The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (The Standards) are a public statement of what constitutes teacher quality. They provide a framework that clarifies the knowledge, practice and professional engagement required across teachers’ careers. AITSL worked with the education sector to develop and support implementation of the Standards. In order to assess the usefulness, effectiveness and impact of the Standards since implementation, AITSL collaborated with the Centre for Program Evaluation at Melbourne University and their partner, the Australian College of Educators to conduct a three-year evaluation, from 2013 to 2015, of the implementation of the Standards. This report presents the overall findings from the Evaluation of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Evaluation).
The Evaluation has demonstrated that once awareness is achieved, a positive attitude towards the Standards begins to form and knowledge about the Standards begins to develop, then, use increases. If experience of use is positive, then attitudes and knowledge will continue to improve leading to increased implementation. The aim to drive implementation of the Standards towards sustainable change requires ongoing strategies and support that will incorporate consideration of the points outlined above. The work of implementing and utilising the Standards has been driven by the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership but will now require the support of all education stakeholders in order to see this positive reform continue to be embedded throughout the Australian education sector.