Teacher Supply Program Working and Set to Expand

There is a teacher shortage, a dire one, and sometimes it seems unclear where all the new teachers will come from.

But a program, Nexus, devised at La Trobe looks to be helping to get new teachers into classrooms by providing wrap around support and financial assistance.

Nexus students take part in an eighteen-month accelerated or two-year Master of Teaching (Secondary) or Master of Teaching (Primary), while undertaking paid employment in schools (part-time in first year and full-time in second year).

On top of their salary, Nexus students also benefit from up to $14,900 in financial support. The Nexus program offers a close community of practice including academic support, school mentors and professional development in social justice areas and works in partnership with schools and local communities to help train teachers for economically, culturally diverse and hard-to-staff schools in Victoria.

Nexus will be active in more regional schools this year and is to expand into New South Wales. It first launched in 2020 as part of the Australian Government’s High Achieving Teachers Program, offering a first-of-its-kind pathway into secondary teaching that enables people to transition from other careers while gaining practical experience in a school setting.

Tallangatta Secondary College in North-East Victoria has participated in the Nexus program since its inception.

For the four students that have come through this school, Principal Richelle Moyle said Nexus has given them the confidence and awareness of what is typical of teaching in rural and regional areas.

"Nexus provides university students with the opportunity to gain an authentic and realistic understanding of what school is like, whether they enjoy teaching or if it is the right fit and this makes them more likely to stay, which is a huge asset to the school,” Principal Moyle said.

"I've always been a huge advocate for this program because I believe the students that come through the Nexus program, who've applied the theoretical components they've learned at university and into the classroom, come out well in front of a standard graduate."

Noah Rawlings relocated from Geelong to Mildura’s Chaffey Secondary College in 2021 as part of the second cohort of Nexus students and has remained ever since.
The now graduate teacher said the program’s wrap-around support, secured employment and gaining first-hand experience while studying were major factors in applying for Nexus.

“Nexus was beneficial to forming the groundwork of my teaching career and my confidence and efficiency in the classroom has continued to grow, following my completion in 2022,” Noah said.

Nexus’ contribution to staffing regional and rural schools has been recognised by significant funding of $7.9 million by the Government in July 2023 expanding the program into primary schools.

La Trobe Dean of Education Professor Joanna Barbousas said, “Our current Nexus program has been an extraordinary success in preparing teachers for employment in schools across Victoria.

“Preparing teachers through evidence-informed approaches and gaining hands-on classroom experiences, will set them up to make a difference in regional, rural and hard to staff schools.”

The Nexus program has been named as a finalist in the Shaping Australia Awards for the Future Builder Award, highlighting its significance and role in transforming the learning needs of all students.

More than 100 aspiring primary teachers will work across Victorian and New South Wales primary schools in 2024, while undertaking the Master of Teaching (Primary), receiving support and tailored instruction to address the unique contextual teaching needs of their respective locations.

The Victorian cohort of Nexus primary participants commenced their studies in February, while the New South Wales cohort will begin in July.

Image by Arthur Krijgsman