Nexus is 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.
The funding will cover two more intakes into the Nexus program – 30 students in 2023, and 30 in 2024.
La Trobe Dean of Education Professor Joanna Barbousas said she was thrilled the success of Nexus had been further acknowledged and supported.
“Our intention was always to prepare teachers for employment in rural, regional and low socio-economic schools across Victoria – which is exactly what Nexus is achieving,” Professor Barbousas said.
“Last year we graduated our first cohort of classroom-ready secondary school teachers through the Nexus program, enabling teachers to go straight into classrooms where they are needed – and many more are still in the pipeline.”
Professor Barbousas said the program enables students, from their first year of the program, to work in classrooms while receiving mentoring and professional development opportunities.
“There’s no better way to prepare future teachers than by allowing them to learn on the ground, in a real-life classroom situation,” Professor Barbousas said.
“We know our Nexus graduates are ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges of teaching, and have a passion to work in schools that really need them – which is a win for the students, and those communities.”
Nexus is delivered as part of the High Achieving Teachers Program with the support of the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the Victorian Government Department of Education and Training as part of its investment in Initial Teacher Education.
The program enables carefully selected participants to work as Education Support Class Employees in rural, regional and low socio-economic schools, while they complete their Master of Teaching (Secondary).
Media contact: Kate O'Connor - k.o'connor@latrobe.edu.au, 0436 189 629
