Alternative Pathways

Alternative pathways into teaching broaden the entry points into the teaching profession by allowing individuals to work while they complete their teaching qualification. Alternative pathways assist employers of teachers by recruiting participants with the skills, experience, and personal characteristics that schools need.

On this page:

High Achieving Teachers Program

The Australian Government supports alternative pathways into teaching through the High Achieving Teachers (HAT) Program.

Commencing in 2020, the HAT Program offers two  employment-based pathways into teaching for high achieving individuals, committed to pursuing a career in the teaching profession. These programs are provided by Teach for Australia and LaTrobe University (Nexus).

Each pathway proactively recruits and selects university graduates with the knowledge, skills and experience that schools need. Program participants are placed in teaching positions in Australian secondary schools experiencing teacher workforce shortages. In schools, program participants receive a high degree of training and support while they complete an Australian accredited teaching qualification and develop into high quality teachers.

In 2022, through the NTWAP, the Government committed to expanding the HAT Program.

National Teacher Workforce Action Plan (NTWAP)

Under Action 3 of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan (NTWAP), the Australian Government committed 1500 places to the HAT program as part of Expansion Pilots. This is to encourage more people to switch careers to teaching, and trial new ways of attracting and keeping teachers for schools most in need; including more maths and science teachers, more Indigenous teachers, and exploring ways to support experienced teacher aides to transition into teaching.

HAT Program Phase 1 Expansion Pilots

As part of Phase 1 of the expansion, 105 places are being delivered through a pilot by LaTrobe University (Nexus Program). The Nexus Primary Program Pilot is placing participants in primary schools that need them most in Victoria and New South Wales.

Participants are receiving mentoring and support while gaining paid practical teaching experience and a Master of Teaching (Primary) qualification. The first participants began their placements in primary schools in April 2024.

More information:

HAT Program Phase 2 Expansion Pilots

As part of Phase 2 of the expansion, ten providers will deliver almost 1500 places in new and innovative employment-based pathways into teaching across all states and territories. The outcome stems from an open-competitive grant opportunity which closed on 5 June 2024.

From 2025, participants will be supported to complete their accredited teaching qualification whilst undertaking paid teaching experience. This will help participants make a successful transition into teaching and provide them with the skills they need to enter the classroom.

The pilots will focus on recruiting people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including STEM specialists, First Nations peoples, people with disability, teacher aides and people based in remote locations.

A list of successful providers can be found below:

GranteeHAT Places
University of Canberra60
Charles Sturt University100
Teach for Australia475
Western Sydney University100
Australian Catholic University Limited285
University of South Australia42
University of Tasmania40
Queensland University of Technology90
Edith Cowan University74
La Trobe University231

Evaluation

In 2021 dandolopartners were commissioned by the Australian Government to deliver an independent evaluation of the High Achieving Teachers program. Their interim evaluation report is available below.

Please note that this interim report is based on data that was available to dandolo at the time of writing and does not represent the full evaluation. dandolo is yet to undertake analysis on participant outcomes, participant retention and value for money, which will be included in the final evaluation report.

In 2017 dandolopartners evaluated the Teach for Australia Program. Their report, available below, looked at the program’s impact in meeting the Government’s objectives.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) conducted an early evaluation of the Teach For Australia Program, delivered in three phases between 2010 and 2014. Their evaluation reports are available below.