Casual Teaching: A significant gap in professional learning

Abstract

Numerous novice teachers begin their teaching careers as casual teachers (CTs), thus are increasingly 'at risk' of leaving the profession. Subsequently, there is a dire need for appropriate teacher education for pre-service teachers and professional learning of practising teachers and principals to facilitate ways for CTs to survive and thrive within their schools. A new B Ed unit and research carried out with CTs have highlighted some ways to facilitate significant understandings and skills required by pre-service teachers to become successful CTs and permanent teaching colleagues to support their more itinerant colleagues.