Home Economics teacher training in the NT

Charles Darwin University offers a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning for students with a previous degree.

Charles Darwin University also offers a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning - Pre Service.
This is for people who have at least 5 years Industry experience and Certificate 1V in Work Place Training and Assessment.
Click on the links to view all course details

My journey to becoming a Home Economics Teacher in the NT.

Lucas Consola tells the story of his training at CDU to become a teacher
I come from the hospitality trade, more specifically chefing; which I called my only profession for almost 10 years. In 2006 I undertook a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment so that I could train apprentices in my workplace. While studying I became much more interested in education and developed a personal desire to pass on my knowledge in cookery and hospitality, in a secondary school environment.

The first thing I did it was to investigate my chances of becoming a qualified teacher and how I could apply all my trade experience into the teaching profession. Of course I knew I could do the cooking or the food technology subjects, but I did not know exactly what was involved in the sector of Home Economics. Here is where HEIA national website helped me to understand what it is to be a Home Economics Teacher, the teaching scope and the necessity of good professionals in schools. After a chat with a home economics teacher and bit of basic research, I found that there was a demand for teachers in my field Australia wide; this further encouraged me to begin my higher education studies.

I preferred to study in Darwin, so my only option was Charles Darwin University (CDU). I was a bit uneasy with the idea of distance (external) education via email-internet; ironically in the end many subjects which I took where external. CDU is not good at providing clear information to students. It took a lot of running around to get straight answers on what subjects I needed to take, and how much recognition for prior learning I could get. In the end I found that with my ten years of industry experience, combined with my Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, I was able to complete what would normally have been a four year bachelor degree in only two (Jan 2008-Oct 2009).

Many of the Education subjects offered at CDU are directed at early childhood and primary teaching, some in middle but rarely in secondary; so here is where my personal determination kicked in. By finding out in advance which schools had commercial kitchens and a Home Economics faculty I was able to ensure I got the most out of my teaching practicum experiences.

Studying at CDU I found that the lecturers were quite supportive, and willing to provide advice and support throughout the course. Coming from a trade profession I was put into the VET stream of Pre-service Teaching and Learning. This is specifically secondary once you finish, because VET in schools projects are run mainly in secondary schools. If I had not had any hospitality trade experience my learning journey to becoming a home economics teacher would have been much longer.

Personally the education I received at university was great but I learnt how to be a real teacher during my teaching practicums; more specifically the last one which involved 12 weeks fulltime at Darwin High School. There I was not only able to work in a fully functional Home Economics faculty, but I had great mentors who taught me a lot. I think it is really important to choose the right university but also to find the right mentor teachers and schools where you will be able to get the most out of the experience.

I have learned so much over the past two years and now feel confident and ready to begin my teaching career in home economics.

Lucas Consola