A message from Tom Alegounarias, Chair of the ISTAA Council about changes to Experienced Teacher accreditation.

AISNSW is constantly seeking to make sure that its processes and systems are fit for purpose and that its services are contemporary and meeting the needs of schools. As such, the ISTAA Council is working with the AISNSW ISTAA team to evolve Experienced Teacher (ET) accreditation over the next few years in response to feedback and to reflect internal IT developments, which sees AISNSW moving to a new CRM and website.

Experienced Teacher accreditation will therefore look and feel different in the next 3 years as AISNSW works through a transition process with guidance from the ISTAA Council and from the sector to assist in reconceptualising ET accreditation and requirements in time for applicants commencing in 2024. The ISTAA Council will explore how ET accreditation can be reconceptualised with an aim to reduce the administrative burden and give greater weight to school-based judgments and principal attestation, while still maintaining rigour.

I am pleased to refer you to the information below from the AISNSW ISTAA team outlining the first steps in the transition to a reconceptualisation of Experienced Teacher accreditation.

AISNSW overview of Experienced Teacher accreditation changes


What is Experienced Teacher accreditation?

Experienced Teacher accreditation provides an opportunity for recognition of teachers whose skills and practice consistently reflect the Standards at the level of Experienced Teacher.

For schools that have adopted a Standards or Hybrid model Multi-enterprise agreement (MEA), or other relevant employment agreements, teachers satisfying the requirements for accreditation at the level of Experienced Teacher will move from Band 2 to Band 3 of the salary scale in the year following the submission of a successful application.

Teachers who are eligible to apply for ET accreditation, and whose practice reflects the ET standards may be accredited by the Independent Schools Teacher Accreditation Authority (ISTAA) at the level of Experienced Teacher following an application process.

There have not been any changes to the eligibility requirements in the new MEAs for accreditation at the level of Experienced Teacher. Eligibility to make an application is based on the following criteria:

  • Teachers who entered the teaching profession in NSW and ACT prior to 1 October 2004:
    - must have completed seven years of full-time equivalent service by the end of the year in which the application is assessed, and
    - are currently on Band 2 of the salary scale in accordance with their school’s Multi-Enterprise Agreement.

  • Teachers who entered the teaching profession in NSW and ACT after 1 October 2004:
    - must have completed at least five years of full-time equivalent service after achieving accreditation at the level of Proficient Teacher. The five years of full-time equivalent service must be completed by the end of the year in which the application is assessed. For New South Wales teachers, the date that the applicant achieved Proficient Teacher is stated on the Teacher Summary Report which can be accessed by logging into their account on the NESA eTAMS website.


What is changing in relation to Experienced Teacher accreditation?

There are no changes for the current cohort of teachers finishing their Experienced Teacher accreditation submission this year (ET 2022).

The information below provides an overview for eligible applicants considering making an application for Experienced Teacher accreditation in either 2022, 2023 or 2024:

  • Transitional cohort commencing in 2022 and completing in 2023

The process for this first transitional cohort will reflect a streamlined approach to providing evidence of practice against Standard Descriptors, including a number of descriptors being able to be demonstrated via an attestation by their Principal and via an in-school lesson observation which will replace the previous requirement for a Testimonial.

Eligible applicants will be asked to participate in a webinar with their supervisors. The webinar will provide a detailed overview of the process and completing the webinar will trigger access to the relevant IT platforms for applicants.

AISNSW is currently embarking on a review and redevelopment of its IT infrastructure. As a result the IT processes for the ET transitional cohort commencing this year will be revised. The digital platform used in recent years has been decommissioned for the transitional cohort commencing in 2022, and so these applicants will use a lower-tech solution including the Mighty Networks platform to access information throughout their ET journey and an AISNSW OneDrive account to upload evidence to finalise their submission. The ISTAA team will support applicants in using these platforms.

Note: There is no change to the digital platform for current applicants who will finalise their ET submission this year.

Key dates for applicants commencing in 2022 and completing in 2023:

  • Application period – opens 26 April 2022, closes 24 June 2022
  • Webinar session for applicants and their supervisors (online and face to face sessions available) – from 26 May to 18 July 2022
  • Evidence collection period – from 26 April 2022 to 23 June 2023
  • Access to OneDrive account for evidence upload – Term 1, 2023 to the time of submission in 2023
  • Evidence submission period – opens 6 March 2023, closes 23 June 2023
  • ISTAA processing of submissions – from 6 March 2023
  • Notification of outcome for applicants – within 12 weeks of submission of evidence.

Resources and materials outlining the details of the process and requirements for this first transitional cohort should be available to schools by the end of Term 1.

  • Transitional cohort commencing in 2023

The process for this second transitional cohort will continue to reflect a streamlined approach to providing evidence of practice against Standard Descriptors, including a number of descriptors being able to be demonstrated via an attestation by their Principal and an in-school lesson observation.

Eligible applicants will be asked to participate in a webinar with their supervisors. The webinar will provide a detailed overview of the process and completing the webinar will trigger access to the relevant platform for applicants.

As AISNSW continues on its IT renewal process, it is likely that applicants will use a lower-tech solution including the Mighty Networks platform to access information throughout their ET journey and upload evidence to finalise their submission via OneDrive. The ISTAA team will support applicants in using these platforms throughout the ET accreditation period.

  • Cohort commencing in 2024

The reconceptualised ET process for this cohort is yet to be determined, but will be designed to provide a seamless experience for the applicant based on guidance from the ISTAA Council and the sector more broadly. It is likely that ET accreditation from 2024 onwards will start and finish within the same calendar year.

For any information about ISTAA Experienced Teacher accreditation or other ISTAA services, please visit the ISTAA webpage or contact ISTAA@aisnsw.edu.au.