Skip to main content

Any activities that teachers engage in that develop their professional knowledge and practice to support student learning and that are relevant to their teaching context can be counted as professional learning.

The VIT expects that all professional learning activities used as evidence to be formal and/or informal learning experiences aimed at improving the teacher’s knowledge, practice and competencies in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST).

Professional learning may include

  • seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning
  • professional development days and action research projects within the workplace
  • short courses, multi-session professional learning and post-graduate study
  • research participation
  • professional reading (i.e. journals, research papers, books, reports)
  • collegiate meetings and professional conversations focussed on improving practice and outcomes for learners
  • resource research (i.e. professional associations and education organisations such as DET, VCAA, ACARA, AITSL, VIT), and
  • participation in education-related boards, committees or panels,

Read about the benefits of professional learning for teachers.

Watch our video - Professional development ideas

Documenting professional learning activities

Professional learning activities should be recorded, and include a reflection demonstrating how the activity has enhanced the teacher’s professional knowledge and/or teaching practice. Professional learning activities are to be entered via the ‘MyPD’ tile of the teacher’s MyVIT account.

Visit the Teacher resources page to find out how to log professional learning activities in MyPD.

Professional learning requirements for annual registration

Teachers who hold full registration are required to undertake professional learning each year as part of the annual registration process.

Professional learning undertaken each year must cover at least one descriptor in each of the three domains of the APST.

Registration category 20 hours professional learning per annum
Full registration :icon-for-yes
Provisional registration :icon-for-no
Non-practising registration :icon-for-no
Permission to teach :icon-for-no

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST)

The APST are used by all teachers in Australia, and underpin the requirements for accreditation of initial teacher education (ITE) programs.

They are designed to clarify the knowledge, practice and professional engagement required for all teachers. They provide a common language for teachers, teacher educators, organisations, professional associations and the general public.

The APST are organised into four levels – graduate teacher, proficient teacher, highly accomplished teacher and lead teacher. These stages are designed to reflect the teacher’s career stages and the ongoing development of their expertise.

The graduate teacher and proficient teacher levels have been adopted by VIT for teacher registration and the annual registration process. Although we have not adopted the highly accomplished teacher and lead teacher levels, individual jurisdictions may choose to use these as a guide with schools.

Structure of the APST

There are a total of 37 descriptors of the APST, which have been categorised into three domains.

Resources

We have compiled useful information and resources that align with commonly used descriptors.

Additional resources
Resource Description
Teacher Magazine An online resource from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) with articles, podcasts and infographics for teachers. Sign up to the newsletter to get the full value of this resource by receiving regular and topical updates and articles.
DET's In Our classroom The Department of Education and Training (DET) sends new articles in a newsletter each fortnight to all Victorian government school teachers, but is open to anyone interested in best practice in education and evidence-based teaching approaches. Subscribe here
AITSL AITSL provides a range of resources to support your professional learning, including examples of practice mapped against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and teacher reflection and assessment tools.
FUSE The Department of Education and Training (DET) provides a series of resources for teachers aligned to the Victorian Curriculum (some resources are only available to teachers with an edumail e-mail address).
Teacher Learning Network (TLN) The Teacher Learning Network (TLN) is a provider of professional development for teachers and staff in early childhood, primary and secondary settings. TLN have a variety of professional learning tools, including professional readings, live sessions or on demand recordings to view at any time.
Bastow's Continuity of Learning Hub Bastow’s Continuity of Learning Hub brings together a comprehensive range of high-quality professional learning and resources to support Victoria’s early childhood and school communities through the staged transition back to face-to-face teaching and learning. The professional learning and resources are free of charge and available to teachers across all sectors.
Graduate Teacher Learning Series Designed as 12 editions spanning the teaching year, everything in the Learning Series is written for a graduate teacher starting out in the teaching profession.
Council of Professional Teaching Associations of Victoria (CPTAV) CPTAV provides professional learning, resources and support for professional teaching associations. This page allows users to search by subject associations.
Narragunnawali Narragunnawali is a program of Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia is an independent, national not-for-profit organisation promoting reconciliation by building stronger relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ABC Education ABC Education is a free online education resource developed to support primary and secondary students (foundation - year 10). All resources are mapped to the Australian Curriculum. Behind the News is a fun way for upper-primary and secondary students to learn about current issues and world events, including politics, news and sport.
CRTPD CRTPD offers CRTs access to free professional development, an initiative funded by the Victorian Government, Department of Education and Training. This free PD can be accessed through webinars, on demand courses, regional conferences and comprehensive learning programs.
e-Safety Commissioner The e-Safety Commissioner website provides teachers with helpful resources and tips to educate learners on how to have a safer and positive experience online. The e-Safety Education section offers a range of resources and the e-Safety Newsroom delivers the latest news.
ThinkUKnow ThinkUKnow is a free evidence-based education program led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). ThinkUKnow is pro-technology and aims to empower every Australian to be safe and respectful online. Their mission is to provide accessible online child safety education and information delivered through a unique partnership between law enforcement and industry. Request a presentation or download their resources for educators.

 

Icon Important Info

Check out our Events and seminars calendar to find out what upcoming events may help you provide evidence of professional learning.

Last updated: 27 Feb 2024

Was this webpage helpful?
Why not?