By Natalie Blewitt
Growth Team coordinator

In the last issue of Western Teacher we looked at applying for Level 3 Classroom Teacher status as a way to increase your salary and recognise your commitment to public education.

In this edition we will examine the application process for senior teacher status, which will also enable you to progress in your teaching career but remain in the classroom.

Senior teacher

Senior teacher status was developed after it was recognised there was a need to retain competent experienced teachers in duties directly associated with classroom teaching and learning and to reward the excellent work and professionalism of experienced classroom teachers who do not wish to move into an administrative role.

To be eligible to apply for senior teacher classification, teachers must complete a minimum of 12 months’ service, performing duties directly associated with classroom teaching and learning at the top increment of automatic progression on the teacher salary scale; and undertake relevant professional development as agreed between the parties; or one unit of relevant study at a university or TAFE college or agreed professional learning. Teachers may make application to commence required professional learning within two years prior to reaching the top increment of the automatic progression salary scale.

To obtain senior teacher status, teachers must complete pathway one or choose an option from pathway two.

Pathway one

Complete the Senior Teacher Individual Professional Learning Program. In the program, teachers will complete an online information session. This will take approximately two hours and is aimed to develop your skills and knowledge for the senior teacher role and will count two hours towards the 42 hours of required professional learning.

To enrol in the information session, visit the Professional Learning Information System (PLIS) and search “senior teacher information session”.

In addition, you will need to complete a professional learning record as part of the senior teacher application form. The record must outline 42 hours of relevant and recent professional learning. The professional learning must be valid and applied in a school context. Professional learning must relate to the senior teacher role, as described in clause 14.3 of the School Education Act Employees’ (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2019.

Many of you would have accrued 42 hours of professional learning that will be recent, relevant, valid and can be applied to your school context as part of your TRBWA registration.

So, if you meet the other eligibility criteria and complete the online learning session, you can apply for senior teacher status through pathway one.

Pathway two

In this pathway, you will need to choose one of these options:

• Complete a unit or course at a university which aligns to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
• Undertake an approved research proposal. This can be a masters or doctorate, related to an education qualification.
• Hold a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from a registered training organisation.
• Have a senior teacher status from another educational provider, comparable to the department’s senior teacher status.
• Have experience acting as a school administrator in a temporary higher duties role. This must be for at least two terms or six months, within the past five years.
• Have regressed from a school administrator position within the past five years.

You can access the senior teacher application form via IKON and if you have completed pathway one, your principal
or their delegate must sign the form to confirm that the professional learning is complete and that it is valid and applied in the school context.

Once your application for senior teacher has been approved, your pay will be updated to reflect your new status. The salary will start from the first full pay period, on or after the receipt of your successful application.