Having meandered through many disciplines during her study journey, including acting, politics, philosophy and literature, Indiana graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Wildlife Conservation. However, it was the humanities which ultimately inspired Indiana to pursue a Master of Teaching (Secondary).

Having recently completed her first professional experience placement, we asked Indiana for her advice on how to make the most of the experience in the hopes of inspiring and supporting other pre-service teachers about to undertake a placement in a NSW public school.

You just completed your first placement. How was this experience for you?

It felt like both a homecoming and a new beginning. My supervising teacher was actually my very first teacher in Year 7, so beginning my first teaching placement with her felt like I was on the right track.

You never truly grasp the impact of your schooling until you take a step back. What I have come to appreciate most are the teachers who saw my potential, celebrated the superstar in me and nurtured a growth mindset. Returning as a teacher, I was met with that same belief and support, which made taking risks feel safe and exciting. Support begets support, and it was an absolute joy to pass that encouragement on to another generation of students.

How can pre-service teachers make a positive first impression and set the tone for a successful placement?

Smile, greet everyone, and show up for all of it - for me this included Students’ Representative Council (SRC) events and exam setups. Every role matters in the school ecosystem and your presence is noticed, even in classes you only observe. On my final days, students I hadn’t even taught came up to tell me they'd miss seeing me around.

Also, stretch beyond your key learning area. Strategies from other subjects often translate beautifully to your own. I had the pleasure of teaching psychology and observing studies of religion, where every single lesson held a piece of wisdom that elevated my practice.

What strategies helped you get the most out of your mentor teacher’s guidance and feedback?

Reflect and debrief with your supervising teacher after every lesson. Not just about content, but about everything, from how you entered the room to which students received your attention. For example, as my mentor and I are both quite small, we reflected on using proxemics and paralinguistics to command the room, refining the subtle but essential art of holding attention.

Organisation also matters. Ask your mentor teacher how they manage marks and coursework. Learning these structures early was instrumental.

Finally, gather your own data. I ran formative surveys at the start and end of my placement to understand students’ learning and content preferences. Discussing these with my mentor teacher gave me valuable insight about how students responded to my lessons, which was critical for refining my practice.

What advice would you give to other pre-service teachers preparing for a first placement?

1. Make an effort to understand the school culture

Study the school before you teach the lessons. The school's culture shapes how you relate to students and staff. Read the website, scroll through their social media pages and live their values. Beyond that, know your students. Get curious about and celebrate their cultural and social backgrounds. Your role is to support who they are, not just what they know.

2. Find your classroom compass

Step into the classroom grounded in who you are. Let your values be visible from your very first lesson, make your expectations explicit and keep reinforcing them - they are your classroom compass. For me, that meant empathy, curiosity, critical thinking and excellence.

3. Absorb it all

Preparation is more than planning lessons, it’s about listening and learning from the people around you. Ask questions, read every single resource you can get your hands on and soak up the wisdom of your supervising teacher.

Any final words?

When I studied acting, I was told that no matter how fully we ‘become’ a character, a piece of ourselves always shines through. Ralph Waldo Emerson speaks of something similar, that our essence colours everything we do. Teaching is no exception. Even if a lesson has been delivered by thousands before you, the way you teach is invariably your own; in how you present content, the stories you share, the questions you ask and the connections you make. Your placement is the perfect opportunity to explore this. Experiment, make mistakes and notice what resonates. There are no footprints ahead of you, it’s up to you to forge a path that is uniquely yours and cultivate your gift as a teacher.