Welcome to the June edition of TA Talk!
This month, we are excited to share an extraordinary milestone of one of our member schools. Kinross Wolaroi School in NSW has recently renewed their membership with ATA for the tenth consecutive year! This is the first school to reach a full decade of continuous membership, and it's a testament to their unwavering commitment to the professional growth of their education support team. Congratulations, Kinross Wolaroi School - what an inspiring achievement!
A special mention also goes to Sacred Heart College in Geelong for their incredible dedication to professional development. Since December 2024, 32 staff have been making great use of our member PD library to complete an impressive 232 professional learning resources. That’s an outstanding effort and one well worth celebrating!
We are excited to be part of the National Education Summit conferences in the coming months. You’ll find us in Brisbane on 31 July and 1 August, and again in Melbourne on 28 and 29 August. Kim Nuske will be presenting a Spotlight session focused on the benefits of the Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS) and how they’re supporting the growth of teaching assistants across the country. If you are attending one of these conferences, please take a few minutes to visit us at the ATA stand and say 'hello'.
Finally, a gentle reminder that today is the last day to nominate a teacher aide or TA team for this year’s Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards. If you're a teacher or school leader and this is still on your to-do list, now's the time! Nominations are open until midnight tonight, so there's still time to shine a spotlight on your amazing support staff.
Wishing you all a safe, restful, and well-deserved mid-year break. Warm regards
Stella and Mandy |
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Nominations Close Midnight Tonight |
Nominations for the 2025 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year close at midnight tonight. If you know an outstanding teacher aide or teacher aide team making a difference in the lives of students, now is the time to shine a spotlight on their work.
Head to our website for all the nomination details and help us celebrate the vital role of teacher aides in schools across Australia.
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted a nomination; we love reading your inspiring entries! Keep an eye on our website, as nominations will be published on 10 July. |
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SPOTLIGHT ON ATAPS IN ACTION |
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Congratulations to Ros and her team, who officially launched ATAPS with their Education Support Officers last term! Through hands-on workshops, the team explored the standards, mapped their professional growth, and began setting SMART goals for professional growth. This inspiring work is already shaping future school-wide professional learning and strengthening collaboration between teachers and ESOs. Could ATAPS support your school’s improvement agenda? Now is the perfect time to start the conversation. Discover how the ATAPS framework can elevate the work of your support staff. |
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The Interaction of PDA and ADHD: Traits and Strategies |
Tuesday 8 July 3.30PM AEST |
We’re delighted to welcome back Sarah Lovett, accredited social worker and founder of Our PDA Kids, for another powerful session on supporting students with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).
Sarah brings a unique combination of professional expertise and lived experience as a proud autistic woman with a PDA profile. In this webinar, she will explore the complexities of PDA and ADHD—and how these profiles can intersect in the classroom.
Join us to learn more about: - the interaction between PDA and ADHD
- approaches that can better support neurodivergent students
- what students' brains are seeking
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the brain chemistry behind ADHD and Autism
Whether you’re new to PDA or continuing your learning journey, this webinar will offer practical insights to support your role as a teacher aide. |
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| Supporting Students in Science-Based Reading and Spelling Instruction |
Are you looking for effective ways to support student reading in your classroom?
In our most recent video resource Karyn Fua, Director of The Literacy Collective, explores high-impact phonics activities and instructional strategies that support both decoding and encoding; key components of reading success.
You’ll learn how these essential skills help students move beyond simply recognising words on a page to confidently tackling more complex texts.
This video is packed with practical ideas you can start using right away to support your learners. |
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UNDERSTANDING ATAPS - ONE STANDARD AT A TIME |
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Standard 5 - Contribute to assessment and provide feedback on student learning. |
Teaching Assistants use a variety of assessment methods when monitoring student progress, and these should always be agreed upon with the student's teacher first. Teaching Assistants also need to understand how to give effective feedback to students on their learning, as well as communicating assessment observations and results back to teachers. Standard 5 details the professional practice teaching assistants require in their roles: -
Focus Area 5.1 - Use agreed assessment methods to monitor student progress and provide feedback to teachers.
- Focus Area 5.2 - Demonstrate effective feedback strategies used with students to support learning.
Here are a few resources to help enhance your assessment strategies and practice:
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ATA IS A BUSINESS FOR GOOD |
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Together, we're creating more impact |
Your membership is helping change lives!
At Australian Teacher Aide, our mission has always been to support the professional growth of teacher aides. Thanks to your support, that impact is reaching even further.
When you, your school, or your organisation join or renew a membership, you're also contributing to something bigger: supporting educational access, providing vital resources to children in need, and offering opportunities for communities to thrive.
Together, we've now achieved an incredible 4,168 impacts through our giving program! Thank you for being part of this remarkable journey. |
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MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY NEEDS YOUR VOICE |
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Your voice can make a difference in autism education |
Do you support students with autism in your classroom or learning space?
Researchers from Macquarie University want to hear from you!
A new study is being conducted to better understand the knowledge, experiences, and professional learning needs of teacher aides working with students on the autism spectrum across early childhood, primary, and secondary settings.
Teacher aides are invited to take part in a quick 8–10 minute anonymous survey that includes multiple-choice questions only.
At the end of the survey, you can choose to express interest in a follow-up interview, and if selected, you’ll receive a $100 gift voucher as a thank you for your time.
