The Andrews Labor Government is supporting teachers from across Victoria’s school system to upskill, excel and become leaders in their schools through a professional pathway program aimed at the best and brightest educators.

Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today encouraged teachers from the government, independent and Catholic school sectors to apply for the 2023 intake of the Teaching Excellence Program at the Labor Government’s Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.

Launched this year for the first time, the Australian-first program builds the expertise of classroom teachers with at least three years’ experience, using the latest pedagogy and teaching experts from across Australia and the globe to develop teachers’ skills in their specialist subjects so they can provide deeper learning to their students.

Teachers take their new expertise back to their schools, sharing new ways of working not just with students, but with their colleagues – building capacity right across the school system.

This year alone, more than 220 high-performing teachers have already taken advantage of the inspiring offering to become more effective in the classroom – and the 2023 intake will extend to support 500 teachers to take the 12-month program.

Teachers are supported throughout the program by Master Teachers, selected for their expertise in the Arts, English, Humanities, Languages, Technologies, Science, Mathematics and Health and Physical Education.

By completing the Teaching Excellence Program, teachers gain alumni status from the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership and are eligible to apply to engage in fellowships to take their learning even further.

The program is underpinned by the latest research and gives participants the chance to test new and emerging practices, as well as develop new ways of teaching. As a cross-sector program, it is uniquely positioned to impact the outcomes of every student in every classroom across Victoria.

Thanks to a $148.2 million Labor Government investment, the Academy opened in Melbourne’s Treasury Precinct this year, with campuses also being opened in Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Moe and Shepparton – ensuring rural and regional teachers can access quality professional development close to their schools.

Applications for next year’s Teaching Excellence Program are now open. To find out more and apply, visit academy.vic.gov.au/professional-learning/teaching-excellence-program.