Mathematics Retraining Program

To be eligible for the program, participants must:

1. be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
2. be approved to teach in NSW public schools as a primary or secondary teacher
3. have the endorsement of their current principal to become a program participant (exemption applies if participants are not currently employed in a NSW public school)
4. intend to complete a Mathematics Teacher Retraining course:
   • Master of Education (Mathematics Teaching)
   • Graduate Diploma of Education (Mathematics Teaching)
   • Graduate Certificate of Education (Mathematics Teaching).

The program is open to all current secondary and primary trained teachers, including experienced mathematics teachers looking to upskill or progress into a head teacher – mathematics role.

Permanent, temporary and casual teachers, currently employed in a full-time or part-time capacity are eligible to apply.

Principals are also encouraged to nominate teachers they believe will make excellent mathematics teachers or head teachers.

Currently, teachers from Independent and Catholic schools are not eligible to apply.

No, all secondary and primary trained teachers are encouraged to apply, regardless of their experience level. The program offers multiple courses that can support secondary and primary trained teachers to retrain and become accredited to teach secondary school mathematics.

A Year 10 (5.3 level) content knowledge of mathematics is desirable to complete the retraining course. However, the Mathematics Retraining Program team and the University of Newcastle will provide support and resources to assist participants who do not have a high school mathematics background.

Yes, one of the key goals for the program is to support current mathematics teachers to upskill and broaden their career opportunities by achieving mathematics accreditation as a first teaching area and/or becoming a head teacher - mathematics.

The department and the University of Newcastle will support teachers to choose the most suitable course based on their prior experience and career goals.

Yes, teachers who have completed prior postgraduate mathematics studies are eligible to apply. The department and the University of Newcastle will support teachers to choose the most suitable course based on their prior experience and career goals.

The Mathematics Retraining Program is an accelerated and intensive pathway to full mathematics accreditation. A thorough working knowledge of the content in the mathematics syllabus up to Year 10 (Stage 5.3) is recommended. An understanding of Stage 6 Advanced mathematics is highly desirable, particularly around the topic of calculus.

Primary trained teachers and teachers who do not have a background in secondary mathematics will be able to access a foundational mathematics course from the University of Newcastle in late 2023, allowing them to build the requisite skills and knowledge to begin their course.

We encourage participants to complete a self-assessment quiz and review online learning materials to help decide whether the program is right for them. The department is not collecting results from the quiz, which can be completed multiple times.

The department and University of Newcastle will provide ongoing mentoring and support to help participants succeed. Participants will also have access to in-school support and a Community of Practice throughout in their studies.

The program handbooks, learning materials and self-assessment quiz are available online. Please navigate links at the top right hand corner of the page to view the important information, reference materials and self-assessment.

Applications for the Mathematics Retraining Program have now closed. Successful teachers will commence their study in January 2024.

Participants will be invited to an expenses-paid induction event for teachers to meet and network with other participants face-to-face.

The department will fund travel and accommodation expenses for teachers traveling to in-person program events from regional and rural areas.

As part of the Mathematics Retraining Program, the University of Newcastle will offer three postgraduate retraining courses.

The department and the University of Newcastle will support teachers to choose the most suitable course for them based on their prior experience and career goals.

These options ensure teachers can become accredited to teach mathematics with a course that meets their needs and experience level.

* Depending on the teachers’ prior knowledge and teaching experience, these courses will meet NESA accreditation requirements to teach mathematics as a first or second teaching area.

** Study durations are dependent on recognition of prior learning and teaching experience.

The courses offered by the University of Newcastle are tailored for working teachers and will be fully-funded by the department. Partiicpants will be supported to complete their studies in an accelerated timeframe through:

• streamlined and flexible course design
• ongoing mentoring and professional learning
• innovative recognition of prior learning and teaching experience.

A full-time study load is approximately 40 hours of study per week. A part-time study load is approximately 20 hours of study per week.

The Mathematics Retraining Program will offer up to 50 places for participants in the 2024 cohort.

Yes, the three post-graduate courses can be completed flexibly full-time or part-time.

A part-time study load is approximately 20 hours of study per week. A full-time study load is approximately 40 hours of study per week.

