Geelong's teaching talent to tackle disadvantaged schools

The best and brightest teaching students in Geelong will gain valuable school experience in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the region, thanks to a new Victoria-first program launched yesterday at Deakin University.

The National Exceptional Teachers for Disadvantaged Schools (NETDS) program will see 26 of Deakin's high-performing third and fourth year Bachelor of Education (Primary) students placed in Geelong, Corio and Werribee schools over 11 weeks during 2015 and 2016.

The first cohort of specially trained and supported teachers will graduate at the end of 2016.

Associate Professor Dianne Toe, Deputy Head of School of Education, explains that the first teaching students will take part in a specialised curriculum that better prepares them to teach at schools in disadvantaged areas.

"The teaching students will receive extensive mentoring support from Deakin staff as they gain a better understanding of poverty and disadvantage in the community," she said.

"Through workshops that focus on 'real world' issues related to disadvantage, special tutorials, and extra visits from Deakin staff during their placement, the teaching students will gain a real hands-on understanding of poverty and disadvantage in school communities."

"This experience will equip some of Deakin's best and brightest teaching students with vital skills that will not only make them better teachers, but also increase their chances of finding a job after graduating," she said.

Developed at the Queensland University of technology in 2009, the NETDS program is funded by the Origin Foundation and supported by non-profit Social Ventures Australia.

To date, the NETDS program has graduated 87 new teachers in Queensland with almost 90 per cent of graduates choosing to begin their careers at disadvantaged schools. 

Thanks to a $2 million funding boost from the Origin Foundation, the program is now being extended to the University of Newcastle, University of New England, University of South Australia, and Deakin University, with more to come in future years.

Sean Barrett, Head of the Origin Foundation, said "There is too much criticism of teaching performance. Teachers are part of the solution, they are not the problem. The teachers who have already emerged from this program at other universities are proving how powerful teaching is in changing young lives."