15/9/04
In a first for Western Australia, teachers will have their own professional body following the official launch of the Western Australian College of Teaching today.
Attending the launch this morning, Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter said the College was a Gallop Government election commitment to raise the status and standard of the teaching profession in WA.
"This is a historic day for WA teachers," Mr Carpenter said.
"The Western Australian College of Teaching is a professional body of and for teachers and educators in State, Independent and Catholic schools.
"Whilst most other States have teacher registration bodies, WA's College is unique in Australia in that it is autonomous and operates independently of Government, unions and employers.
"Its main roles are to register all teachers in WA schools, ensure on-going professional learning for all teachers and promote the status of the teaching profession by ensuring quality standards in teaching.
"The college will also play a major advocacy role on behalf of teachers and the teaching profession."
Mr Carpenter said all new teachers would be required to become members of the college and comply with registration requirements before they may be employed in any WA school.
"The college will require all teachers to be registered to ensure that anyone teaching in any WA school is qualified, experienced and committed to ongoing professional learning," he said.
"From today, teachers who are new to teaching in WA, such as university graduates and teachers from interstate and overseas, will have to undergo a full registration process before being employed in WA schools.
"Teachers currently practising will automatically become members of the college."
Mr Carpenter said the Gallop Government would provide a grant of $500,000 per annum until June 2006 as seed funding to allow the college to be successfully established.
From 2006 the college will become self-supporting from membership and registration fees.
The Minister said the college was the result of widespread consultation with teachers from State, Catholic and independent schools, universities, teacher employers, teacher unions and parent associations.
Mr Carpenter said the college would be administered by a 19-member Board of Management.
The board will be chaired by Mr Brian Lindberg, who was formerly the chair of the college's interim board.
Further information about the Western Australian College of Teaching, including a full list of board members, is available at http://www.wacot.wa.edu.au
Minister's office: 9213 6800
