You’re nearly there!

Whether this has been your first year of teaching or your fifth, reaching this point in the school year is a massive achievement.

As we head to the summer holidays, and after hurdling the final barrier of end-of-year reporting, it’s time to stop and reflect.

Reflecting on our practice is how we grow and improve as teachers. It allows us to adapt to changing circumstances over time and bring the best version of ourselves to the classroom.

There’s a range of ways, both formal and informal, to engage in ongoing self-reflection, from having a think over the day while you drive home to using the online self-reflection tool provided by AITSL.

But here, at the end of another school year, take a moment to look back on all that’s happened over the past four terms.

How have your relationships with your students, colleagues and school community changed and grown over the school year? What about your confidence? Your ideas about good teaching, or what constitutes a good lesson?

For many teachers, let alone beginning teachers, 2023 has been one of the most challenging years of their career.

What struggles have you overcome to make it to the end of this school year?

Finally, as a new educator, you have a unique perspective on teaching and public education. Every year, teachers in their first five years of teaching nominate to become part of the SSTUWA’s New Educator Committee. The committee is made up of up to 15 members in their first five years of teaching.

Now is a good time to think about whether you would like to be part of the New Educator Committee for 2024.

The committee meets once per term, for one hour, and members are able to either attend in person at the SSTUWA premises in West Perth, or join in online.

You will be a voice for new educators, helping to advise the SSTUWA on issues important to early-career teachers.

Many of our New Educator Committee members also choose to help organise social and networking events for other new educators and chime in with advice and support on our social media.

Nominations open early next year. If you would like to be notified once nominations are open, or to find out more, contact the Growth Team at neweducator@sstuwa.org.au