Registering Early Childhood Teachers ECA FORUM

Welcome to the profession Early childhood teacher registration: Recognition as qualified teaching professionals Acknowledgement of vital role in education Ensures consistency in regulation of teachers Focuses on professional teaching standards Provides protection to the public and the profession

What is the Institute? Regulator for the Victorian teaching profession Works in the public interest (public protection) Independent (self funded) government statutory authority Reports to the Victorian Parliament through the Minister for Education

What does the Institute do? Regulates the profession by: Registering Victorian teachers (and from 30 September, early childhood teachers) Applying professional practice standards Implementing codes of ethics and conduct Investigating the conduct, competence and fitness to teach of registered teachers Approving initial teacher education programs (except for early childhood teachers)

Registering early childhood teachers When do teachers have to be registered? From 30 September 2015 all people working in the role of an early childhood teacher in a Victorian: early childhood education and care service, or children’s centre, or school... must be registered.

Registering early childhood teachers Who can be registered? Any person with: an approved early childhood qualification; who is suitable to teach; and pays the required fees. Who needs to be registered? Qualified early childhood teachers who are employed or engaged in the role of an early childhood teacher in a Victorian education and care service or children’s service.

Registering early childhood teachers What is an approved qualification? An ECT qualification approved by ACECQA Assessed as equivalent to an ACECQA approved ECT qualification All approved/equivalent qualifications are listed on the ACECQA website at: http://www.acecqa.gov.au/educators-andproviders1/qualifications

Registering early childhood teachers How do teachers apply? Establishment of individual teacher portal Completion of online application for ECT registration Transitional provisions (EC teaching experience) Business as usual Payment of fees Submission of certified documents Not available until July 2015

Registering early childhood teachers Transitional provisions for: Qualified EC teachers employed or engaged for any duration in the role of an EC teacher in the previous 2 years (1 Oct 2013 – 30 Sept 2015) Required evidence: Statement of service from an EC service or other workplace Letter of engagement on letterhead Other evidence (not a statutory declaration)

The teacher register VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF TEACHING REGISTER EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER DIVISION (Confined to employment in EC services) ACECQA approved qualification: 3 year ECT qualification 4 year ECT qual 4 year ECT/Primary qual Postgraduate ECT qualification Postgraduate ECT/Primary qualification TEACHER DIVISION (School teaching) LIMITED AUTHORITY TO TEACH DIVISION (school teaching) Provisionally registered early childhood teacher Registered early childhood teacher Non-practising early childhood teacher Provisionally registered teacher Registered teacher Non-practising teacher Permission to Teach (up to 3 years) REGISTRATION IN TWO DIVISIONS - EC teachers with qualifications recognised in both the EC teacher and teacher divisions of the register DE&T – Secretary’s temporary approval to work as an EC teacher

Registering early childhood teachers Registration cards: Colours define the registration type A teacher may hold one or two registration cards in separate divisions of the Teacher Register Registration cards issued for the following registration categories: School teacher Early childhood teacher   Registered teacher Registered early childhood teacher Provisionally registered teacher Provisionally registered early childhood teacher Non-practising Non-practising early childhood Permission to teach

Registering early childhood teachers KEY DATES – EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER REGISTRATION When What July 2015 Invitation to currently employed or engaged EC teachers to apply for registration New EC graduates can apply for registration 30 September 2015 Registered EC teachers ‘live’ on the Teacher Register 1 October 2015 Commencement of registration period for EC teachers 31 March 2016 Last day teachers can register under transitional provisions 30 September 2016 First renewal of registration for EC teachers

Registering early childhood teachers Need to know more? For progressive information about registration: http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/finditfast/earlychildhood/P ages/IntenttoRegisterForm.aspx Institute website - further information about early childhood teacher registration and FAQs www.vit.vic.edu.au

Victorian Institute of Teaching Level 9, 628 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000 PO Box 531 Collins Street West, Victoria 8007 www.vit.vic.edu.au