Teacher mentoring programs | Victorian Institute of Teaching

As part of the process for moving to full registration, provisionally registered teachers / early childhood teachers (PRTs) are required to find a mentor to help guide them through VIT’s Inquiry process. This mentoring support is central to the development of new teachers and those who have been out of the teaching profession for an extended period of time.

Any teacher who wishes to become a mentor for a PRT moving to full registration should participate in a VIT-approved mentoring program.

The VIT recommends participating in the Effective Mentoring Program (EMP). We have also been working closely with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools and Independent Schools Victoria to extend the reach of mentoring programs across Victoria.

Effective Mentoring Program

About the EMP

The Effective Mentoring Program (EMP) is a free professional learning program developed and delivered in partnership with DET, and is open to fully registered teachers working in government, Catholic and independent schools and early childhood services.

This two-day program equips participants with mentoring skills to support beginning teachers and guide them through the provisional to full registration process.

Feedback has indicated that teachers find significant professional benefit in working with people from a broad range of contexts. All programs will be combined to allow school and early childhood mentors to work together.

A number of one-day refresher seminars will also be available for early childhood and school mentors who completed an EMP more than 3 years ago.

To be considered a VIT trained mentor, teachers must attend both days of the program within the same year.

Program structure

The EMP is structured as follows

Day 1

understanding mentoring
Mentoring Capability Framework (MCF)
VIT registration process
understanding the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST)
VIT’s Inquiry cycle and adaptive expertise
Inquiry questions and actions plans
introducing the Codes of Conduct and Ethics, and
MCF action plan and evaluation.

Day 2

mentoring skills
making teaching practice public
exploring options for observing practice
mentoring in practice
understanding the APST
role of mentors at each stage of the Inquiry
Inquiry samples of evidence
Victorian Code of Conduct and Ethics for teachers, and
recommendation process overview.

Attendance at all days as well as completion of the online course modules are required to complete the EMP and receive a certificate of completion.

EMP dates

Two-day EMP course

Location	Day 1	Day 2	Format
Ballarat	14 March 2023	23 May 2023	Face-to-Face
Bendigo	24 August 2023	13 September 2023	Face-to-Face
Cranbourne / Pakenham	25 July 2023	17 August 2023	Face-to-Face
Dandenong	22 February 2023	27 April 2023	Face-to-Face
Doncaster	5 June 2023	17 July 2023	Face-to-Face
Geelong	21 June 2023	1 August 2023	Face-to-Face
Horsham	30 March 2023	11 May 2023	Face-to-Face
Melbourne (A)	27 February 2023	8 May 2023	Face-to-Face
Melbourne (B)	9 August 2023	6 September 2023	Face-to-Face
Mildura	5 April 2023	8 June 2023	Face-to-Face
Ringwood	17 May 2023	4 August 2023	Face-to-Face
Sandringham	15 March 2023	15 June 2023	Face-to-Face
Taylors Lakes	2 May 2023	14 July 2023	Face-to-Face
Traralgon / Sale	9 May 2023	12 July 2023	Face-to-Face
Warrnambool	16 August 2023	12 September 2023	Face-to-Face
Werribee (A)	21 March 2023	28 April 2023	Face-to-Face
Werribee (B)	24 May 2023	10 August 2023	Face-to-Face
Wheelers Hill	7 March 2023	14 June 2023	Face-to-Face
Wodonga	1 June 2023	19 July 2023	Face-to-Face

One-day EMP refresher course

Location	Day 1	Format
Melbourne (A)	8 March 2023	Face-to-Face
Melbourne (C)	11 August 2023	Face-to-Face
Melbourne (D)	11 September 2023	Face-to-Face

How to book

Two-day EMP course

Participants will need to book both days - select your preferred day one as well as the corresponding day two.

Sessions have been broken up into geographically determined cohorts so that any networking connections made can be easily built upon into the future. For example, participants living or working in Dandenong should book into the day one session on 16 March and the day 2 session on 16 May.

For program continuity, it is recommended that participants stay with their original cohort, however if this is not possible, bookings for alternative second sessions (i.e. a different day 2) can be made.

Please contact the Effective Mentoring Program (EMP) Inbox at EMP@camb-ed.com.au should the dates provided not be suitable for your needs.

Book two-day course

One-day EMP refresher course

Participants need to book one day only.

Book refresher course

All booking and technical queries should be directed to Cambridge Education at EMP@camb-ed.com.au.

The VIT has developed useful guides to assist mentors and provisionally registered teachers with the Inquiry process.

Other mentoring programs

While teachers from all sectors are welcome to register for the Effective Mentoring Program, VIT has been working closely with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), Sandhurst Diocese, Ballarat Diocese, Sale Diocese and Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) to extend the reach of mentoring programs across Victoria.

Mentor Coordinator Workshop

In response to feedback, VIT will again be offering a free Mentor Coordinator Workshop in 2022.

The workshop is tailored to those responsible for directing and supervising the induction, mentoring and application for full registration process for new and returning teachers.

It's expected that participants have completed the Effective Mentoring Program (EMP) or other approved VIT mentoring program within the last 3 years. The day will focus on strategies and processes to support workplaces and associated mentors to ensure a strong and supportive induction experience that underpins the VIT Inquiry process.

PRT seminars

Each year, VIT delivers PRT seminars that assist PRTs move from provisional to full registration. The seminars cover

requirements for gaining full registration
evidence-based processes using the Inquiry process
professional obligations, including the Codes of Conduct and Ethics
access to information and resources.

In 2022, VIT will host a range of seminars, including seminars dedicated to casual relief teachers (CRTs). Seminars will commence at 4pm and finish at 5pm.

Due to current COVID-19 related government restrictions, seminars will be delivered online in Term 1 2022. Limited face-to-face seminars will be scheduled in Term 2, 3 and 4, however may return to an online format if required (participants will be notified in advance of any changes).

Term 1 seminars are now available to book and additional seminars will be published shortly for Term 2, 3 and 4.

Last updated: 16 Jan 2023