emmanuel College, QLD - Professional Learning led by Julie Nott
• Kolbe Catholic College, VIC - Professional Learning led by Jane Wenlock
• Rosella Park School, QLD - Professional Learning led by Deanna Pienaar

Is this you?

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1,313 reactions, comments and shares

It seems this post captured the mood of many, perfectly. Vesna described being a teacher aide as 'both an exhausting and exhilarating experience'; Helen said 'not enough hours in the day, not enough days in the week, not enough weeks in a year'; and Sherryn said 'so many kids ... so little time!'

Over-achievers ... yes?