Testimonials: Teaching Placements in Australia
Stephanie Galanis (Australia teaching placement, Spring 2023). Currently a full-time teacher in Melbourne, Australia
“International teaching has been a lifelong goal, and my placement provided an incredible opportunity to apply my professional knowledge and continue my journey as a lifelong learner. While completing my placement I interviewed for a school in Melbourne, Australia, and my placement was an amazing asset in preparing me for the interview and successfully obtaining a contract.
During my placement in Queensland, I learned a great deal about the Australian curriculum, assessment, and evaluations used to support learners. I had the opportunity to participate in professional development and had a wonderful Associate Teacher to guide my teaching in a brand-new environment. I built meaningful connections with students and their families, and experienced some community-based school events including Harmony Day, bi- weekly assemblies, and Reading Day.
The Gold Coast of Australia is incredible. From the weather (22-28 °C) to the people, I would highly recommend that any BEd student apply for this opportunity. There are many fun activities and events happening along the beachfront, from outdoor markets (such as the very large Carrara Market, open every weekend) and music, along with a great variety of restaurants and cafes. Queensland offers a great balance of coastal beach life in a transit-friendly city.
I budgeted for mini trips around Australia on weekends and holiday time. I traveled to Melbourne and visited free exhibits such as the State Victoria Museum, The ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) and the National Gallery of Victoria. I also had the opportunity to drive up to Sunshine Coast (about 2.5 hours away from the Gold Coast). There I visited the Australia Zoo (which is magical, you can spend time feeding kangaroos, petting koalas, and seeing local animals such as wombats) and Hervey’s Bay, where I explored the water and land on a boat tour, and learned about the Indigenous communities and experienced a traditional closing ceremony. On my final weekend, I visited Canberra, exploring the National Museum and Art Gallery (both free) and wonderful restaurants in the city centre.”
Alyssa Nebel (Australia teaching placement, Spring 2023)
“Wow, what an adventure! International teaching is an incredible experience for anyone ready for a change of scenery and a change of pace. As teacher candidates, there is so much to learn about teaching, pedagogy and educational systems, but when you get the chance to do that learning on the other side of the globe, you also get to learn so much about yourself in the process.
The extra challenges posed by teaching a different curriculum while employing Australian pedagogical approaches forced me to remain flexible and open-minded while testing out methods I may never have been exposed to at home in Ontario. Because everything was so new to me, I had to remain consistently willing to learn new things in order to teach them effectively. I know this flexibility will serve me well in my future as a classroom teacher in Canada, and hopefully, around the world.
Australian teacher candidates are assessed according to 37 Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. From what I understand, many TCs do not meet all 37, and those that do, work very hard to do so, and accumulate these over the course of all of their placements. If a Lakehead TC is motivated, engaged, and eager to learn, these Professional Standards serve as a wonderful guide to steer their learning, offering the chance to build skills and knowledge in ways that are undoubtedly applicable back home in Canada.
In my experience in Australia, the number one thing I rave about is how incredibly kind all of the people I met were. Yes, the landscape is absolutely stunning and the autumn weather is impeccable, but it’s the people I will remember. My Associate Teacher was amazing to learn with, the school principal was a great guy, the teacher we lived with has become a lifelong friend, and the students were so welcoming and excited to learn from a Canadian teacher! In my very diverse classroom, my presence as someone from another country served as a catalyst for students from diverse cultures from around the world to teach each other about their own unique backgrounds. One of the things I hope they will remember about my time there is the “Culture Share” tradition I started with them."