- Published:
- Friday 1 September 2023
Teachers and principals in Mildura and the northwest of Victoria can now boost their skills even further with a new Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership transforming education in the region.
The Andrews Labor Government’s investment in the Academy is helping bring fresh, locally tailored approaches to teaching and school leadership – and giving local students the support to reach their full potential.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins officially opened the Mildura centre today, which includes two state-of-the-art professional learning spaces, a high-tech digital learning studio connecting to schools and other Academies state-wide and two teaching laboratories to workshop and share brilliant new ideas.
The Mildura Academy will have all local staff and is one of seven new hubs to open as part of the Labor Government’s $33.8 million investment in the Academy’s regional centres. The other centres are located in Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Moe, and Shepparton.
5,000 rural and regional school staff have already boosted their teaching and leadership skills through the local Academies, with this number set to double by the end of the year.
The professional learning programs offer a unique opportunity to take Victoria’s highly skilled teachers and school leaders from great to exceptional – delivering training that encourages them to bring big new ideas to their classrooms and share modern, cutting-edge ways of teaching with colleagues.
The Labor Government has invested $148.2 million over four years to establish the Academy sites – including the original in East Melbourne – giving teachers and school leaders the opportunity to develop their skills and take student learning to the next level.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins
“The Andrews Labor Government is investing in our teachers and principals by supporting them with the best professional development opportunities – empowering them to deliver the best teaching practice to their students.”
“We’re building the Education State, and our new regional Academy centres will ensure teachers have a place to share ideas and innovate with the best and brightest of the schooling community – no matter where they live.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
“Opening a new Academy centre in Northwestern Victoria gives our hardworking teachers and school leaders a place to take their professional practice further, and shows our support for the amazing work they do.”
Quote attributable to Dr Marcia Devlin AM, CEO Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership
“We are excited to see our statewide expansion continue with the Mildura centre — bringing world-class professional learning to the doorsteps of local school staff to help deliver better outcomes for our students.”