The Mathematics Retraining Program has been tailored to be flexible, accommodating the participant's preferences and availability. Courses can be completed in an accelerated timeframe depending on the participant’s past experience and prior learning.

The NSW Department of Education has partnered with the University of Newcastle to deliver the program.

The courses offered by the University of Newcastle are tailored for working teachers and will be fully-funded by the department. Participants will be supported to complete their studies in an accelerated timeframe through:

• streamlined and flexible course design
• ongoing mentoring and professional learning
• innovative recognition of prior learning and teaching experience.

The department and the University of Newcastle will provide ongoing mentoring and support for Mathematics Retraining Program participants. These will include:

The program will provide funding to the school to reduce each participant’s regular workload to 0.8FTE for the duration of their studies, allowing time to focus on study and related duties, including attending mentoring and professional learning sessions. The program will also provide schools with an additional 2 days of study leave funding per term.

The additional 2 days of study leave per term may be used for relieving supervisors to conduct practicum observations or to allow participants additional time to prepare for exams. The program recommends the release days for study are taken as whole or half days to help participants focus on their university learning. Ultimately, the additional study days can be used at the participant and their principal’s discretion.

Upon completion of studies, participants will have a choice in how they progress their career. Program participants will be required to teach in a NSW secondary school for a minimum of three years, with the ability to select one of three options:

1. remain in their current mathematics position
2. move to a new mathematics role which the participant will source themselves
3. be appointed to a permanent mathematics position in a NSW public school.

If participants prefer to be appointed to a permanent mathematics teaching role on completion of the Mathematics Retraining Program, the participant will be asked to indicate their preferred School Education Area.

NSW public schools are grouped into geographic locations called regions. Each region has a number of 'areas' for the purpose of staffing schools. After the participants graduate, they will be appointed to a school within one of their preferred School Education Areas.

Participants are encouraged to download and view the organisation of public schools by staffing area resource to make an informed decisions about their preferred School Education Areas.

If participants decide to leave the program before completing their studies, they will not be eligible for the subsidisation of their course and program fees with the University of Newcastle.

Withdrawing will mean participants are liable for fees incurred and participants will be required to repay this amount to the NSW Department of Education.

Should circumstances change whilst completing the program, the department will work with participants to support successful graduation in a flexible timeframe.

Applications are now closed. You can subscribe to the mailing list for updates about the program.

Applications will open through the iworkfornsw platform. Applicants are asked to upload any supporting documents requested including 100 points of certified identification and certified copies of their university transcripts. The Mathematics Retraining Program team will assess each application and aim to notify successful and unsuccessful applicants by October 2023.

Applicants must attach the following documents to their application:

• CV or resume, including information about past mathematics teaching experience if applicable
• principal endorsement (exemption applies if the teacher is not currently employed in a NSW public high school)
• 100 points of certified identification documents
• certified copies of all university transcripts, including for participants’ initial teacher education program and any program where participants have studied mathematics.

After applications have been reviewed, applicants will be informed if they have progressed to the assessment stage via email.

Following the assessment, applicants will be contacted by the department and informed whether they have been accepted into the program.

The Mathematics Retraining Program team would encourage all applicants to seek endorsement from their current principal.

If applicants are remaining at their current school in 2024, principal endorsement is required.

If your principal has confirmed that you will not be returning to the school in 2024, an exemption for the Principal Letter of Endorsement would apply. Please make a note of this in your application and email the Mathematics Retraining Program team.

When enrolling participants into their degree, the University of Newcastle will evaluate transcripts and prior academic records to determine which courses participants will have to complete to satisfy the degree requirements. The University will reach out once they have completed their evaluation.

NSW does not offer separate teaching codes specifically for junior (years 7 - 10) and senior mathematics (year 11 - 12). NSW offers mathematics as a first or second teaching area, which provides you the qualification to teach mathematics (years 7 - 12).

The department and the University of Newcastle will support participants to choose the most suitable course based on their prior studies and career goals.

The Mathematics Retraining Program will provide financial support for participants, including:

• the full subsidisation of post-graduate courses and program fees
• payment of Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF)
• travel and accommodation expenses for participants who need to travel for in-person program events
• additional study leave to complete course work.

The department will fully-fund the cost of the postgraduate course undertaken in this program. However, the department will not retrospectively provide payments for previous study that was self-funded.