W.A Combined Universities
Extended Practicum Placement
Opportunity 2014
CALLING ALL INTERESTED PRE-SERVICE
TEACHERS
The Western Australian Combined Universities Training Schools (WACUTS)
Program is offering extended practicum placements in Department of Education
schools to pre-service teachers (PSTs) graduating at the end of 2014. The program
gives priority to, but is not limited to, secondary Math and Science PSTs in
metropolitan areas, Secondary PSTs for rural placements and Primary/ECE PSTs for
rural placements.
Disclaimer: Please note that this offer is dependent on the allocation of funds from the Australian Government Quality Teacher Program
BACKGROUND
WACUTS is a collaborative partnership between
Murdoch University, the University of Western
Australia, Curtin University and The Society for the
Provision of Education in Rural Australia. This
partnership was created to develop and deliver an
innovative pre-service teacher training program as
part of the Training Schools Project coordinated by
the Department of Education.
Aimed at increasing the capacity and work readiness
of graduate teachers the WACUTS program was
implemented in 2012 and 2013 in partnership with
the Department of Education.
Due to the success of the program WACUTS will be
offered again in 2014. This innovative program will
continue to focus on providing an environment
where accomplished mentor teachers and university
teacher education lecturers collaborate to improve
the classroom readiness of graduate teachers.
AIMS
The WACUTS Program aims to identify and develop
high calibre graduates, provide excellence in preservice teacher education and enhance collaborative
partnerships between universities, schools and the
Department of Education to achieve common
outcomes.
WACUTS supports high calibre graduates by:

introducing innovative pre-service teacher training
models that close the gap between theory and
practice in pre-service teacher education;

recognising Training Schools in both metropolitan
and regional areas which provide a supportive
professional environment for pre-service teachers;

utilising the expertise of high performing teachers
in collaboration with tertiary education providers
to mentor, coach and provide quality supervision
and professional development; and

retaining new teachers by increasing their
professional capacity and work readiness.
EXTENDED PRACTICUM PLACEMENT
OVERVIEW
The extended practicum placement better links theory
and school practice.
Participation in the program involves being attached to a
school for a whole-school calendar year beginning day
one. Participants become part of a collaborative
teaching team rather than a traditional ‘student teacher’.
This means that they plan, teach and assess alongside an
experienced mentor.
Where possible a cohort of participants will be placed
in the same Training School to provide greater
opportunities for professional dialogue and peer
support. Participants will be involved in weekly
meetings that target the needs of the cohort and link to
university requirements.
The participant we
have here is
fantastic. She has
been a terrific asset
to the school and
has established a
very positive and
professional
relationship with her
mentor, students and
fellow teachers.
Participants will contribute to an online portal as part of their
professional development related to the Australian
Professional Standards for Teachers. Each week the preservice teachers respond to a different standard by
contextualizing and linking their practicum and university
studies.
Participants, as well as the mentors and supervisors, will be
provided ongoing professional development such as
Classroom Management Strategies or Mentoring for Effective
Teaching (QUT) and ‘Supervision of Pre-Service Teachers’ 4
modules (AITSL).
Clint, Principal
SCOPE OF PROJECT
University Project
Coordinators
This innovative pre-service teacher-training program provides
a holistic solution to support high caliber graduates by:
Sue Ledger
Murdoch University
E: s.ledger@murdoch.edu.au
T: 93607476


Dr Peter Merrotsy
University of Western Australia
E: peter.merrotsy@uwa.edu.au
T: 6488 2394

Dr Susan Beltman
Curtin University
E: s.beltman@curtin.edu.au
T: 9266 2161


establishing a professional training program for preservice teachers which incorporates academic theory
with extended practicum placements;
developing and maintaining a network of Training
Schools which will provide a supportive professional
environment in which participants undertake practicum
placements;
coordinating the selection, professional development
and support of skilled mentor teachers who will provide
quality supervision, mentoring and support to
participants;
funding mentor teachers supervising pre-service
teachers during full-time, assessable practicums (as per
The Australian Higher Education Practice Teaching
Award 1991); and
researching and evaluating program statistics,
performance indicators and outcomes.
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS
It is the best thing I have ever done – I feel so
prepared to teach my own class. Sheri, Participant
I talk to my friends who are going out on their final
placement and none of them are confident. I feel so
much better prepared than they are (but I won’t tell
them that!). Tan, Participant
As a participant one of the hardest things to
understand is why our opinions and postulations would
benefit the wider school community. The initial feeling
that I had was that it was almost better to be seen
and not heard, but after several meetings it was
evident that our feedback was valuable and wanted in
the majority of situations. The fresh outlook of preservice teachers with a working knowledge of First
Steps and ACARA seems to hold some benefit for the
established teaching fraternity.
Bert, Participant
APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE EXTENDED PRACTICUM PLACEMENT PROGRAM
To be eligible to participate you must be enrolled at Murdoch University, Curtin University or the University of Western
Australia and completing the final year of a Bachelor of Education, Graduate Diploma of Education or Master of Teaching in
2014.
Priority will be given to applicants completing qualifications in the following secondary education disciplines:




mathematics (major);
science (physics and chemistry major);
design and technology (metalwork, automotive, woodwork); and
special needs (education support).
Depending on the availability of placements, applicants completing qualifications in other secondary education disciplines will
also be considered for inclusion.
Pre-service teachers who fulfill the eligibility criteria are encouraged to read the application guidelines and submit relevant
documentation by Monday 14 October 2013. Application guidelines can be found at:
Murdoch web address
Curtin web address
UWA web address
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 14 OCTOBER 2013
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED EARLY NOVEMBER