Institute contacts graduates

By Wendy Currie

The Institute of Teachers has begun contacting graduate teachers about accreditation.

The Institute of Teachers Bill 2004 passed through the NSW Parliament in June.

The Bill is not consistent with Federation policy and Federation did not support it, however, it is now law.

The Board of Governors has not yet been appointed and it is unlikely that the processes will be in place to elect the Teaching Council until well into the latter half of 2005, yet it is not surprising that the timeframe contained within the legislation is now being enacted.

The law states that those who have never been employed to teach in NSW before term 4, 2004 (either on a permanent or casual basis), or have not been employed as a teacher during the past five years, will need to be accredited at the point when they are employed, and that this requirement will come into force on January 1, 2005.

The Institute has now contacted new graduates, as one category of those who will need to be accredited when employed, notifying them of the new requirements for beginning teachers.

This notification explains the process of accreditation that will be followed when they are first employed and informs them that there will be an $80 annual fee. It does not ask them to pay that fee now. The $80 is to be paid on employment.

According to the legislation, current formally qualified teachers are exempt from this requirement. Current teachers do not need to be accredited, unless, in the future, once the process is implemented, they wish, for whatever reason, to gain accreditation against one of the higher levels of professional standards. Notwithstanding this, all current teachers will be enrolled to vote for the Teaching Council when that election takes place.

Graduate teacher members who have received this information and have any questions should direct those to the Institute of Teachers on 1300 739 338.

Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

For further information

October 2004 contents