The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers contains three domains. These are broad descriptions of what teachers do all across Australia.
The second of these domains is Professional Practice.
See more: Australian Professional Standards for Teachers Terminology Explained
What is the Professional Engagement domain?
The Professional Engagement domain covers how teachers engage with the community outside the classroom. This includes how teachers engage with:
- Parents and carers
- Professional associations and networks
- Professional learning providers
Engaging with the community is a key way for teachers to learn and build relationships that benefit their practice. Ensuring that you work within a broader network is one of the best ways that teacher can support their students.
What does Professional Engagement look like?
Professional engagement can take a number of forms. At the Graduate and Proficient levels of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, Professional Engagement often involves:
- Attending professional learning from a range of sources and providers.
- Participating in events for the school community.
- Building strong relationships with parents and carers through formal and informal interactions.
At the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher levels of the APST, you will be looking into planning some of these events and opportunities yourself. Planning and delivering professional learning for other teachers is a fantastic way to build connections, and you’ll learn something yourself.
What can teachers do to build their Professional Engagement?
It can be difficult to actively build your Professional Engagement as much of it is making good use of opportunities that you are presented. Sometimes it is difficult for you to plan something yourself, but you can always reach out to other teachers or professional organisations to build your teacher network. One thing that you can do right now though is engage with families.
Parents and carers are a core influence in your students’ lives, and building relationships with them will build a solid, collaborative foundation for your students’ learning. Calling up some parents to get to know them and get on the same page is a core part of Professional Engagement.
