In Term 2, selected pre-service teachers from Australian Catholic University, the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University stepped inside school classrooms across western and south-western Sydney as part of the Career Connections Program, an initiative of the department’s Early Career Academy for Teachers.

The program supports university students to experience teaching inside a NSW public school while completing their degree. Participants began with a virtual orientation session, connecting with the Teach NSW team and hearing directly from Kay Rigas, Executive Director, Metropolitan South and West.

From there, participants spent 3 days immersed in their host schools, building connections with local communities and getting first-hand insight into a range of thriving local schools.

The Term 2, 2026 program included: Bankstown Public School, Bossley Park High School, Caroline Chisholm School, East Hills Girls Technology High School, Evans High School, Fairfield High School, Mitchell High School, Mount Druitt Public School, Plumpton High School, Prairievale Public School, Rooty Hill High School, Sarah Redfern High School and St Clair High School.

For Caleb, a pre-service teacher from the University of Sydney, the experience made the path forward clear. 'This program was the perfect gateway into teaching in western Sydney,' he said. 'I now have a clear path forward to an internship and full-time work in a south-west Sydney public school, which is exactly what I wanted.'

The program concluded with a Network Showcase at 105 Phillip Street, Parramatta, bringing together pre-service teachers, host school representatives, university partners and department leaders for a day of shared learning. The event featured a panel of beginning teachers, hands-on workshops, open discussion and a mini expo with stakeholders on hand to provide resources and support.

Host schools across the region have noted the broad reaching impacts of the program. A teacher from Fairfield High School reflected that the program helped broaden perceptions of public education and highlighted the strong, supportive learning environments within NSW public schools, noting this was meaningful 'not only for the staff and students of Fairfield High School, but for all public schools.'

The program aims to open pathways into School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) positions, as well as casual, temporary and permanent teaching roles within schools across the network, helping pre-service teachers build long-term connections with school communities where they can make a real difference.

The next Career Connections Program will run in Term 4, 2026. Visit the Career Connections webpage to find out more and subscribe to be notified when applications open.