The university hopes to eventually offer the two courses in full from its Wimmera campus.
Nathan Warrick, an education support staff member at Horsham College, will be part of the Bachelor of Education Studies cohort.
He said his studies would fit well with his current role, as he would be enabled to study with a full day off a week.
“I have always wanted to be a teacher, but going to university wasn’t possible, so this is a good opportunity,” Mr Warrick said.
“I enjoy learning. When you’re a student you never think from a teacher’s perspective and the strategies they have, so it will be interesting learning how to teach.”
Federation University institute of education, arts and community executive dean Professor Jenene Burke said she was thrilled the pilot program would proceed in semester one of 2024 with 19 enrolments.
“This is work we have been doing for more than six months coming to fruition,” she said.
Professor Burke said the pilot was the brainchild of former Horsham College principal Rob Pyers and Federation University Wimmera campus director Christine Brown.
“They came up with this idea, floated it with myself and Peter Sellings, so we made a survey and had 65 interested people,” she said.
“We managed to convert that to 19 enrolments and we’re looking at another intake mid-year to top up the numbers and we will catch them up.
“Support is particularly important for students in this program and that is what we are offering.
“Dr Sellings is the course co-
ordinator and he is going to be driving to Horsham to teach the program, initially.”
Students enrolled hail from Horsham, Stawell, Warrnambool, Hamilton, Casterton, Moyston, Edenhope and Rainbow.
Professor Burke said the two organisations were taking a bold step together.
“I’m a passionate person who was born in the Wimmera, I went to school in Dimboola and I think it’s important we grow our own people in regional areas,” she said.
“I don’t think the solution to workforce shortages is taking people out of the city, dumping them in the country and expecting them to stick – some do but a lot filter back, eventually.
“For me, this is the culmination of my career in making this happen and I’m proud we’ve been able to do it.”
Department of Education workforce policy and strategy division executive director David Robinson said programs such as introducing the bachelor’s degree to the Wimmera were more likely to help find teachers for the workforce.
“One of my jobs is to work with the Commonwealth government and other states and territories on the national challenges we are facing in teacher supply,” he said.
“I can hand on my heart say Victoria is leading the way in terms of finding innovative pathways for people to come into teaching.
“This program is nation-leading in how it goes to local places and finds people with a passion for working in schools and going into teaching and providing a supportive pathway into what is an amazing profession.”
Ms Brown said the university was excited to add the degree to its growing delivery in the Wimmera.
“Using connected classrooms technology means that distance isn’t a barrier to study and people in our region can take the opportunity to enhance their careers and study locally,” she said.
“Our students are already embedded within the Wimmera community, and thanks to the support of the Victorian government, are more likely to stay in the region and teach when they’re qualified.”
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