'I cried in my car': 7 mistakes to avoid when trying to gain proficient teacher status

Chalkie

By Chalkie
Community contribution / April 23, 2020

For seven years I tried to budge my accreditation to proficient teacher. Why I couldn’t make it happen rests with me, but also largely with the system - here are the mistakes I made.

So many principals at the schools where I taught were on the cusp of retiring so just weren’t interested in offering to supervise me.

In NSW, having a school supervise you as your transition provisional to proficient teacher is the holy grail of our ...

Story House Early Learning Stones Corner QLD

Explore how we enhance and support our Story House-ers at our Bradbury service, proudly certified as a Great Place to Work!

Childcare & Outside School Hours Care / Jun 26, 2026

Head of Special Education Services (H01) - Ripley Valley State School - Special Education Program

Department of Education and Training (Queensland) Brisbane

Ripley Valley State School is seeking an experienced and passionate Head of Special Education Services to join our school. This is an exciting opportunity to lead incl...

Teaching - Secondary / Jun 26, 2026

Deputy Principal - Logan City Special School

Department of Education and Training (Queensland) Logan

Logan City Special School seeks a temporary full-time Deputy Principal until 11 December 2026, unless otherwise determined. Located in Logan City, south of Brisbane, t...

Teaching - Secondary / Jun 26, 2026

School news / New govt-funded program removes the usual barriers to OOF maths prof learning

A national shortage of maths teachers is shaping a new teacher education initiative in Victoria.

School news / Bilingual brains use a shared concept map between languages: new research

For many bilingual people, switching between languages feels effortless. Now, scientists have figured out how bilingual brains accomplish this feat at the single neuron level.

School news / Universities to have more incentives to cater to disadvantaged, regional students

More Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds will be given the opportunity to study at university.

School news / ‘Like an infection’: jailing kids increases likelihood of re-offending, inquiry hears

Putting kids in jail only exposes them to criminal networks, stops them learning from mistakes and increases re-offending, international experts have told an inquiry into youth crime in Sydney.

School news / Fed Govt flags beef-up of world-leading teen social media ban

Three more AI “nudifying” platforms have been taken down in Australia as the Federal Government flags plans to strengthen its world-first social media age restrictions.

School news / Exceptional leadership in play-based learning separates primary school from the rest

When Steve Kanowski arrived at Berrinba East State School in south-east Queensland’s Logan City 12 years ago, it was quickly apparent that oral language was a deficit for the youngest children entering his new school.

Leadership / ‘A big risk’: inside the ‘burnout paradox’ gripping Australian school leaders

A curious case of ‘burnout paradox’ is defining the experience of Australian school leaders, as intensifying workload and workforce challenges risk pushing many to the brink, a new study has found.

School news / Hindered growth: Strong early readers let down by instruction, study reveals

A new study has raised big questions around the extent to which high achieving students are extended in their reading, after finding a surprising reverse Matthew Effect is playing out in Australian schools.

School news / Australia’s social media age restrictions showing limited early impact: new research

New research examining the early implementation of Australia’s world-first social media age restrictions for under 16s has revealed little change in adolescence use of the platforms.

School news / Google’s YouTube settles over social media harm to kids’ mental health

YouTube and its parent company Google have settled with a minor who ‌claimed the platform caused mental health harms ahead of ‌a second trial over claims the design of social media sites has ‌fuelled a youth mental health crisis.

Comments