FAQs

To be eligible for the program, you must: 

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

The program is open to all current secondary teachers, including experienced mathematics teachers seeking 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. Teachers currently working in a NSW public high school must submit a principal endorsement if they wish to participate in the program (exemption applies if the teacher is not currently employed in a NSW public high school).

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

No. The program offers multiple courses that can support secondary teachers of all experience levels to retrain and become accredited to teach mathematics.

All secondary teachers interested in mathematics are encouraged to express their interest in the program, regardless of their experience level.

Yes. One of the key goals for the program is to support current maths teachers to upskill and broaden their career opportunities by achieving maths 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 for them based on their prior experience and career goals.  

Yes. Teachers who have completed prior postgraduate mathematics studies are eligible. The NSW Department of Education and the University of Newcastle will support teachers to choose the most suitable course for them based on their prior experience and career goals.

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

We encourage that you complete a self-assessment quiz and review learning materials to help you decide whether the program is for you. The department is not collecting results from the quiz and you can take it as many times as you like.

The department and University of Newcastle will provide ongoing mentoring and support to help you succeed. You will also have access to in-school support and a Community of Practice to succeed in your studies.

The program handbooks, learning materials and self-assessment quiz is available here. 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 are open between Monday, 12 September 2022 and 11:59 PM Sunday, 16 October 2022, with successful teachers commencing study in January 2023.

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. Teachers will be supported to complete their studies in an accelerated timeframe through:

• streamlined and flexible course design that understands work/life balance;
• ongoing mentoring and professional learning; and
• innovative recognition of prior learning and teaching experience.

The Mathematics Retraining Program will offer up to 40 places for participants in the 2023 pilot.

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

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 (UoN) to deliver the program as a leader and innovator in education training. UoN has a wealth of experience in mathematics teacher retraining, having run a Masters of Teaching program since 2008.

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 that understands work/life balance;
• ongoing mentoring and professional learning; and
• 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 0.9 FTE for the duration of their studies, to allow time to focus on studying and related duties, including attending mentoring and professional learning.

Additionally, participants are expected to consult with their Course Coordinator and/or the Program Team if they are having difficulties with the program/course, so that supports can be provided.   

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 position; or
3. be appointed to a permanent mathematics position in a NSW public school

If you prefer to be appointed to a permanent mathematics teaching role on completion of the Program, you will be asked to indicate your preferred School Education Area.

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

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

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.

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; and
• certified copies of all university transcripts, including for participants’ initial teacher education program and any program where participants have studied mathematics.

To fulfil the requirement for 100 points of certified identification documents, the University of Newcastle will accept the following documentation:

To certify these documents, applicants will need to provide both the original and a copy to an authorised person. That person will verify or notarise that the copy is a true copy of the original document.

The University of Newcastle will accept documents that have been certified by the following:

• an authorised employee of a tertiary or higher education institution who can sign or stamp the copies;
• a Justice of the Peace who will sign and include their name and registration number; or
• a person currently employed as an/a:
  • accountant
  • bank manager
  • credit union branch manager
  • barrister, solicitor or attorney
  • police officer of the rank of sergeant or above
  • postal manager
  • registered health professional (e.g. pharmacist or doctor).

After your application has been reviewed, you will be informed whether you have progressed to the assessment stage via email.

After your application has been reviewed and assessed, you will be contacted by the department and informed whether you have been accepted into the program.

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; and
• additional study leave offered to teachers, to avoid utilisation of other leave entitlements to complete course work.