Primary Education

Outline Outline

Primary school teachers educate children in years 1-6 across the range of Australian curriculum learning areas.

This initial teacher education degree provides the qualification required to teach primary school students in the Australian Government, Catholic and Independent school sectors. Graduates are eligible for registration as a teacher in all Australian states and territories, and in countries that recognise Australian teaching qualifications.

The course takes a student-centred approach to teaching and learning, encouraging analytical and critical thinking. Core education units comprise the bulk of this degree, but you will also select three units that allow you to specialise in an offered area of the primary school curriculum.

As part of the course, you will complete four professional work experience placements in schools. These placements are undertaken in full-time blocks, regardless of your study mode. You may have the opportunity to undertake a rural, interstate or overseas placement.

Teaching placements

You will complete 760 hours of supervised teaching practice during the course, which includes:

• Year 2: a two-week full-time block and three-week full-time block
• Year 3: a four-week full-time block
• Year 4: a block of one full school term (typically 10 weeks).

Before you apply

To be considered for admission to this course, you must submit a non-academic statement with your application.

How this course will make you industry ready

• All units are mapped to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, ensuring you graduate with the relevant competencies required to teach successfully.
• You will build a professional digital portfolio that showcases your teaching abilities to potential employers.
• You will also complete 19 weeks of teaching practice over the course of your studies, including a 10-week internship where you will take responsibility for a class of children under the mentorship of a qualified teacher.

What you'll learn

• apply high-level discipline knowledge, principles and concepts associated with effective teaching of primary school students
• draw from theory and research to apply knowledge of the needs of students from diverse backgrounds and across the full range of abilities to enhance learning
• assess student learning and analyse diverse sources of data to support valid judgements of student learning
• plan and deliver effective teaching and learning experiences with demonstrated impact.
• use technologies appropriately for learning and teaching
• engage in professional learning and demonstrate capacity for leadership; demonstrate personal literacy and numeracy competencies to the required accreditation standard
• engage in critical and reflective practice based on local, national and international research
• create and manage positive learning environments for all students, including those from diverse cultural backgrounds