All applicants must submit a personal statement if applying for one of the following teaching courses:
- Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Education (BABEd)
- Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BEd/BAIS)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary Education)
In your personal statement, you must address both of the following categories:
Category 1: Interest in teaching and children/young people
Write approximately 500 words (1 page) about your motivation and suitability for teaching.
You may consider the following prompts to frame your response:
- Who or what has inspired you to become a teacher?
- Why is teaching a good career choice?
- Why are you interested in teaching young children/young people?
- What subjects are you interested in teaching and why?
- What does being a good teacher mean?
- What skills and abilities do you have that will make you a good teacher?
Category 2: Involvement in personal learning and leadership activities
Write approximately 500 words (1 page) about your involvement in learning and/or leadership activities that demonstrate the following:
- commitment to learning
- conscientiousness
- resilience
- interpersonal and communication skills
- organisation and planning skills.
You could describe examples from your:
School experience
- co-curricular participation (eg arts, sports, debating, social justice
- projects (eg curriculum projects, science fairs)
- leadership experiences (eg student leadership positions, arts, sports)
- support of other learners (eg peer mentoring, coaching, buddy programs)
Work experience
- employment history and roles
- employment involving children or young people
- work-based training undertaken
- work-based training provided
Volunteer and community experience
- volunteer or community experience (eg community groups, parish/church groups, cadets, lifesaving, fundraising, clubs)
- community learning and training experiences (eg Guides, Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh Award, St Johns)
Personal talents, interests and abilities
- elite performance (eg athletic, creative arts, other areas)
A disadvantage that you have overcome
- social, cultural or economic
- geographical – remote and rural
- personal and health.
You may consider the following prompts to frame your response:
- What learning activities have I been engaged in?
- What leadership activities have I undertaken?
- What activities of personal interest am I involved in?
- How long have I participated? How am I involved?
- What tasks or events have I planned and/or organised?
- How have I shown that I can work with others?
- What do I do to overcome obstacles, challenges or problems?