Study with The Department of Social Equity and Inclusive Education
We prepare educators and leaders to work confidently across communities and champion equity, inclusion and meaningful participation for all learners.
Our courses are grounded in rigorous research, professional practice and strong partnerships with schools, communities and advocacy groups. Courses cover areas including inclusive pedagogies and curriculum frameworks, cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed approaches, Indigenous education, wellbeing, literacy, numeracy, leadership and AI-enhanced teaching.
Our initial teacher education and employment‑based pathways support entry into the profession, equipping graduates with the knowledge, confidence and ethical grounding to teach inclusively and lead equitable learning environments.
Our ongoing professional learning programs support career development, leadership and continuous growth, enabling educators to implement inclusive practices, lead system-wide change, and respond to the evolving needs of students, schools and communities.
Graduates enter the profession ready to make an immediate and lasting impact. Through partnership, co-design and practical engagement with schools, communities and education systems, our programs equip graduates to tackle complex educational challenges and contribute to systems that remove barriers, recognise multiple ways of knowing, and enable all learners to succeed.
Courses
Student experience
Our students learn within a collaborative environment shaped by expert educators committed to equity, inclusion and positive outcomes for all learners. Through partnerships with schools and community organisations, they engage with diverse learners, perspectives and practices, building the skills and confidence needed for inclusive teaching. These experiences, across urban and regional contexts, prepare graduates to create equitable learning environments and explore innovative approaches to education in response to the varying needs of our diverse communities.
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.