Students in Focus
ºÚÁÏÍø STEP empowers professionals to make a career change
When Lucy Francis was considering a career change, the University of Canberra’s School-based Teacher Education Program (ºÚÁÏÍø STEP) was the catalyst for taking the leap.
ºÚÁÏÍø STEP offers eligible Master of Teaching students employment in local schools while studying, a $20,000 scholarship, and regular mentorship and guidance, to ease their career transition and make the most of their education.
Lucy has an undergraduate degree in costume production from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), a prestigious arts college based in Sydney, NSW. In her early career, Lucy worked in Sydney, the United Kingdom and China, making everything from trapeze costumes for the circus to hats for King Charles’ coronation.
Lucy loved her experience working in the arts, and the incredible places it took her, but eventually sought a career with more stability. Having worked at an after-school care program during her own schooling years, education was a deep passion, and one which she always knew she would return to.
In 2023, she applied for a Master of Primary Teaching at ºÚÁÏÍø – a two-year postgraduate course – and was offered a place in the then newly-launched ºÚÁÏÍø STEP, an employment-based pathway into a teaching career.
To Lucy, choosing ºÚÁÏÍø STEP was a ‘no brainer’. The program combined built-in mentorship, paid work and additional financial support, so that she could make a sustainable career change.
What has stood out for Lucy is the collegiality and sense of community among ºÚÁÏÍø STEP participants, coming from a variety of professional backgrounds.
“Being a small cohort bonded us together, it's so friendly, we have group chats where we share ideas and help each other by reading drafts. Between our classes on Tuesdays, we'll go to the Library together to study,” Lucy says.
One of my peers taught English in Japan for ten years, another is transitioning from a career in landscape architecture, some have come straight from their undergraduate degree. Quite a few are parents. It’s a diverse and welcoming group.
Lucy is employed as a Learning Support Assistant (in some states, known as a teacher’s aide) at Maribyrnong Primary School. She’s already discovering how her existing skillset – such as creativity, research skills and flexible thinking – can be transferred to teaching.
“I have strong research skills from my undergraduate degree, and I’m a person who is always interested in learning, which really helps as a generalist teacher, for understanding the eight different curriculum areas we are required to teach to,” Lucy says.
“My creativity and resourcefulness have also come in handy in the classroom. As a teacher, you have to pivot a lot. If a student isn’t understanding something, you have to try reframing the concept, or even try an entirely new approach to find what works.”
ºÚÁÏÍø STEP has been developed with educators’ needs in mind, so academic learning is delivered synchronously with the ACT school term, allowing participants to immediately put their learning into practice.
We learn about a concept – say, positive reinforcement – and then the next day, watch the teacher using these concepts in the classroom.
The Master of Primary Teaching provides a strong foundation of understanding in curriculum areas such as literacy, numeracy and science, as well as developmental and cognitive psychology.
The marriage of theory and practical classroom experience means that Lucy is already cultivating her teaching practice, with the ability to test out evidence-based theories as she’s learning them.
“One of my favourite classes has been Positive Learning Environments, which is the psychology of behaviour management,” Lucy says.
“In my [university] class, we explored the psychology behind crouching beside a student’s desk to get to their level, instead of talking to them from above, or having them come up to your desk. Now I consciously build that into my practice, it's really interesting to have the space to test and practise these skills."
Are you ready to step in a new career direction? UC’s School-based Teacher Education Program (ºÚÁÏÍø STEP) is Canberra’s newest employment-based pathway into teaching, created in partnership with the ACT Education Directorate.
Applications for ºÚÁÏÍø STEP are now open. Learn more and apply via the UC website: ºÚÁÏÍø STEP - University of Canberra