New opportunities for educators at Teaching Academy

A NEW opportunity for teachers and leaders from 133 schools across Greater Bendigo to further their skills is now in place at the just-opened Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership centre in Hargreaves Street.

The facility includes a state-of-the-art professional learning space, a Design Thinking Lab and three remote learning studios.

It’s one of seven regional centres opened as part of the State Government’s push to bring professional learning to educators from all sectors across Victoria.

The other centres are located in Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Geelong, Mildura, Moe and Shepparton, alongside two sites in Melbourne.

Over 17,000 rural and regional school staff have already boosted their teaching and leadership skills through professional learning at the local centres.

The Academy’s programs deliver professional learning that encourages participants to share evidence-informed and impactful new ideas, cutting-edge teaching and school leadership practices with colleagues at their schools.

In the Victorian Budget 2021/22, the State Government allocated an initial $148.2 million over four years to establish the Academy and its centres and a further $10.3 million in the 2024/25 Budget.

“Investing in our teachers and principals across the Loddon Campaspe region provides them with the best professional development opportunities and empowers them to deliver the best teaching practice to their students,” said Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards.

The Academy’s CEO Dr Marcia Devlin said that the centre will bring world-class professional learning to the doorsteps of local school staff to deliver better outcomes for students, especially in regional Victoria.