Your insights can help shape future professional learning and support for teacher aides across Australia. |
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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: Newbury Primary School VIC
Marian College - Sunshine West VIC Denison College of Secondary - Kelso High Campus NSW Catholic Regional College - Caroline Springs VIC |
Keep up the great work, everyone!
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OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CHAMPION SCHOOLS |
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10-year Professional Learning Champions Kinross Wolaroi School NSW
9-year Professional Learning Champions
Kolbe Catholic College VIC Rosella Park School QLD St Michael's School - Traralgon VIC 8-year Professional Learning Champions Deniliquin South Public School NSW Park Ridge State High School QLD Pine Rivers Special School QLD Robina State School QLD TAFE Queensland QLD Wyndham Central College VIC 7-year Professional Learning Champions
Beerwah State High School QLD Benaraby State School QLD Byford Secondary College WA Forest Lake State High School QLD Isis District State High School QLD Maroochydore State High School QLD
Middle Ridge State School QLD Petrie State School QLD Tropical North Learning Academy QLD 6-year Professional Learning Champions
Al-Taqwa College VIC
Blaxland High School NSW Carlisle Adventist College QLD Charleville State High School QLD Chinchilla State High School QLD |
| 6-year Professional Learning Champions Cleveland District State High School QLD Craigslea State High School QLD
Darnum Primary School VIC Gumdale State School QLD Hume Central Secondary College VIC Islamic College of Brisbane QLD Lakes Entrance Secondary College VIC Malanda State High School QLD Mater Dei School - Camden NSW Moorebank High School NSW RMIT University VE VIC Trinity Lutheran College - Ashmore QLD Vermont Primary School and Kindergarten VIC Wellington Point State High School QLD Woodbridge School TAS 5-year Professional Learning Champions Arbor Grove Primary School WA Bellarine Secondary College VIC Bray Park State School QLD Carinya Christian School NSW Casuarina Steiner School NSW Green Point Christian College NSW Harristown State High School QLD Keysborough Secondary College VIC Korowal School NSW Lake Joondalup Baptist College WA Mirani State School QLD Moriah College NSW Phillips Training Services Pty Ltd VIC Tallowood School NSW
Young High School NSW |
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW SCHOOLS AND TRAINING ORGANISATIONS |
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NSW All Hallow's Catholic Primary School - Gulgong Bombala Public School
Cathedral Catholic Primary School - Bathurst Catherine McAuley Primary School - Orange Central Coast Adventist School Denison College of Secondary Education - Kelso Holy Family Catholic Primary School - Kelso James Sheahan Catholic High School - Orange Kingscliff High School Liverpool Girls High School MacKillop College - Bathurst Mount St Benedict College
Nambucca Valley Christian Community School Ngarra Christian College Penrith Anglican College Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School - Coolah Shell Cove Public School Shire Christian School St Brigid's Catholic Primary School - Coonamble St Columba's Catholic Primary School - Yeoval St Edward's Canowindra - Canowindra St John's Catholic Primary - Dubbo St John's Catholic Primary School - Baradine St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Blayney
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Eugowra St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Gilgandra St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Manildra St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Molong St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Oberon St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Portland St Justin's Catholic Parish Primary School St Laurence's Primary School - Dubbo St Lawrence's Primary School - Coonabarabran St Mary's Catholic Primary School - Dubbo
St Mary's Catholic Primary School - Orange St Mary's Central School - Wellington St Matthew's Catholic School - Mudgee St Michael's Catholic Primary - Dunedoo St Patrick's Catholic Primary School - Lithgow St Philip's Christian College - Cessnock St Philip's Christian College - Gosford St Philomena's Primary School - Bathurst St Pius X Catholic Primary School - Dubbo The Assumption Primary School - Bathurst Towradgi Public School Youth Off The Streets - Eden College |
| NT St Francis of Assisi Primary School-Humpty Doo
QLD Alexandra Hills State High School Brisbane Adventist College Coomera Anglican College Darling Downs Adventist College Josiah College Russell Island State School Saint Stephen's College - Upper Coomera
St Andrews Lutheran College St Mary of the Cross School - Windsor SA Gordon Education Centre Calvary Lutheran Primary School Pinnacle CollegePrescott College - Prospect Prescott College Southern - Morphett Vale TAS Taroona High School VIC Emmanuel College - Warrnambool
Beaconsfield Upper Primary School Canterbury Primary School Carey Baptist Grammar School Catholic Ladies' College Christway College Copperfield College Damascus College Girton Grammar School Healesville High School Loyola College Mullauna Secondary College Neerim District Secondary College Sacred Heart School - Mildura
St Mary's Primary School - Sea Lake St Thomas More Primary School Thornhill Park Primary School Yarrawonga College P-12 WA
Aquinas College WA Bunbury Catholic College Duncraig Senior High School Kwoorabup Nature School Meadow Springs Primary School Salvado Catholic College St Vincent’s School - Parmelia Whitford Catholic Primary School |
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WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE |
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| Our most talked-about post this month gave a shoutout to all the teacher aides navigating those "what is even happening?" days ... full moons, Friday the 13ths, and students with extra energy! Your comments, laughs, and relatable stories remind us that even when the world feels a little topsy-turvy, teacher aides keep classrooms grounded with humour and heart!
14,467 views 82 reactions |
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Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools
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