Re-imagining Pathways to Teaching

About the research project

Established through a partnership between the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) and the University of Tasmania, and supported by a $2.2 million grant from the Australian Government Department of Education, Change2Teaching aims to recruit a cohort of 40 future teachers to complete a Master of Teaching while employed in DECYP schools. Recruitment will focus on mid-career professionals, STEM graduates, and individuals from diverse backgrounds. 

As a strategic partnership between UTAS and DECYP, the program is intended to inform future approaches to teacher preparation and workforce development in Tasmania. The program has two overarching goals: first, to bridge the preparedness gap often experienced by beginning teachers through sustained immersion in a school setting over two years; and second, to foster meaningful engagement with communities served by participating schools, supporting the development of locally responsive teaching practice. 

Employment-based teacher preparation programs have shown promise in addressing teacher workforce shortages while providing authentic, practice-based learning experiences. At the same time, they present unique challenges associated with balancing work, study, and professional learning. A distinctive feature of Change2Teaching is its commitment to co-design, with schools, communities, and partner organisations working collaboratively to ensure the program reflects local priorities in complex regional communities.

The PhD project will run alongside the implementation of the Change2Teaching pilot, enabling the candidate to document participants' experiences as they progress through the program and contribute insights to ongoing evaluation and future program development. The pilot itself will commence in 2027 and run for 2 years (2027-2028), while the PhD candidature will be for three years (2027-2029) to capture post-pilot data from participants and stakeholders. 

This PhD project will primarily employ qualitative narrative research methodologies to explore and document participants’ experiences within Change2Teaching. The research will examine how participants navigate learning to teach while working in school settings, how they develop their professional identities, and how their experiences are shaped by engagement with the communities in which they work. 

The PhD study will generate rich qualitative evidence about participants’ experiences, perspectives and professional journeys. These findings will complement other evaluation activities that will be associated with the Change2Teaching initiative and contribute to understanding the opportunities, challenges and implications of employment-based pathways. The PhD research therefore has the potential to inform future policy, practice, and program design in teacher education and workforce development in Tasmania and beyond. 

 

Primary supervisor

Meet Associate Professor Mary Ann Hunter

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

University of Tasmania PhD admission requirements.

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Division A) or equivalent qualifications meeting University of Tasmania PhD admission requirements.
• Understanding of the Australian schooling sector and contemporary issues in teacher education.
• Demonstrated interest in qualitative, narrative, or interpretive research methodologies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Capacity to work independently while contributing to a collaborative research team.

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Professional experience in school education, teacher education, or related educational settings.
• Experience conducting qualitative research, including interviewing, focus groups, narrative inquiry, or thematic analysis.
• Knowledge of regional, rural, or place-based education contexts.
• Interest in teacher workforce development, teacher retention, and employment-based pathways into teaching.
• Experience engaging with diverse communities and stakeholders.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Associate Professor Mary Ann Hunter to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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