Filter Content
- From the Registrar
- Board Member Expressions of Interest Extension
- TRB 50th Anniversary Event
- World Teachers' day 2023
- Early Careers Mentor of the Year Award 2023
- Do you know your financial date?
- Did you know?
- Online professional learning
- Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) Educator course
- Happy Holidays!
Welcome to the final edition of Registration Buzz for 2023.
The 2023 year was one of progress, development and forward focus for the Board. We had clear priorities that included the continued development of a proposed Code of Conduct for the teaching profession, improvements to registration processes and continued implementation of risk-based evaluation of teacher conduct in respect of child safety.
Over the past 12 months we have worked closely with state co-regulators and our fellow Teacher Regulatory Authorities in other states and territories to enhance child safety commitments.
Measures included the review of information-sharing requirements between TRAs to ensure cross-border teacher movement is enabled, (with child well-being central to decision-making), and the adoption of consistent practices for re-applying teachers.
Reducing regulatory burden for SA-based applying teachers has also been a key focus. Measures included a stream-lined process for those seeking alternative recognition of their English Language Proficiency and reduction of instances where there is a need for dual production of documents to both employers and the TRB SA.
As you may know, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first meeting of the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia which was held on November 16, 1973. The Board marked this milestone event with a celebration at the Victoria Park Social Club where teachers, past and present, came together to remember successes and reflect on the many significant changes over this time.
In recognition of the 50th anniversary, two new annual awards were introduced that recognise the important work of teachers in our state.
The Teachers Registration Board Service Award recognises a teacher with 20 or more years of service to the teaching profession. Teachers are able to self-nominate or be nominated by another registered teachers who is currently working with the nominee or has done so in the five years prior to nomination. You can read about the winner of the 2023 award under the heading ‘50th Anniversary Event’ in this newsletter.
The second award, the Minister’s Graduate Achievement Prize recognises a pre-service teacher (PST) who has recently graduated, or is about to graduate, from a South Australian Initial Teacher Education program, and who has overcome a hurdle during their study. This could include a personal, academic, financial, or health issue that may have otherwise been a barrier to their success. The 2023 winner of this award is also listed under the heading ‘50th Anniversary Event’.
Finally, the Teachers Registration Board welcomed three new Board members and two new deputy board members who are continuing the exemplary work of past members.
We are also pleased to congratulate the new board appointments for Presiding and Deputy Presiding Member.
Carolyn Grantskalns will undertake the role of TRBSA Presiding Member and Susan Boucher has been appointed as Deputy Presiding Member - with both Carolyn and Susan serving through to 30 June 2024.
We look forward to continuing to work with them in their new roles and thank Dr Jane Lomax-Smith for her significant contribution as outgoing Presiding Member to the teaching profession across South Australia because of her enthusiasm, dedication, and stewardship.
Finally, over the holiday period, the TRB office will be closed between Christmas and New Year, from the 27th of December until Tuesday the 2nd of January 2024. 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 2023, we wish you all a safe and happy holiday period and an enjoyable start to the new year in 2024.
Leonie Paulson, Registrar
Expression of Interest Extension – Teachers Registration Board of South Australia
The Minister for Education Training and Skills has extended expressions of interest for appointment as a Board member of the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia. The term of membership is for up to three years, commencing from early 2024.
The Teachers Registration Board will consist of not less than 10, and not more than 14 members, appointed by Her Excellency the Governor.
Collectively, Board members will have knowledge, skills and experience in the areas of teacher education and matters affecting employers of practising teachers. Teachers, pre-service teachers, higher education providers, those with experience in corporate and public sector governance and education service delivery may be interested in applying.
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, connections with children and young people, people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, LGBTIQ+ South Australians and/or people with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Expressions of interest should include a covering letter and curriculum vitae. All persons appointed will be subject to a Working with Children Check and it is recommended details of a current check be supplied at this time. Expressions of interest should be submitted to the Minister for Education, Training and Skills c/- Ms Leonie Paulson, Registrar of the Teachers Registration Board at consultation@trb.sa.edu.au or PO Box 3649, Rundle Mall SA 5001 by the extended date of 21 December 2023.
Board staff, teachers and others from across the sector gathered recently to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first meeting of the Teachers Registration Board.
The celebration, held at the Victoria Park Social Club resonated with a spirit of appreciation and accomplishment and brought together educators from across the state, as well as many others who have contributed to the education landscape over the last 50 years.
The atmosphere was filled with camaraderie and a shared commitment to the profession of teaching. Speeches reflected on the journey and the importance of educators in our community as well as their efforts in shaping the quality of education in South Australia over the past five decades.
