Welcome to the last edition of Registration Buzz for 2021, a year that has been challenging on many levels, but also filled with change and inspiration.

We appreciate it is a busy time of year for all teachers and our TRB staff with the annual registration renewal period opening in October (for teachers whose registration is due to expire in January 2022).

Thank you to those who have already logged in and completed their renewal. We always aim to make the renewal process as easy as possible through the online Teachers Portal.

This year renewing teachers will be registering for a five-year term of registration following changes to the Teachers Registration and Standards Act 2004, which came into effect from July this year. Teachers will have a choice of paying their annual fee upfront for the full five years, or for between one and five years. For more information on fees, click here.

If you are due to renew, please make sure your application, and all other requirements, are submitted on the Teachers Portal before 31 December 2021. A late fee will apply for late applications.

If you hold Provisional Registration and you are ready to transition to full Registration, please lodge your Application to transition to full registration as soon as it is completed. This can be submitted before renewal or at the same time as your renewal.

Over the holiday period, the TRB office will remain open throughout Christmas and New Year (other than public holidays), with foyer staff to assist. Please be mindful of Covid rules if entering the building and do not attend the office if you have symptoms of Covid-19, have visited a hotspot, or are awaiting a test result.

As we now move toward the end of 2021, we wish you all a safe and happy holiday period and an enjoyable start to the new year in 2022.

Educators play an important role in our classrooms and in our communities. World Teachers’ Day was an opportunity to celebrate, acknowledge and thank them for all that they do and contribute.

The theme of this year’s celebration was 'Teachers at the heart of education recovery' which recognises the tireless efforts of our teachers to keep lessons going and ensure minimal disruption to learning over the course of the pandemic.

To celebrate and acknowledge the bright future of teaching in SA, we asked a few fabulous teachers to share their inspiration and stories with us.

Meet Amy Morgan

Amy is the lead teacher and a director at Forbes Children’s Centre. Forbes is an exciting and busy centre and Amy thoroughly enjoys her work with the children, families and the wider community. 

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I had amazing teachers in my early education who inspired me and drew me to the teaching profession. I stay inspired every day as I meet new children and families and I get to be part of their learning journey.

What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching for you?

Helping to shape the very beginning of a child's learning journey. It is such a privilege. Getting to know children and families and the lasting relationships that follow.

What is the nicest (or funniest) thing a student or parent has ever said to you?

The funniest would probably be a child miss pronouncing my name... she called me Nighty instead of Amy for three terms straight, no matter how many times I gently reminded her my name was in fact Amy! The nicest thing would have to be a parent telling me they felt like I changed the trajectory of their child's education after being so worried about how they would manage starting preschool and the transition to school. 

Meet Yasmin Alesci

Yasmin is an upper primary school teacher at Settlers Farm Campus R-7 at Paralowie. She is a devoted teacher to 25 bright and energetic year 6 students. 

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I was inspired by great teachers from my past. I chose a teaching career after having children of my own. It made me realise that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, the way some wonderful teachers had made a difference to me.

What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching for you?

Seeing growth, not just in students’ education (which is always a woo hoo moment) but growth in the child's social, emotional and overall wellbeing. Building relationships with students and seeing the positive impact you can contribute to their life is really rewarding for me. 

What is the nicest (or funniest) thing a student or parent has ever said to you?

Whilst visiting a reception class, a child invited me to sit on the chair beside them. As I approached the chair he was eagerly pointing at, I noticed that a thick layer of glue had been applied to the seat. Luckily, we as teachers learn not to take things too personally. Four years on he and I are on good terms now and he hasn't tried to stick me to a chair since.

Meet David Mazzarelli

David is a middle and secondary school teacher at Thomas More College, Adelaide. He specializes in Senior English, Religious Education, HASS, and Research Project.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

They say our profession is commonly one where you are called to the role as a vocation. It was certainly the case for me. I was fortunate enough to have a leadership position as a Year 12 student. Part of this role included going to visit a Year 3 class once a week. The students were so thrilled to see us that I thought to myself that I could definitely do this for a living. My mother was also a primary school teacher, so it felt right to pursue what is undoubtedly the most rewarding career one can have.

What is the most rewarding aspect of teaching for you?

It’s the ‘aha!’ moments you can have with a student on a one-on-one basis. It’s the sense of togetherness that gives purpose to so many students and staff alike. It’s the spark of a learning community that provides the foundation for young people to embrace a growth mindset; to be better than they were yesterday!

What is the nicest (or funniest) thing a student or parent has ever said to you?

In a total tongue-in-cheek moment, I was referred to as a walking dictionary by one of my Year 12 English students this year. This was partially due to a moment of brief confusion, followed by that illustrious ‘aha!’ moment when they finally understood the concept being taught. It’s what we all strive to achieve as teachers!

It was a privilege to finish World Teachers’ Day 2021 with some of SA’s driven and inspiring educators at the Educators SA awards ceremony held at the Wine Centre, Adelaide.

Lindsey Crowe, from Visual Arts Educators SA, is the 2021 winner of the Induction and Mentoring of Early Careers Educators Award sponsored by the TRB.

Lindsey, who teaches at Heathfield High, is an outstanding arts leader. She has mentored numerous pre-service teachers throughout her career and has maintained continuing mentor relationships with many of them.

As a committee member over the past 18 months, Lindsey has championed the needs of early career arts teachers. This has resulted in the association establishing network meetings and social media groups specifically designed for early career teachers.

Lindsey’s support for them has been invaluable in helping the next generation of art teachers to feel confident in their ability to support their students.

We congratulate Lindsey on a well-deserved award in this category.

There is a bright future for education in SA. See the full list of the 2021 winners on the Educators SA website here.

If you are looking to get some professional learning hours under your belt during the Christmas holidays, don't forget we have links to plenty of online suggestions on our website.

Click here to take a look.

In the education sector, the professionalism of teachers and staff is of the highest importance. The Teachers Registration Board of SA is seeking to develop a South Australian Teacher’s Profession Code of Conduct which will apply to both teachers and unregistered persons who hold a special authorisation to teach under section 30 of the Teachers Registration and Standards Act 2004.

At the November TRB Board meeting, the Board resolved to adopt an existing guideline entitled, Protective Practices, for Staff in their interactions with Children and Young People (2nd edition revised 2019) under section 31B as a professional standard in respect to certain types of teacher/learner behaviours.

This guideline has been endorsed by the three employer groups since 2005, (with multiple amendments made from 2009 to 2019) and promotes best protective practices in a range of classroom and other settings. Recent amendments to the Act have enabled the adoption of this guideline.