Department for Education, South Australia

The Teach Podcast is back and we’re kicking things off with Chief Executive Professor Martin Westwell! 🎙️ Professor Westwell reflects on 2024’s biggest achievements and sets the vision for the year ahead. 🤩 What’s next for our students, teachers, and leaders? Find out in the latest episode. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gfsJUMf or wherever you tune into your podcasts. 

Our award-winning, secure artificial intelligence tool, EdChat, has been rolled out to all public school teachers across the state. 🤖 It can help save time on administration so they can focus their attention and expertise on teaching and learning. Teachers have used EdChat to: ✅summarise data and information ✅adapt materials to be suitable for different age groups or abilities ✅refine lesson plans using the SA curriculum for public education to better tailor learning for their students. We’re continuing to monitor a trial of secondary student use to support learning, and these outcomes will inform future rollouts. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ebx2PigU

‘A game changer for our school community’ 🌟 Brighton Primary School are already benefiting from EMS and EdSmart, saving time, money, and paper while keeping their school community connected. The Education Management System (EMS) is an online platform transforming how our schools and preschools operate and engage with families. EdSmart streamlines communication by sending digital consent forms directly to parents and carers – no more lost paper in school bags! 🎒

Improving literacy outcomes was front and centre these school holidays as educators from across the state came together to sharpen their skills ahead of students entering the classroom. 📘✏️ Literacy is a foundational and important part of a student’s education at every stage, setting them up for success in the classroom and beyond. Hear from some of our passionate educators who attended the 2025 Literacy Guarantee Conference about how they’re helping students learn and thrive. 

Welcome to term 1, 2025! 😎 Today, more than 193,000 learners are kicking off their first day of term 1 in our public schools and preschools across the state. We're wishing all our students, families and staff a rewarding and positive school year. Let’s do this! 🌟

Today is International Day of Education 👏🏼 This year's theme is ‘AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation’. Each day our educators are empowering students to thrive alongside innovation, while equipping them with the tools to navigate, understand, and help shape the future of the technological world. 🌏 Our nation-leading generative AI tool, EdChat, is a secure generative AI chatbot custom-built for teaching and learning. More recently, EdChat has been integrated with the SA Curriculum to help teachers adapt lesson plans so they can focus on teaching and learning. 🔗 Find out more about how schools are using EdChat: https://lnkd.in/ebx2PigU

Penny Tranter has worked in public education for more than 35 years! 🌟 As principal of Seaview High School, Penny's ambition is for the school to be a place where everyone feels valued and safe to be themselves. During her time, she has influenced teaching practices and inspired high expectations among professionals, students and communities. Penny Tranter was the winner of the Excellence in Leadership Awards in the 2024 Public Education Awards.

The Yaityangka team at Willunga High School have improved student engagement and outcomes by integrating Aboriginal perspectives into the curriculum. 🖤💛❤️ Their efforts include organising cultural events, supporting student participation in state-wide activities, and facilitating on-Country learning experiences. These initiatives have fostered a strong sense of belonging at the school, especially among Aboriginal students. Willunga High School was the winner of the Auntie Josie Agius Award in the 2024 Public Education Awards.

“Wellbeing is a way of being, not a way of doing” 🌱 Andamooka Primary School has established a nurturing environment where students are empowered to self-regulate and thrive. Their commitment extends beyond the school, fostering community involvement through workshops and collaboration with local agencies. Andamooka Primary School was the winner of the Excellence in Collective Wellbeing Award for the 2024 Public Education Awards.

“We know that when teachers are thriving, students thrive, and that’s when they are going to achieve.” 😊🍎 Rachel Dennis works with around 25 early career teachers spread across a region covering more than 220km. Her work has enhanced the capability and wellbeing of new teachers, which is even more crucial in remote areas. Rachel Dennis was the winner of the Excellence in Support of Early Career Teachers Award in the 2024 Public Education Awards.