GHD Foundation partners with Teach for Australia

The GHD Foundation has continued the commitment to community by partnering with Teach For Australia (TFA). Through their flagship leadership development program, TFA will provide critical training, coaching and mentoring for up to 50 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) specialist teachers who identify as female at schools in regional, rural and remote Australia, helping make a difference for up to 8,000 students.

“Teach For Australia is thrilled to have GHD’s support as we work towards our vision of an Australia where education gives every child greater choice for their future,” TFA CEO Melodie Potts Rosevear said.

“Teachers play a vital role in society. Great teachers have a huge impact in the classroom, within schools and across communities as they encourage and inspire our young people.”

For the last 14 years TFA has recruited, trained and placed 1120 teachers at 229 partner schools. Today, more than 370,000 students have been taught by TFA teachers who step into the classroom with subject skills, leadership and a passionate commitment to working for education equity.

The goal

In Australia, your postcode, background and life circumstances can radically impact your whole future – determining the type of education you can access, and the life opportunities you can pursue.

“Many young people are missing out on the tools they need to create prosperous futures. For example, its disproportionately girls falling behind: just 27% of girls study STEM subjects in Australia vs 76% in China. In partnering with TFA the support they provide will help change the story,” Jo Metcalfe, Director of the GHD Foundation shares.

TFA exists to fight this educational inequity and its impacts. Their vision is an Australia where all children have the education they need to build a future of their choosing. They recruit and develop exceptional people to teach and lead across Australia, giving students the knowledge, skills and confidence, they need to shine. TFA works exclusively with schools serving communities experiencing socio economic disadvantage to ensure they’re having an impact where it matters most.

The challenges

Securing subject specialists with STEM backgrounds is a constant, widespread challenge for Australian schools. For example, one in five maths and physics teachers are teaching out of their field of expertise as the demand for educators in STEM related fields far outweighs supply. This rate only increases for those who experience barriers to quality education.

By supplying new STEM-qualified teachers into classrooms that need them, Teach For Australia allows all students to pursue their potential, no matter their background or circumstances.​​​​​​​ In addition, GHD Foundation’s support with TFA is for female STEM teachers, promoting the notion that ‘if you see it, you can be it’.