Welcome to the May edition of TA Talk.
This month marks the launch of our 8th awards season! Once again, we encourage all schools to participate by nominating a teacher aide or teacher aide team for their outstanding work, supporting student learning and wellbeing. We have already received a good number of entries but we are looking forward to receiving a whole lot more before the closing date, 26th June.
A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of presenting at the Adventist Schools Australia conference in South Australia, and were overwhelmed by the positive feedback we received from school leaders about our range of professional learning resources, and the recently released Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS). We are definitely feeling a ground swell of interest, Australia-wide, in what we offer schools and how this translates into improved classroom practice, and student success.
Earlier this week, we delivered our second ATAPS Facilitator Training to school leaders. This training gives a step by step process for implementing the Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards with TA teams, and provides attendees with access to a plethora of valuable support resources. Once again, our participants were highly impressed with the workshops, and we have included some of their feedback below.
Please remember to visit our TA Toolbox in the Resource Centre; it is an exceptional resource available to ATA members and subscribers. It is full of links to useful websites, videos, podcasts, practical resources, stories, articles and more. We have recently added a link to Learning with FASD, an organisation offering some great free resources on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). You can use the hyperlinked FASD banner in this newsletter to find out more.
Our professional learning community is an ongoing source of inspiration and many schools have been continuous members with ATA for many years, some as many as 9! Last week, a 5 year member school, Como Secondary College from WA, met with us to share how they use the ATA professional learning resources to enhance practice and improve student support. This is a great read, so make sure you visit our latest blog.
Until next month, take care. Warm regards Stella and Mandy |
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ATAPS Facilitator Training for School Leaders |
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Ten more leaders are equipped and ready! |
Congratulations to our newest ATAPS Facilitators who completed their training yesterday. Here’s what they’re saying about the ATAPS Facilitator Training course:
“Biggest takeaway: Upskilling of our EAs and having the ATAPS resources to support this.” - Keren
“I'm so glad our EAs will be acknowledged and supported to grow professionally. They absolutely deserve it.” - Rochelle
“Thank you so much to the ATA team. This has been a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging workshop.” - Brooke
Contact us today to find out how the ATAPS Facilitator Training will support the implementation of ATAPS at your school, empowering your TAs in their professional growth journey! |
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Send your nomination to us today! There's still time! |
We absolutely love seeing the nominations coming through, and thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to shine a light on an exceptional educator! Each entry is a reminder of the passion, innovation, and dedication happening every day in classrooms across Australia. If you haven’t submitted yours yet, there’s still time! Nominate an outstanding teacher aide or teacher aide team today and help us celebrate the educators who go above and beyond.
Nominations close in 4 weeks; don’t miss your chance to be part of it! |
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ADVENTIST SCHOOLS AUSTRALIA: ATA MEMBERSHIP WINNER ANNOUNCED! |
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Our ATA teacher and facilitator, Kim Nuske, recently attended the Adventist Schools Australia leadership conference in Glenelg, SA. |
Over 250 school and sector leaders gathered for their bi-annual conference, ‘Flourish’. ATA were proud sponsors of this event and were delighted to see Central Coast Adventist School win a 12-month membership with ATA.
School leader, Joanne Andrews commented “We have amazing teacher aides who are always keen to learn more. They will be so grateful to have this resource.”
Over thirty schools signed up to receive more information about becoming ATA members or using their current membership to its fullest potential!
We are delighted to see more school leaders taking intentional steps to set their learning support staff up for success in their professional roles! |
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Supporting Students in Science-Based Reading and Spelling Instruction
3.30pm Tuesday 10 June 2025 |
Join us for an inspiring and practical web event featuring ATA guest presenter, Karyn Fua, Director of The Literacy Collective.
Karyn will share the latest research on how to effectively support students in the early years classroom, with a focus on high-impact teaching strategies. She will provide ready-to-use verbal prompts to enhance reading and spelling activities in your classroom and give valuable insights into the role of phonological processing and how to apply orthographic mapping in your teaching.
Register now and take away tools you can use immediately to boost literacy outcomes for your students! |
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| Teamwork in the Classroom: Insights from a Secondary Teacher |
We're excited to share that our latest web event recording is now available in our resource library.
