A teacher is explaining maths, and his students have their hands raised in the foreground.

1.2 Understand how students learn.

The science of learning is always developing. If you’ve been in a school for a while you will know there is always something new that educators are focusing on.

A teacher is sitting at a desk working one-on-one with a young student.

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students.

It is important for educators to understand how the brain grows and changes so that they can work with these changes to help young people develop

Teacher submitting her application for teacher's registration at the teacher's registration board.

APST 7: Engage Professionally with Colleagues, Parents/Carers and the Community.

This standard is all about how you engage with other colleagues, organisations, schools and systems to provide the best education for your students.

Four young teaching students are sitting in a university classroom. All are smiling, and one has raised his hand to ask a question of the professor.

APST 6: Engage in Professional Learning.

This standard is about continuously improving practice by seeking out professional learning opportunities and applying what you have learnt in the classroom.

A teacher is sorting through a pile of curriculum documents with different coloured tags.

APST 5: Assess, Provide Feedback and Report on Student Learning.

This standard is about how you judge your students’ learning, give them feedback to continue learning, and report on learning to see broader trends.

Male relief teacher teaching a science lesson to high schoolers.

APST 4: Create and Maintain Supportive and Safe Learning Environments.

This standard covers all of the parts of your in-class teaching that you can’t plan for, from responding to students’ needs to managing behaviour.

A public school teacher is pointing at one of her students as they sit on the carpet.

APST 3: Plan For and Implement Effective Teaching and Learning.

This standard covers how you teach in your classroom, from the planning and resourcing of your lessons to the teaching strategies that you use.

Older teacher confidently helping a student while walking down a school hall.

APST 2: Know the Content and How to Teach It.

This standard covers most of what you actually teach in the classroom, from the curriculum content to core skills and different perspectives.

A teacher is sitting in front of her class explaining a concept.

APST 1: Know Students and How They Learn.

This is the foundation of teaching practice in Australia and the first thing that teachers are expected to be able to do.

A teacher is walking around her classroom helping her students.

What are the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers?

The seven standards outline all of the things teachers in Australia are expected to do, as well as how well they are expected to do them.