How Santa Maria College Supports Early Career Teachers to Thrive
Starting out as a teacher is exciting. It is also intense.
From the very beginning, early career teachers are doing work that matters deeply. They are shaping the future of the young people in their care, and that brings both joy and responsibility.
At Santa Maria College, we know that giving students an outstanding education begins with supporting the people who teach them. That is why we invest in the growth of our staff from the very start, including through our Nurture program for early career teachers.
Support that is practical and ongoing
The Nurture program is designed to help early career teachers thrive by providing active and ongoing support, guidance, and encouragement.
Nurture teachers come together for regular meetings led by Elizabeth de Byl, Head of Professional Learning. These sessions create space to share goals for students, exchange strategies, and talk through the realities of classroom life with others who understand exactly what that feels like.
Elizabeth explains. “The focus is practical and grounded in what matters most. Teachers explore how to build strong relationships, establish a trusting and dynamic classroom culture, support every learner, and design engaging, evidence informed lessons that bring out the best in students.”
Learning alongside experienced colleagues
Alongside these regular meetings, Nurture teachers are paired with a mentor teacher in their Learning Area.
That matters. Subject specific advice, a trusted sounding board, and someone who can help make sense of the everyday questions that arise can make all the difference in a teacher’s first years.
Nurture teachers are also observed in class and given helpful feedback, along with ideas for how to strengthen their practice even further. The goal is not simply support for support’s sake. It is professional growth that is thoughtful, specific, and genuinely useful.
A safe place to ask, share, and grow
One of the most valuable parts of Nurture is the sense of connection it creates.
Early career teachers have a safe space to ask questions, share triumphs, talk honestly about challenges, and keep learning with confidence. There is reassurance in knowing that growth is expected, support is close at hand, and improvement is something we work on together.
That culture of support benefits teachers, but it also benefits students. When teachers feel guided, encouraged, and equipped to keep refining their practice, students feel the impact in their classrooms every day.
Investing in teachers, for the sake of students
Nurture is one of the Professional Learning programs at Santa Maria College through which we invest in the professional growth of our staff.
We do that because great teaching does not happen by accident. It grows through reflection, mentoring, collaboration, and care. When we invest in our teachers, we create stronger outcomes for students across every part of College life, whether academic, personal, or co-curricular.
For early career teachers, that means joining a community that will back them as they learn, stretch, and find their feet. For students, it means being taught by teachers who are supported to become even better at what they do. That is where good schools begin.
- Catholic School Careers WA, Early Career Teacher Support Perth, Education Jobs Perth, Featured, Graduate Teacher Development, Mentor Teachers, Professional Learning for Teachers, Santa Maria College Careers, Teacher Mentoring Program, Teaching Careers Perth
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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