ETP103 - Foundations of Teaching: Becoming a Professional
| Year: | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Warrnambool, Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in E200, E359 |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | ETP101 |
| Study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the trimester undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week, 1 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per week NIKERI (CBD): |
| In-person attendance requirements: | Pre-service Teachers – 5-days on-site professional observation experience (placement) in a primary school, 1 day in each of the following areas:
This unit has an indicative number of professional experience placement days. For the most up-to-date advice regarding your placement please see here. Placements for this unit are scheduled across multiple placement blocks. Students will be assigned to one of these blocks and cannot choose their preferred placement window. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they are available for placement at any time within the designated placement periods, as scheduling may occur at any point within these timeframes. Please note: Placement periods may take place during or outside standard trimester teaching dates. |
| Note: | *Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) |
Content
This unit provides first-trimester pre-service teachers with foundational knowledge and skills to support their transition into the teaching profession. A key focus is on understanding and applying the codes of ethics and conduct that guide professional responsibilities and decision-making. Students will explore the physical, social, and intellectual development of primary school students and how these factors influence learning. The unit also introduces the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, helping students identify their professional learning needs, and covers the legislative, administrative, and organisational policies relevant to early-career teachers. Through reflective practice, case studies, and collaborative discussions, students will engage in ethical problem-solving and consider strategies for maintaining professional wellbeing. A five-day teaching observation in a primary school provides an opportunity to contextualise learning and reflect on the realities of classroom teaching. By the end of the unit, students will have developed a strong foundation in professional ethics and an understanding of the key frameworks that will guide their ongoing growth and success in the teaching profession.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.
Commonwealth Prac Payment
From 1 July 2025, the Australian Government is intending to introduce the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to assist eligible students with costs related to mandatory placements in higher education courses for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work.
Hurdle requirements
| Brief summary of assessment tasks and hurdle requirement | Rationale | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
| Satisfactory completion of the 5-day professional experience placement | External course accreditation requirement. 5 of 80-required days of placement | GLO6: Self-management |