RMIT hosts national Professional Experience leaders to help shape the future of teacher education

RMIT hosts national Professional Experience leaders to help shape the future of teacher education

The national Professional Experience Conference gathered 42 leaders in initial teacher education from every state and territory in Australia.

Sponsored by the Australian Council of Deans of Education and led by its Network of Associate Deans of Professional Experience, the conference provided a vital forum to examine the role professional experience plays in the current policy and practice landscape.

Attendees of the conference stand together in a group shot taken on Building 80's rooftop, giggling and smiling with the city scape as the background. Attendees of the conference spent two days in professional learning, strategic dialogue and connection.

Professional Experience: a cornerstone of teacher training

Professional Experience (PeX), is a form of work-integrated learning, more commonly known as ‘practicum’. It is widely regarded as the cornerstone of initial teacher education. It sits at the intersection of theory, practice and industry engagement, and is one of the most powerful levers for building a high-quality, sustainable teaching workforce. Yet its delivery is complex: Directors and Associate Deans must navigate policy directions from state and federal education departments, forge and maintain partnerships with schools, and provide targeted support for student teachers as they complete their placements.

This year’s PeX Conference was convened against a backdrop of significant national reform. Late last year, the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership released refreshed professional experience guidelines alongside updates to core content requirements for initial teacher education, representing some of the most substantial changes to the sector in a generation.

Led by the profession, for the profession

The program was facilitated by NADPE Chair Associate Professor Chrissy Monteleone (La Trobe University) and Co-Chair Associate Professor Rebecca Andrews (Macquarie University), with support from Australian Council of Deans of Education (ACDE) Vice-President Professor Simone White, Dean of RMIT University School of Education. Together, they shaped an agenda of national significance designed to stimulate discussion, build collective reflection and strengthen the professional experience community across Australia.

The conference organisers Chrissy, Simone, and Rebecca stand together smiling. The conference organisers, Chair and Co-Chair ACDE, Associate Professor Chrissy Monteleone (La Trobe University) and Associate Professor Rebecca Andrews (Macquarie University) with RMIT School of Education Dean Professor Simone White.

A series of keynote presentations covered the breadth of challenges and opportunities facing PeX leaders today, including: exploring PeX nomenclature and positioning; examining current policy settings; supporting mentors and supervisors; integrating evidence, theory and research into practice; innovative delivery models; and strengthening partnerships with pre-service teachers and stakeholders.

Education Minister’s call to action

The conference opened with a recorded address from Federal Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare MP, who acknowledged PeX leaders as vital boundary crossers between schools, universities and communities. Minister Clare highlighted key national priorities including mentor support and the implementation of core content within professional experience assessment and thanked those in attendance for their dedication to the teaching profession:

“I think teaching is the most important job in the world. We are currently making the biggest changes to teacher training in a generation.”

— Hon. Jason Clare MP, Federal Minister for Education

RMIT’s role as host, convener and connector

As host institution, RMIT provided the setting for what proved to be a rich two days of professional learning, strategic dialogue and connection. ACDE sponsored and led the event, with RMIT serving as a natural home for the gathering given its deep commitment to teacher education and its leadership role within the sector.

RMIT School of Education representatives Kathy and Simone stand together smiling. RMIT School of Education representatives (L-R), Associate Dean (Partnerships) and Associate Professor Kathy Smith and Dean, Professor Simone White.

“Bringing this national community together strengthened collective agency and elevated the visibility of those leading professional experience across Australia — a group whose work is central to the quality and sustainability of the country’s teaching workforce.

By hosting the PeX Conference, RMIT reaffirmed its commitment to leading national conversations that matter — supporting the teaching profession and helping shape the next generation of educators."

— Professor Simone White, Dean, School of Education and Vice-President, ACDE

Learn more about RMIT’s School of Education.

02 March 2026

Share

Return to RMIT News
02 March 2026

Share

  • Education
  • Research
  • DSC Research
  • Industry
  • Society
  • DSC
Engage

Related News

pex-conference-2026-image1-1220x732px.jpg

RMIT hosts national Professional Experience leaders to help shape the future of teacher education

The national Professional Experience Conference gathered 42 leaders in initial teacher education from every state and territory in Australia.

brianna-chesser-fullbright-26-image3-1220x732px.jpg

RMIT scholar awarded prestigious Fulbright to combat human trafficking

RMIT Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice, Brianna Chesser has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award to develop groundbreaking solutions to one of the world’s most pressing human rights crises: commercial sexual exploitation through human trafficking.

acmi-fact-symposium-26-image3thumbnail-1220x732px.jpg

What does the future of arts, culture and technology hold? RMIT academics weigh in at ACMI’s FACT symposium

RMIT University academics joined artists, technologists and cultural practitioners from across the globe at ACMI's fourth annual FACT Symposium, contributing to three days of debate on the future of arts, culture and technology.

creative-antarctica-opening-bodyimage1-1220x732px.jpg

Creative Antarctica: artists transport audiences to the edge of the world

RMIT Galleries' latest - and one of its largest ever - exhibitions, Creative Antarctica: Australian Artists and Writers in the Far South, brings audiences on a journey to the Far South, offering new perspectives, encounters and understandings of one of the world’s most remote and fragile landscapes.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-start torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information