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Curtin University head of school of education Professor Jeff Brooks rubbished suggestions that the university’s diploma graduates were less qualified.
“Curtin’s graduate diploma is rigorous, reviewed by the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia, and designed to produce confident, capable and classroom-ready teachers,” he said.
“Students complete the same professional experience placements and classroom assessment requirements as in longer programs, ensuring they are well-prepared and meet the same high standards.
“In states like WA, Department of Education staff understand that these teachers (like all new teachers) require support to be successful. This program is no different.”
Brooks said Curtin’s fast-tracked program allowed professionals from other sectors to transition quickly to teaching, helping meet urgent workforce needs and that the argument that diploma students being lower quality reflected a basic misunderstanding of the teacher shortage.
“We should not be comparing graduate diploma graduates to graduates of other programs but rather comparing them to having no teacher in the classroom at all - this is the reality facing many Australian schools,” he said.
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That position was challenged by education expert and The Magic Coat Foundation founder Diane Wilcox who said how prepared a new teacher was after a one-year graduate diploma depended on their background.
“If someone’s already got a child development background, and they understand what’s needed to best support these kids, and then they’re further developing that with one year they’re going to be okay,” she said.
“But if you’re coming from an accounting background into a one-year teacher training background, it’s going to be more difficult for you, because you need to learn about how a child develops, but you also need to know how to manage classrooms and behaviours.”
The decision to reintroduce the one-year diploma was made in 2023 and Curtin and ECU started offering the courses in 2024. More than 340 graduates moved through Curtin’s program.
An ECU spokeswoman said fewer than one per cent of ECU’s graduate diploma cohort were students from other states.
“The claims of ‘lowering standards’ are unfounded, as the legislation has simply enabled universities to support teaching workforce needs in WA with the same quality and rigour that we always have,” she said.
Teacher Registration Board WA acting chair David Bean said to be registered, all teachers must meet specific requirements, including qualifications, English language proficiency and demonstrate that they are fit and proper to teach.
“It is intended that these qualifications, in combination with a three-year undergraduate degree, will be accepted by the TRBWA for the purposes of successfully applying for provisional registration as a teacher,” he said.
“It would, of course, remain open to graduates of these programs to further upskill through the completion of a Masters degree at a later point.”
Education Minister Sabine Winton was approached for comment but is on leave.
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