New graduate teachers will get more support as they start their careers thanks to a new $73.4 million graduate teacher program being piloted by the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Education James Merlino today announced the latest reform to revolutionise the way graduate teachers are supported when they first start working by improving graduate teacher induction and mentoring.

The graduate program will be piloted from next year in primary schools in North Eastern Melbourne, Western Melbourne and Inner Gippsland, which includes the shires of Baw Baw, South Gippsland, Latrobe and Bass Coast. This pilot will support 700 graduate teachers with 350 to commence in 2021 and 350 to commence in 2022.

Every new graduate teacher in the pilot will have an allocated mentor and classroom cover to make sure they have time to meet and complete the new, specialised professional development program to give them the skills they need.

New teams will work directly with schools to help them make the most of the program. Graduate teachers in rural and remote areas will get extra help to get to know their community, which will be new to many of them, and to build networks with local teachers and other professionals.

We’re also expanding the Graduate Teacher Conferences to cover second year graduate teachers – these full-day conferences help graduate teachers learn from others and develop support networks in their area.

The graduate teacher pilot program will help schools improve their induction and mentoring and help graduate teachers become lifelong learners in their profession. The program comes as a result of significant advocacy work from the Australian Education Union.

The Excellence in Teacher Education reforms are lifting the standard of teaching through a range of measures, including setting a minimum ATAR of 70 for graduate teaching courses and making it easier for people with valuable experience to get into teaching.

The Labor Government has invested $14.9 billion to make Victorian the Education State so that every child has access to a great education.