
Teacher Magazine (ACER)
Podcast by Teacher Magazine (ACER)
Latest episodes

Jul 5, 2023 • 19min
School Assembly Episode 11: Series 1 Final
School Assembly is the podcast that explores what it takes to build a new school from the ground up. In Series 1 we’re following Principal Dr Ray Boyd and Associate Principal Rachael Lehr as they navigate the exciting and challenging journey. Each month, we touch base for updates and reflections on their progress in the newly developing suburb of Dayton, located in the eastern metropolitan city of Swan in Perth, Western Australia. Well, we’ve reached our series final. In this episode Ray and Rachael reflect on the events of the last 18 months – including achievements, anxieties and imposter syndrome – and look to the future for Team Dayton.
Host: Jo Earp
Guests: Dr Ray Boyd, Rachael Lehr
Sponsor: QT Academy

Jun 29, 2023 • 12min
Teacher Staffroom Episode 48: Diversity and inclusion
What does it mean to be a Totally Inclusive School? The latest instalment of Teacher’s Bookshelf includes an extract from the book Becoming a Totally Inclusive School: A Guide for Teachers and School Leaders, written by Angeline Aow, Sadie Hollins and Stephen Whitehead. According to the authors, ‘a Totally Inclusive, equitable and just institution is where all learners have access to the curriculum in learning spaces that continually strive to eliminate oppression’. In today’s episode, we're going to be talking a bit more about this Teacher’s Bookshelf article, as well as a School Improvement podcast episode featuring Angeline and Sadie, which explores this topic of diversity, equity and inclusion in greater detail. Later on in the episode, we’ll also be sharing some of the outstanding contributions we’ve published this month, from both Teacher readers and academics working in education.
Host: Rebecca Vukovic
Sponsor: The Victorian Government

Jun 21, 2023 • 42min
School Improvement Episode 46: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In a Teacher’s Bookshelf article last month, we shared an exclusive extract from Becoming a Totally Inclusive School: A Guide for Teachers and School Leaders, written by Angeline Aow, Sadie Hollins and Stephen Whitehead. In this episode of School Improvement, we're joined by 2 of the authors, Angeline and Sadie, who are based in Germany and the UK. We’ll be talking about what we mean by Total Inclusivity, and taking a closer look at the Continuum on Becoming a Totally Inclusive School – that’s a framework to help schools and educators move from theory to practice. There are 6 stages of the continuum and we’ll be going through each, thinking about what that might look like in a school and what the next steps could be the move to the next stage.
Host: Jo Earp
Guests: Angeline Aow, Sadie Hollins
Sponsor: Planet Ark

Jun 14, 2023 • 27min
Student agency in school transition – research and resources
Any kind of change can be exciting and sometimes daunting, and moving from primary to secondary school is no different. So, what are the worries and challenges for students, and what would help to make the process easier? Guide to Thrive is a new evidence-based transition program from Life Ed that brings together teacher professional development mapped to the AITSL standards, practical classroom activities and supporting resources for parents and carers.
In this episode of School Improvement, we’re joined by Murray Baker, a teacher of 20 years who’s now a Program Development Co-ordinator at Life Ed, and Dr Shani Sniedze, a Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research who’s been involved in the program. We’ll be discussing some of the findings from the research literature and student feedback forums, and how this student voice has informed the program and activities.
Host: Jo Earp
Guests: Murray Baker, Dr Shani Sniedze
Sponsor: Teacher Awards

Jun 8, 2023 • 3min
Introducing the Teacher Awards
Today, nominations open for the inaugural Teacher Awards. In this special episode, Teacher Editor, Jo Earp, introduces the award categories, our Judging Panel, and information on how you can enter.
Host: Jo Earp

Jun 7, 2023 • 24min
School Assembly Episode 10: Student enrolments
School Assembly is the podcast that explores what it takes to build a new school from the ground up. In Series 1 we’re following Principal Dr Ray Boyd and Associate Principal Rachael Lehr as they navigate the exciting and challenging journey. Each month, we touch base for updates and reflections on their progress in the newly developing suburb of Dayton, located in the eastern metropolitan city of Swan in Perth, Western Australia.
Building a great school and an expert team of leaders, teachers and support staff means nothing, of course, without the students. So, how do you start from scratch when it comes to getting new students? In this episode we’re discussing enrolments. Let’s get started.
Host: Jo Earp
Guests: Dr Ray Boyd, Rachael Lehr,
Sponsor: Bank First

May 30, 2023 • 11min
Teacher Staffroom Episode 47: Unpacking PIRLS
The latest results from PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) were released this month. The data sheds light on the literacy achievement of year 4 students in Australia, and in today’s podcast, we’ll take you through what you need to know.
Host: Dominique Russell
Sponsor: The Victorian Government

May 17, 2023 • 36min
A model for educator reflection to build confidence and efficacy
As an educator, finding the time to discuss matters you are finding challenging with colleagues, to seek advice and reflect on your practice, might seem impossible.
In this episode, from LaTrobe University in Victoria, we're joined by Dr Anne Southall and Associate Professor Fiona Gardner. For the past few years, Anne and Fiona have been researching the impact of implementing the reflective circles education model they’ve developed for use in schools, to give educators the opportunity to reflect on challenging situations they’ve faced. In this episode, they’ll share the details of how the model works and what the research has shown about its positive impact.
Host: Dominique Russell
Guests: Dr Anne Southall and Associate Professor Fiona Gardner

May 10, 2023 • 17min
School Assembly Episode 9: Educational research and reading
School Assembly is the podcast that explores what it takes to build a new school from the ground up. In Series 1 we’re following Principal Dr Ray Boyd and Associate Principal Rachael Lehr as they navigate the exciting and challenging journey. Each month, we touch base for updates and reflections on their progress in the newly developing suburb of Dayton, located in the eastern metropolitan city of Swan in Perth, Western Australia.
It's been a big start to the month for the team with the official opening of the school. Congratulations to everyone involved on that massive milestone for the community. Our focus for this episode of School Assembly is educational research and reading, and how this evidence base is the foundation for everything that’s happening at the school, from classroom teaching to leadership. A heads-up on terminology – when talking about keeping up to date with research, Ray mentions WAPPA (that’s the Western Australian Primary Principals' Association) and ACEL (that’s the Australian Council for Educational Leaders).
Host: Jo Earp
Guests: Dr Ray Boyd, Rachael Lehr
Sponsor: Bank First

Apr 27, 2023 • 14min
Teacher Staffroom Episode 46: Teacher wellbeing and mental health
It is widely acknowledged that teaching is a stressful job, and the global events of the past few years have added an enormous amount of pressure to those working in education. It is therefore crucial that the health and wellbeing of teachers and school leaders is prioritised. In today’s episode we're going to share with you some of the pieces we’ve published on the topic of teacher health and wellbeing, including a Q&A with high school teacher and author Sue Webb, who talks about her book Teachers Cry Too and shares her struggle with, and recovery from, mental illness. Later on in the episode we’ll also share some of the articles we’ve published on the topic of behaviour management, and some pieces from experts in education on a range of topics that may be of interest.
Host: Rebecca Vukovic
Sponsor: The Victorian Government.