Primary teachers are committed to shaping a positive future for all young Australians through the provision of high quality education and promoting life-long learning. Primary education focuses on the curriculum for children aged six to 12 years, across Years 1-6. Course overview This degree equips you to teach across all primary school teaching areas. It examines learners and learning theories, curriculum studies, and approaches to teaching and assessment. At JCU you can choose one of the following Strands: Primary Education Strand Primary Special Needs Strand Primary Health and Physical Education (HPE) Strand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people can study through the RATEP program. RATEP is a community-based teacher education pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It Is offered in partnership with the Queensland Department of Education and Training and Tropical North Queensland TAFE. It enables Indigenous people to remain within their local community whilst completing the requirements of the Bachelor of Education at a RATEP site or the Thursday Island campus. Professional experience placements commence in your first year of study and involve practical work in state, Catholic and independent schools, plus a variety of other educational sites in rural and remote locations, as well as wider community settings. A compulsory five-day intensive Professional Orientation Program on campus in your final year provides further opportunities to network with employers and other professionals. This can be completed at our Cairns or Townsville Campuses. All students must meet minimum literacy standards upon entry and upon completion as required by the Queensland College of Teachers. Course highlights You will develop specialist skills needed for teaching in rural and remote areas, and you will be at the forefront of education for sustainability. Our program also focuses on ensuring you have the skills to help improve Indigenous education outcomes. Gaining professional experience in schools is an integral part of the Primary Education program at JCU and commences in the first year of study. This involves at least 80 days of workplace learning in a range of primary school settings over the course of your study. Towards the end of your degree, you will also have the opportunity to participate in school internship or service learning in a local or overseas community organisation. To improve your employment options we encourage you to participate in placements in rural and remote areas. On completion of your degree, you will have gained a rich variety of professional experience to support your transition to the profession. Career opportunities There are career opportunities for primary schoolteachers in state, Catholic, and independent schools. The Australian Government’s statistical service (job outlook) reports that: Over the five years to November 2018, the number of job openings for primary schoolteachers is expected to be greater than 50,000. Looking forward, employment for primary school teachers to 2018 is expected to continue to grow. Other career paths include government departments (for example children’s services, family services, education and health), education administration, and community development roles. The Bachelor of Education (Primary) is nationally accredited through the Australian Institute For Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Graduates of this course are eligible for teacher registration in Australia.