What does this descriptor look like at different levels?
Meet professional ethics and responsibilities is the first descriptor of the seventh standard of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
See more: Australian Professional Standards for Teachers Terminology Explained
Graduate
What does it look like?
At the Graduate level, teachers are expected to develop foundational skills in meeting professional ethics and responsibilities, adhering to ethical standards and legal obligations in their teaching practice.
As a Graduate teacher, you understand the importance of upholding professional ethics and fulfilling your responsibilities as an educator. Your focus should be on familiarizing yourself with the relevant codes of conduct, legal requirements, and professional standards that guide your profession. While you may have limited teaching experience, you must demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high ethical standards and fulfilling your obligations as a teacher.
What evidence can I collect?
To provide evidence for this descriptor, you can showcase:
- Familiarity with professional standards: Demonstrate your understanding of the professional standards and codes of conduct relevant to teachers in your region or country.
- Ethical decision-making: Provide examples of situations where you made ethical decisions in your teaching practice and how you considered the best interests of your students.
- Legal compliance: Show evidence of how you adhere to legal requirements related to teaching, such as student privacy and confidentiality.
Proficient
What does it look like?
At the Proficient level, teachers are expected to consistently meet professional ethics and responsibilities, demonstrating a deep understanding of ethical principles and their application in complex situations.
As a Proficient teacher, you actively apply ethical principles in your teaching practice and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how to navigate complex ethical dilemmas. You fulfill your professional responsibilities with consistency and integrity, setting a positive example for students and colleagues.
What evidence can I collect?
To demonstrate proficiency in meeting professional ethics and responsibilities, you can present evidence such as:
- Ethical decision-making reflections: Provide written reflections on how you have addressed complex ethical dilemmas in your teaching practice.
- Professional development in ethics: Showcase any professional development or training you have undertaken to enhance your understanding of ethical principles in education.
- Contributions to ethical discussions: Demonstrate how you actively participate in discussions with colleagues about ethical considerations in teaching.
Highly Accomplished
What does it look like?
At the Highly Accomplished level, teachers are expected to lead and drive a whole-school approach to meeting professional ethics and responsibilities, collaborating with colleagues to create an ethical and inclusive learning environment.
As a Highly Accomplished teacher, you go beyond individual compliance to lead efforts in creating a school-wide culture of ethical practice. You actively collaborate with colleagues to promote ethical decision-making and ensure that the ethical principles are embedded in the school’s policies and practices.
What evidence can I collect?
To showcase your highly accomplished level of meeting professional ethics and responsibilities, consider the following evidence:
- Contributions to policy development: Provide documentation of your involvement in shaping school policies related to ethical practices and student well-being.
- Ethical leadership initiatives: Showcase initiatives or projects where you worked with colleagues to promote ethical decision-making and an inclusive learning environment.
- Evidence of ethical climate: Demonstrate how your efforts have positively influenced the school’s culture and climate with respect to ethical practices.
See more: Is it Worth Becoming a Highly Accomplished Teacher?
Lead
What does it look like?
At the Lead level, teachers are expected to drive systemic approaches to meeting professional ethics and responsibilities, collaborating with school leaders to foster a culture of ethical leadership and social responsibility.
As a Lead Teacher, your focus is on systemic change and creating a cohesive approach to meeting professional ethics and responsibilities that involves all stakeholders. You actively collaborate with school leaders and colleagues to develop comprehensive policies and practices that promote ethical leadership and social responsibility in the school community.
What evidence can I collect?
To demonstrate your leadership in meeting professional ethics and responsibilities, gather the following evidence:
- School-wide ethical initiatives: Provide documentation of your contributions to the development and implementation of school-wide ethical initiatives and programs.
- Collaborative partnerships: Showcase instances where you collaborated with school leaders and colleagues to ensure ethical leadership practices are integrated into the school’s vision and mission.
- Impact assessment: Present evidence of how your efforts have positively influenced the school’s ethical climate and contributed to a culture of ethical leadership and social responsibility.
