Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Mentoring Program

 

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mentoring Program aims to recognise and support up to two early career teachers each year as they investigate literacy education in their teaching context, with particular focus on improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students; and to establish professional partnerships with mentors to plan, implement and reflect upon an action learning project situated in the early career teachers’ current teaching context..

Teachers working in both remote and/or urban settings are particularly encouraged to apply, as are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers.

Applications for the 美姬社区Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mentoring Program are due by 15 March each year.

 

Program Details

Applicants may apply as:

 

1. An individual teacher with a letter of support from their school principal

Applicants must be early career teachers (within their first 5 years of teaching) with a passion for and commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. Teachers working in both remote and/or urban settings are particularly encouraged to apply, as are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers.

If selected an individual awardee will receive:

  • a year’s membership of ALEA
  • an 美姬社区selected mentor appointed to support, guide and collaborate with them as they work through an action learning inquiry that addresses quality literacy teaching for Indigenous children
  • payment for up to 3 days teacher release for the purpose of engaging with the mentor
  • support to attend an 美姬社区national conference (early bird registration and contribution towards flights and accommodation on receipt of written report to National Council)

The selected 美姬社区mentor will receive an honorarium to recognise the time they will dedicate to the early career teacher over the period of the mentoring program.

NB: It is recommended that State Development Funds be accessed where possible by the State Director to support the funds allocated by National Council for this mentoring program.

 

2. An 美姬社区Local Council group application for up to three early career teachers in their region who each have the support of their school principal

The up to three nominated teachers must be early career teachers (within their first 5 years of teaching) with a passion for and commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. The teachers may be working in remote or urban settings and may be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The group award is intended to encourage the development of a small professional learning community between the nominated early career teachers and the expertise that resides on the Local Council committee in that region. This 美姬社区PLC would provide support, guidance and collaboration for the early career teachers to work through an action learning inquiry that addresses quality literacy teaching for Indigenous children.

If selected the Local Council will receive:

  • a year’s membership of 美姬社区for up to three nominated early career teachers
  • payment up to $5000 that the local council could use for any of the following (but not limited to):
    • teacher release for both the early career educators and the mentor/s for the purpose of engaging with the activity of the PLC
    • web conferencing costs associated with the mentoring
    • purchase of resources from the 美姬社区online bookshop
    • costs associated with the nominated early career teachers’ attendance at regional 美姬社区professional learning (this could involve a contribution towards conference registration, travel, accommodation)
    • support of the nominated early career educators to attend an 美姬社区national conference (early bird registration).

NB: It is recommended that State Development Funds be accessed where possible by the successful Local Council to further support/augment the funds allocated by National Council for this mentoring program.

The successful applicants, be they individuals or those working within an 美姬社区Local Council PLC are expected to:

  • Engage with an action learning project in their school context (negotiated with mentor/PLC)
  • Submit a 1500 word written report to 美姬社区National Council within 3 months of the project’s conclusion (with support from mentor/PLC)
  • Support ALEA’s commitment to literacy education

 

Letters of Support

Letters of support should be submitted from:

1. The Director/Principal of the school or facility in which the applicant is currently working; and

2. A referee such as a university lecturer, a mentor, a representative of the Indigenous community, or similar.

Applications must be submitted to the 美姬社区office at:

PO Box 576
Crows Nest NSW 1585

The 美姬社区National Council committee will review all applications and endeavour to notify successful applicants by early April to enable projects to commence and be completed within the current school year.

Criteria for assessment

  • Understanding of literacy education and challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
  • Articulation of personal vision
  • Clear identification of implications for teaching context
  • Clarity of response to each of the three key areas above
  • Letters of support attached to application
  • Organisation and presentation of the written application

Applications are due by 15 March each year. Download the application guidelines (in pdf) and the cover sheet (in Word) below.

ATSI Application Guidelines (164.4 kB)

ATSI Application Cover Sheet (100.3 kB)

 

PAST ATSI MENTOR PROGRAM RECIPIENTS