Teaching is a marathon, not a sprint – that’s the advice teacher Phoebe Taplin would share with teachers begining their careers this year.
Phoebe taught Year 4 and 5 students during her first year of teaching at Concord School, a P-12 specialist school in Bundoora.
With many early career teachers setting up their first classrooms for the 2026 school year, Phoebe says it is important they remember to seek advice from colleagues, embrace learning opportunities and try different teaching techniques.
'And if they don’t work, try something different,' she says. 'As teachers, we are lifelong learners.'
'When you graduate, you aren’t expected to have everything worked out, so lean on the experience of others around you.'
Fellow first-year teacher Dilara Sahin taught Foundation at Westbreen Primary School in Pascoe Vale.
She advises early career teachers to set up strong routines and relationships with their students and families from the start of the year.
Phoebe and Dilara both say the Career Start program had helped them a lot.
Career Start is a structured program for early career teachers that aims to improve their experience as they are inducted into the profession.
Career Start provides a range of supports to early career teachers and their mentors to accelerate the development of their practice and support their wellbeing. It includes time release, mentoring, professional development and networking opportunities.
Dilara says the Career Start program gave her confidence and support throughout the year.
'The additional release time, mentoring and professional learning helped me manage the demands of a Foundation class while still developing my practice,' she says.
Phoebe says the Career Start program gave her evidence-based strategies that she could adapt in her classroom, while supporting her to develop her teaching practice.
'The Career Start program provided me with additional planning time and a Career Start mentor, both of which were helpful in alleviating some of the stress of a first-year teacher, as we navigate our roles and responsibilities,' Phoebe says.
The program has helped participating schools retain their early career teachers and mentors.
To find out more, visit Career Start: transforming the first years of the teaching career.
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