Study with the Department of Professional Practice and Wellbeing
We are committed to inclusive and innovative education, with student and teacher wellbeing at the centre of everything we do.
We prepare educators to thrive in diverse classrooms and communities through a combination of initial teacher education and employment‑based pathways, supporting entry into the profession and equipping graduates with the skills, confidence and ethical grounding to teach inclusively and effectively.
Our ongoing professional learning programs support career development, leadership and continuous growth, enabling educators to strengthen practice, lead innovation, and respond to the evolving needs of students, schools and communities.
Courses are grounded in rigorous research, professional practice and strong partnerships with schools and communities. They cover areas such as literacy, numeracy, leadership, inclusive pedagogy, digital learning and AI‑enhanced teaching. Flexible on‑campus, online and employment‑based pathways allow students to learn where and how it suits them – supporting early-career teachers, career changers and experienced educators seeking professional growth.
Graduates enter the profession ready to make an immediate and lasting impact. They foster inclusive learning environments, support student wellbeing, lead innovation in teaching and learning, and sustain long, impactful careers that strengthen schools and communities.
Courses
Student experience
Our students are immersed in a dynamic, supportive learning environment where evidence-informed curriculum builds capability, confidence and resilience. Through strong partnerships with schools, early childhood services and industry, learning is connected to real-world practice and workforce needs. Students actively participate in inclusive, equitable learning environments that value every voice, preparing them to lead in wellbeing, professional practice and innovation across diverse educational contexts.
Placements
Placement experiences are central to teacher education, enabling students to apply their learning in diverse, real-world settings.
We provide high-quality placement experiences for every pre-service teacher, with seamless alignment between coursework, the trajectory of learning, and professional practice.
Our approach is built on:
- High-quality learning experiences – carefully designed placements that integrate theory and practice at every stage.
- High-trust partnerships – strategically aligned networks of early childhood services, schools and education providers.
- Evidence-informed mentorship – strong mentor capability aligned to evidence-based teaching practices.
- Consistent placements for every student – a uniform standard of quality across all campuses and programs.
Through these partnerships, students develop capability in inclusive, evidence-informed practice. Placements span metropolitan, regional and rural contexts, often close to the communities where students live and aspire to work. Each experience is supported through tailored approaches that respond to local workforce needs, strengthen professional networks, and connect theory to practice.
Our partners value working with La Trobe students, who are exceptionally well-prepared to make an immediate impact in classrooms through evidence-informed practice.
A global perspective
We partner internationally to connect our teaching and research to global educational contexts and workforce needs.
Through comparative and cross-cultural inquiry, we strengthen teacher wellbeing, professional practice, inclusion and initial teacher education. This global engagement informs applied research, professional learning and curriculum innovation, contributing to human-centred approaches to education and emerging technologies such as AI.