I hope you had a chance to relax and recharge over the holidays, and spend some quality time with friends and family. At AITSL, we are looking forward to supporting the teaching profession through what I'm sure will be another challenging but rewarding year.

As you get back into the swing of the new year, check out AITSL’s new 2024 For You webpage. It has a wealth of evidence-based tools and resources designed to support you throughout this year and beyond. 

A special welcome to those new to the profession, returning after a well-deserved career break, or stepping into a new leadership role. We're thrilled to have you on board in 2024, and hope you have a rewarding start to the year. It's important that beginning teachers are well equipped and feel ready to take on responsibility for their students' learning – and AITSL is here to help as you grow in your new role. For new leaders, we also have a range of tools and resources to support your success.

I'm also delighted to share that in December 2023, Education Ministers gave AITSL the green light to release new Guidelines for the Induction of Early Career Teachers and Guidelines for the Induction of New School Leaders in Australia. These Guidelines are designed to facilitate quality induction to support the transition from becoming a teacher or leader to being a teacher or leader. I encourage you to view the Guidelines and accompanying fact sheets in our latest edition of AITSL Mail.

On the topic of new beginnings, this month the team at AITSL was sad to say farewell to our Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mark Grant PSM. Mark led AITSL for almost 5 years, during which he made an enormous contribution to our work on the national stage. This included his efforts to support the application of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers across a broader range of contexts, esteem the expertise held within the profession, and take meaningful action to support and grow the workforce – including most recently through the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan. 

We wish Mark every success in his new role at the NSW Department of Education. I’m proud to have been asked by the AITSL Board to lead the company as Acting CEO while recruitment for our next CEO is underway.

On behalf of AITSL, I wish you – the teachers and school leaders of Australia – the best for the start of the school year. We are here for you in 2024.