Two awards were presented by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, the Hon Blair Boyer MP.
Congratulations to Ebony Prelc for being awarded the Minister’s Graduate Achievement prize, and to Alexandra Hackett for being recognised as the 2023 Teachers Registration Board Service Award recipient.
Minister’s Graduate Achievement Prize recipient, Ebony Prelc, with Minister for Education, Training and Skills, the Hon Blair Boyer MP.
Teachers Registration Board Service Award Recipient, Alexandra Hackett, with Minister for Education, Training and Skills, the Hon Blair Boyer MP.
The Teachers Registration Board of SA are proud to celebrate the real and unique differences teachers make to the lives of students and their communities every day.
We were also grateful to have some wonderful South Australian teachers wish us well for the 50th anniversary, including the very first teacher registered in SA, the newest teacher registered in 2023, and teachers from Thomas More College and Playford International School.
You can view their video messages on our Facebook page.
Hats off to Teachers!
Today, and every day, we acknowledge and celebrate the dedication and hard work of our educators.
On World Teachers’ Day we took our hats off to all of the teachers, and those who support the work of teachers, in South Australia and around the world.
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.
It was a privilege to finish World Teachers’ Day 2023 with some of SA’s driven and inspiring educators at the Educators SA awards ceremony held at the National Wine Centre of Australia. A fantastic night to celebrate incredible educators, a great profession and all they do to contribute to our children and young people.
The Teachers Registration Board seeks to highlight the importance of educators working with early career educators and mentors, as this has a significant effect on the longevity and effectiveness of a teacher over their working life.
The TRB Early Careers Mentor of the Year Award recognises an individual who has used, developed or implemented professional learning to mentor and/or support early career educators in their career development. The winner receives $500 from the TRB.
The 2023 winner was Rebecca Scudds from McAuley Community School.
The TRBSA wishes to congratulate Rebecca Scudds for winning this year's Teachers Registration Board Early Career Mentor of the Year.
A teacher at McAuley Community School, Rebecca is also a member of the HALT Network which helps teachers to achieve their potential.
We celebrate Rebecca's commitment to students, and her dedication to fostering excellence in South Australian classrooms and the exceptional contribution she has made.
We congratulate Rebecca on a well-deserved award in this category.
See the full list of the 2023 winners on the Educators SA website at: World Teachers' Day 2023 - Educators SA (educators-sa.sa.edu.au)
Under the new 5-year term of registration teachers may choose to pay the full 5 years fees upfront or annually. If your current financial date is 31 January 2024 and you wish to continue teaching in South Australia from 1 February 2024, you will need to pay for at least one additional annual year fee before 31 January 2024 via the teacher’s portal.
You will receive a payment reminder email from the Teachers Registration Board approximately two months before payment is due and again one month before payment is due, however you can pay for additional years at any time on your teacher’s portal.
Once you have updated your fees, you can print off your Statement of Teacher Registration from your teacher’s portal which shows the date your annual fees are paid to. You can use this statement to provide evidence of your financial status to your employer. A new registration certificate is not issued each time you update your fees.
It’s important to note that if your fees are not paid by 31 January 2024, you will be non-financial, your registration will lapse, and you will not be able to teach. If you become non-financial, there will be outstanding annual fees as well as a late payment penalty. As it is the responsibility of all teachers to be financial, please note the dates to ensure it does not lapse.
One of the important pieces of work undertaken by the Teachers Registration Board is the accreditation of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs. Higher Education providers in South Australia go through a cycle of accreditation and review, to be able to offer their Bachelor and Masters courses for teacher registration. The TRB convenes sub-committees to assess these submissions against the national accreditation standards.
This ensures that graduating teachers from universities all around the country have finished a degree that meets consistent national standards, and which qualifies them for registration, and to enter the teaching profession.
These sub-committees rely on practicing teachers, and teacher educators, to contribute their knowledge, experience, and professional expertise as part of the accreditation process. There is always a need to recruit new sub-committee members with backgrounds in early childhood, primary, or secondary teaching. Training is provided by Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), and support for new sub-committee members is provided by the TRB.
If you are interested in being trained to sit on accreditation sub-committees, we would love to hear from you. For more information about the accreditation process please email professional.standards@trb.sa.edu.au.
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.
The KS:CPC is a child safety and respectful relationships curriculum for children and young people age 3 to year 12. It is mandated in all Department for Education and Catholic Education sites, and used in independent schools and other approved organisations. Teachers must complete the full day Educator course prior to delivering the curriculum to children and young people.
For more information see:
