TRAINEE teachers of the Catholic Education Wilcannia-Forbes Teaching Schools Hub recently met in Forbes for two days of face-to-face professional learning.
Eight trainees from regional towns, including Balranald, attended the session.
The Hub is an initiative that gives people who have a passion for working with children the opportunity to gain their Bachelor of Education (Primary) while studying from home.
The Hub program has been running since last July and offers trainee teachers an online option to gain their teaching qualifications while staying in their community with their family and friends.
Vicki Cavallaro, CEWF teaching schools hub manager, said it was a great two days of learning.
“This was the first opportunity that the CEWF Teaching Schools Hub trainees have had to come together as a group and meet face-to-face,” she said.
“The participants have become great friends and are supporting each other throughout their journey to become a teacher, with this support being the crux of the program’s success.”
Ms Cavallaro said keeping aspiring teachers in their local regions was critical.
“At the moment, we have a critical shortage of teachers around the country which is only predicted to worsen,” she said.
“Having people who are passionate about working in the profession that are training on the job while they study will produce incredible teachers with a well-rounded education, who are committed to staying in their local communities, which are amongst the most remote in our state.”
One of these trainee teachers is Laura Kirk, ho emphasised the point Ms Cavallaro made.
“It allows me to stay in my local area and not have to relocate because of the ability to complete the degree online while working in my local school,”she said.
“The Hub program is an incredible opportunity for us to learn on the job and better prepare for our future teaching careers.”
The trainee teachers come together once a week via Zoom to meet and discuss the practical aspects of the role of a teacher in a primary school setting.
They also work one day per week in their local Catholic school, where they can begin teaching under the supervision of a highly trained mentor.
