Deakin Teaching Academy Alliance to be launched in Warrnambool

A new teaching academy at Deakin University's Warrnambool Campus aims to improve teacher preparation and build stronger partnerships with local schools.

The Deakin Teaching Academy Warrnambool Alliance will bring together a cluster of local schools and will be launched on Wednesday 5 August.

The alliance includes Brauer College, Koroit and District Primary School, Merrivale Primary School, Nullawarre and District Primary School, Warrnambool College, Warrnambool East Primary School, Warrnambool Primary School and Woolsthorpe Primary School.

Warrnambool Alliance site director Jodie Carter said the initiative aims to improve teacher preparation and professional learning in schools by building stronger partnerships between schools and universities.

"The Warrnambool Deakin Academy intends to immerse pre-service teachers in an integration of theory and practice that will see them working with trained mentor teachers on developing professional practice and specific school improvement strategies," Ms Carter said.

"The university- school partnership is committed to finding new ways to align pre-service teacher learning to school initiatives designed to achieve improved outcomes for students.

Warrnambool is one of 12 Teaching Academies of Professional Practice being established with funding from the Victorian Government.

The Teaching Academies feature a site-based training model and use programs that are built on contemporary research, strong links between theory and practice, and a commitment to improving young people's learning outcomes in schools.

As the new site director, Ms Carter oversees pre-service teachers' residency-based professional experience placements.

The program also features a mentor professional learning program to guide mentors in helping pre-service teachers to recognise theory in observation.