Recruitment for the expanded HAT@ECU program is now open.
Edith Cowan University's (ECU's) High Achieving Teachers (HAT@ECU) program is being expanded to include regional centres across Western Australia as part of efforts to grow teacher capacity in regional Australia.
ECU's program is delivered as part of the High Achieving Teachers Program: Phase 2 Expansion Pilots supported by the Australian Government Department of Education.
Successful applicants in the HAT@ECU program can study one of three Master of Teaching courses, in either Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary Education.
Unlike the existing coursework schedule for these master's degrees, eligible students' study will be structured around the four Western Australian school terms, and HAT@ECU program students are paid while studying, and start working in classrooms from year one.
"The expansion of the HAT@ECU program into regional Western Australia allows ECU to support 'growing our own teachers in the regions'," HAT@ECU Director, Associate Professor Matthew Byrne said.
The expanded HAT@ECU program will offer students in the South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt, Goldfields-Esperance, Mid West, Kimberley and the Pilbara opportunities to participate, with bespoke placements available in a range of major Early Learning settings, primary and secondary schools right across regional Western Australia.
Regional students will begin the program by attending scheduled live online classes, allowing them to participate in real time and engage with teaching staff and peers. Throughout the remainder of the program, coursework is delivered through a blend of synchronous and asynchronous online learning, alongside hub-based activities.
Recruitment for the expanded HAT@ECU program is now open, with the shortlisting of successful candidates targeted for later this year. As places in the program are limited, prospective students are encouraged to submit their applications early.
ECU is the only university in Western Australia selected to participate in the HAT program and one of just 10 universities nationally delivering the initiative. The University's inaugural HAT@ECU cohort is on track to complete their studies in October 2026, providing a new generation of classroom-ready teachers to help address workforce shortages across the State.
"As Western Australia's only HAT provider, ECU is proud to be playing a leading role in developing innovative pathways into the teaching profession," Associate Professor Byrne said.
"With our first cohort set to graduate in October this year, we are already seeing the impact this model can have in attracting talented people into teaching who may never have changed to a teaching career. Expanding the program into regional Western Australia will help ensure more communities can benefit from a sustainable pipeline of highly skilled teachers where they are needed most."
Western Australia's Minister for Education, Hon Sabine Winton MLA, has welcomed the regional expansion plans.
"Every Western Australian child deserves access to an excellent education, no matter where they live.
"A key part of that is attracting and retaining great teachers in our regional communities to help students thrive," she said.
"The Cook Labor Government is proud to support the HAT@ECU program expanding into regional Western Australia by providing $4.3 million, funded through the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement Initiatives like this play an important role in building a strong education system, and I am pleased to see more opportunities being made available to aspiring teachers to gain valuable experience in our regions."
