Release type: Media Release

Date:

Teacher Education Expert Panel

Ministers:

The Hon Jason Clare MP
Minister for Education

Today I am announcing that Professor Mark Scott will lead a review into how teaching is taught at universities.

There aren’t many jobs more important than being a teacher and we don’t have enough of them.

One of the key issues raised at the Teacher Workforce Shortage Roundtable I convened last month was the need to improve initial teacher education to boost graduation rates and ensure graduating teachers are better prepared for the classroom.

This review implements recommendation 15 of the Quality Initial Teacher Education report and goes further.

The Teacher Education Expert Panel will include:

  • Emeritus Professor Bill Loudon (University of Western Australia)
  • Rebecca West (former Teacher of the Year)
  • Professor Michele Simons (President of the Australia Council of the Deans of Education)
  • Andrew Peach (former Principal of the Year)
  • Dr Jenny Donovan (CEO, Australian Education Research Organisation).

The panel will make recommendations to me on how we can:

  • Strengthen the link between performance and funding of initial teacher education
  • Strengthen initial teacher education programs to deliver effective classroom ready graduates
  • Improve the quality of practical experience in teaching
  • Improve postgraduate initial teacher education for mid-career entrants.

A report including recommendations will be provided to me before 30 June 2023.

The full Terms of Reference is available at Teacher Education Expert Panel - Department of Education, Australian Government

Biographies of the Teacher Education Expert Panel members are below:

Professor Mark Scott AO

Professor Mark Scott is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney. He was formerly the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education and started his career as a teacher in Sydney. In 2011, Professor Scott was named an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Emeritus Professor Bill Louden AM

Professor Bill Louden was formerly Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Education of the University of Western Australia. Professor Louden was also a member of the Expert Panel for the Quality Initial Teacher Education Review. He has served as chair and board member of state and national statutory authorities responsible for curriculum, assessment and professional standards, and was a member of the panel for the landmark National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy.

Ms Rebecca West

Ms Rebecca West is the Foundation Deputy Principal at New Yarrabilla Primary School in Queensland. She shares resources on two YouTube channels, won a 2021 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award and was a Top 10 finalist in the 2021 Global Teacher Prize.

Professor Michele Simons

Professor Michele Simons is the Dean of Education at Western Sydney University. Professor Simons has extensive experience in supporting learning in the fields of adult education, vocational education and workplace learning, and secondary teacher education programs.

Mr Andrew Peach

Mr Andrew Peach was Principal of Marsden State High School in Queensland for eight years. He worked closely with industry partners to ensure quality outcomes and experiences for his students. Mr Peach was named the School Principal of the Year - Government at the Australian Education Awards 2020, with Marsden State High School also receiving multiple excellence awards. In 2019 Mr Peach received the Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award at the Queensland College of Teachers’ TEACHX awards.

Dr Jenny Donovan

Dr Jenny Donovan established and led the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) as Executive Director for 8 years. Dr Donovan began her career as a high school teacher in Sydney’s western suburbs. She has worked in a number of education roles in operational and policy areas, including some years as Deputy Director of a not-for-profit education assessment agency at the University of New South Wales.