This chat-style discussion featuring ATA teacher and ATAPS facilitator Kim Nuske, secondary teacher Amanda Bond and teaching assistant Jolaryenne Elia offers valuable insights for anyone working in a classroom.
Together, Kim, Amanda and Jolaryenne dive into real-life strategies and give practical teamwork tips for strengthening collaboration between teachers and teaching assistants to enhance student learning.
Watch the preview now and discover how stronger partnerships can transform classrooms. |
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PARTNERING FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH WITH COMO SECONDARY COLLEGE |
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Como Secondary College, WA - 5 Year Members with ATA! |
We were inspired to hear from the Como Secondary College Education Support team recently about their experience using ATA’s professional learning.
Learning Support Coordinator, Mileva Tubbs explained why they choose to be ATA members:
“What originally attracted me to ATA was the bespoke learning,” Mileva said. “If our EAs want to learn more, they can do so at their own pace. There’s a huge array of topics—it’s fantastic. It’s a one-stop shop for professional learning.” Congratulations to Como Secondary College on being members with ATA for five years! Read more about Como Secondary College in our most recent blog. |
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UNDERSTANDING ATAPS - ONE STANDARD AT A TIME |
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Standard 4 - Contribute to and maintain supportive and safe learning environments. |
Teaching assistants demonstrate inclusive practices that enable all students to access the curriculum and participate in learning. They also support students to develop independence and manage their own learning, encourage positive behaviour, and support students’ digital literacy capability. Standard 4 details the professional practice teaching assistants require in their roles: - Focus Area 4.1 - Use inclusive practices that support student participation and engagement.
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Focus Area 4.2 - Support students to develop independent learning skills and manage their own learning.
- Focus Area 4.3 - Encourage and support positive student behaviour.
- Focus Area 4.4 - Support students’ digital literacy capability.
Here are a few resources to help enhance your practice contributing to, and maintaining supportive and safe learning environments: |
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OUTSTANDING PARTICIPATION IN ATA PROFESSIONAL LEARNING |
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Congratulations to the following schools for achieving most highly, over the past month, in their professional development journey: |
Marian College - Sunshine West VIC
Mercy Regional College VIC La Salle Academy - Lithgow NSW Newbury Primary School VIC |
Keep up the great work, everyone! |
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AWARD WINNING ATA MEMBERS |
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Top Teachers and Educators under 35 |
We’re proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of several of our members who have been named among The Educator's 2025 Top Teachers and Educators in Australia Under 35. This prestigious recognition highlights young leaders who are shaping the future of education through innovation, dedication, and impact and we’re thrilled to see the ATA community represented among this year’s rising stars. Samantha Warren - Aquinas College Grace Gonzalez - Mount St Joseph Girls' College
Natalie Presutti - Penola Catholic College Daniel Forlano - Seton Catholic College Georgia O'Brien - St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Genevieve Easton - Stuartholme School Melissa Barber - Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Athena Kavaleris - Westbourne Grammar School Joel Hogarth - Westbourne Grammar School William Stojkovski - Westbourne Grammar School |
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ATA IS A BUSINESS FOR GOOD |
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Empowering Change Together - 3,982 impacts so far! |
As educators, we know that small, purposeful actions can have an incredible impact. At ATA, we believe in more than just growing a successful organisation. We believe in growing possibilities. Whenever you, your school or your training organisation, purchase a new membership or renew an existing membership, you’re helping to provide education, resources, fresh water, and hope to children around the world who may otherwise go without. We encourage you to invite your network of educators and schools to also join our community, and help us 'grow the good'. Thank you! Your support is creating real change, in more ways than one!
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DON'T FORGET TO USE OUR JOB BOARD |
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| POSITIONS VACANT
Denison College - Kelso High Campus, NSW has 2 temporary positions available for School Learning Support Officers (SLSO) starting from Monday 21 July (earlier start date can be negotiated). |
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WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE |
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Get your nominations in for the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year and Teacher Aide Team of the Year awards |
With awards season in full swing, there's a buzz of excitement spreading through schools across Australia. It's no surprise, then, that our highest trending Facebook post right now is all about the upcoming awards!
Nominations are open until June 26, so if you haven’t submitted yours yet, now’s the time. Let’s continue to celebrate the incredible achievements happening in our schools every day! 44,621 views
34 reactions, 13 comments and 20 shares |
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Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools
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