NSW Professional Experience Hub Project (Albury): Teaching for the future professional partnership building expertise and innovative practice

This presentation focuses on the implementation and research findings of a New South Wales, teacher education Professional Experience Hub (PEX Hub) ongoing four year project conducted in partnership with Charles Sturt University’s School of Education, NSW Department of Education and an Australian regional secondary school. The project employed an innovative, collaborative and strengths-based model of professional experience. Teacher education students were embedded into the school well in advance of more traditional placement models, with additional opportunities for student support, peer coaching and enhanced collaborative strategies. This presentation will outline the strategies implemented and research recommendations* to enhance the significant milestone event of professional experience for all stakeholders: teacher education students, supervising teachers and university educators. The stakeholders reported that the project developed a stronger sense of the profession of teaching, particularly in relation to professional identity, professional respect and professional confidence.