Keynote presentation at MATSITI Deadly Career Forum, Adelaide, 14 October 2013.

2. Promoting Teaching
as a career in
NSW Public Schools

3. Aboriginal Employment and Career Development,
Staffing Services
Promotes teaching as a career of choice to
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders
Increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander teachers in NSW public schools
Valuing, developing and retaining quality
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers
in NSW public schools
Increasing the number of identified School
Administrative Support Staff positions for
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders

4. Key Achievements in Aboriginal Employment
and Career Development – Staffing Services
Established the “ Join Our Mob” recruitment strategy in 2006
with promotion of initiatives across NSW
Established a dedicated team of officers responsible for
implementing employment and career development and
leadership programs for teachers and school
administrative and support staff
Increasing the number of Aboriginal teachers and
executive in permanent positions across NSW public schools
with 733 recruited since April 2004.
Increasing the number of teacher education scholarships
available each year exclusively for Aboriginal applicants
including HSC students, university students and career changers
from 20 in 2006 to 80 in 2010

5. Snapshot of Achievements –
Aboriginal Teachers
Increased representation of Aboriginal people
Current Govt. Bench mark 2.6%
DET 2005
1.4%
DET 2007
1.9%
DET 2009
DEC 2011
DEC 2012
2.3%
2.8%
3.1%
Increased number of Aboriginal teachers - now 733*
*As of 14 October 2013 number of Aboriginal teachers and executive totals 861
DEC 2013
3.2%

6. Tracking Aboriginal teachers appointed to NSW Public Schools

7. NSW Initiatives
• Join Our Mob promotional campaign including
website, Facebook page and targeted resources
• Teacher Education Scholarship Program – 300
per annum with 220 for teacher training in
subject shortfall areas and 80 for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people to train as primary
or secondary teachers
• Priority appointment for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander teachers
• Connected Communities initiative in which 15
identified schools have become community hubs
to deliver a range of services from birth through
school to further training and employment.

8. Recruitment Strategies

9. Promoting scholarships and Join Our Mob to
tertiary providers
“Good to know
about the
pathways for
students into
Uni, I have
never heard
about the
pathways
before this visit”
– Career
Advisor, Junee
High School
Leader, Aboriginal Employment and Career Development regularly
visits, liaises and consults with universities and various staff
regarding:
•Identification of students
•Presentations to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students
•Support that is available
•Join Our Mob, Scholarships, Promotions, Beyond the Line, Beyond
the Bridge initiatives
•Presentations
•Career pathways in DEC
•“TRACKS” Tertiary Preparation Program
•Careers Markets
– Expos (sharing information)
•University Open Days
•Working with the Department
and the support provided

10. Benefits of working in partnership with
tertiary providers
“We found your talk
very informative and
you explained it so
well, answering the
questions students
and staff had. We
look forward to
further contact with
you and once again
thank you for
empowering our
students and
sharing your
resources with us it
was a great time
enjoyed by all” –
AEO, Mount Austin
High School
Networking with universities provides opportunities to strengthen partnerships
between schools, TAFE, local communities and universities and is vital in
promoting teaching as a career choice at local levels.
It also provides me with the knowledge to encourage and deliver support to other
SAS staff in schools/offices/local school areas to become teachers, whilst
informing Career Advisors and Principals about programs offered by universities
and the different pathways available.
It also provides the opportunity to develop and implement initiatives for the
effective transition of final year teacher education students into their role as
teachers.

11. Recruitment Strategies
•
•
•
•
•
•
Career Expos
School presentations
University presentations
Community networking
Social media
Yarn Ups
“Please come back to the Young Careers Expo in 2014; I shall see that you get an
invitation. This is the first time we have had an Aboriginal person talk to the
school/staff/students about programs and employment through the Department”
Careers Advisor, Murrumburah High School

12. Teaching is Deadly and Join our Mob Aboriginal Teacher Education Scholarships
The NSW Department of Education and Communities fully support these two programs which promote
education and employment to all Aboriginal people and communities.
Our team works with schools, communities and Universities in the promotion of employment
opportunities available to Aboriginal people.
The Department offers up to 80 teacher education scholarships each year to Aboriginal students
completing their HSC.
We also encourage our community members to apply.
Scholarships are offered for talented students to train in secondary maths, science and English and
primary or secondary special education. Scholars receive:
•an annual allowance of $5,000 throughout their studies
•a guaranteed job as a teacher when they graduate
•a $3,000 one-off grant when they begin their career
Our team promote the benefits of becoming a teacher and working for education using promotional
materials and resources, social media, attending career expos and personal face to face interaction with
our communities.
The Department also recognises the importance and value of having Aboriginal people employed in
schools in non-teaching roles ranging from General Assistants to School Administration Managers and
Aboriginal Education Officers. Our team conducts Yarn Ups for Aboriginal people in schools and
communities encourage and provide support for members wanting to apply for non-teaching roles
within schools.

13. enthuse
motivate
encourage
inform
inspire
empower
TEACH
grow
educate
learn
succeed
engage
lead
enlighten
develop ignite
shine
energise
excel

14. Contact details
Veronica Willmott
Pam Widders
Assistant Director Staffing Services
Blacktown State Office
Phone: (02) 9836 9148
Email: veronica.willmott@det.nsw.edu.au
Leader, Aboriginal Employment and Career Development
Staffing Services Blacktown State Office
Phone: (02) 9836 9263
Email: PAMELA.J.WIDDERS@det.nsw.edu.au

15. Aboriginal Employment and Career Development,
Staffing Services