School of Education

HAT@ECU

Overview

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. HAT@ECU, is an accelerated 18-month pathway to a Master of Teaching qualification, spanning seven school terms. Master of Teaching courses include Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary Education.

Unlike our existing coursework schedule for these master's degrees, your study will be structured around the four Western Australian school terms. The program includes $18,000 in financial support paid over the two years through a scholarship. And you'll be paid while studying and start work in one of our HAT@ECU partnership schools in year one. This can be in a public, Catholic or an independent school.

Program Structure and Partnership Hubs

The program operates through two main hubs, one in a metropolitan Perth and the other in the South West region (Bunbury). These hubs provide a networked approach to your training, integrating classroom learning, professional experience, targeted professional development, and paid employment. Each hub supports a range of schools and educational centres, giving you varied and hands-on teaching environments.

Professional Experience and Employment

Throughout the program, you’ll complete at least 60 days of professional experience and up to 160 days of paid employment. This structure allows you to gradually transition into the teaching role, building both confidence and skills.

Comprehensive Support

You’ll be supported by a dedicated team, including Hub Coordinators, mentor teachers, and student support officers, all committed to your success. This team provides academic support, pastoral care, and professional guidance, creating an environment where you can thrive.

Targeted Professional Learning

As part of HAT@ECU, you’ll participate in ECU short courses and hub-based professional learning sessions, equipping you with practical skills essential for today’s classrooms.

Program structure

The HAT@ECU program combines coursework, delivered primarily online with scheduled in-person sessions on campus or synchronous online teaching and touchpoints, with hands-on teaching experiences. This integrated approach ensures that you graduate as a confident and capable educator.

Year 1

Your journey begins with an induction and orientation program at your hub school, where you’ll establish connections with staff, students, and the community. Following this, you’ll engage in an accelerated core curriculum that covers Initial Teacher Education (ITE) content alongside early professional experiences.

During Terms 1 and 2, you’ll participate in observational and practical learning, including your first professional experience placement, to strengthen your teaching skills.

In Terms 3 and 4, you’ll continue with ITE training while transitioning to paid employment with Limited Registration within schools at a rate of 0.4 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent). You’ll balance this part-time teaching role with continued professional experience, supported by online, self-paced coursework and in-person hub-based seminars, allowing you to further develop your teaching practice and deepen your academic knowledge.

Year 2

Your engagement in schools increases to 0.6 – 0.8 FTE, and you work in your hub school three to four days per week. This term-based teaching experience is complemented by additional ITE coursework, professional learning, and intensive blocks that support your growth as an educator.

By participating in the HAT@ECU program, you’ll become part of a close-knit community within your hub, fostering connections with peers, mentors, and university staff. This network will support you at every step of your journey, strengthening your identity as an ECU Education student and preparing you for a successful career in teaching.

Professional Experience Guidelines

Detailed information about Professional Experience can be found here.

The Professional Experience guidelines and mentor checklists for each course can be accessed from:

• Early Childhood
• Primary
• Secondary

Application eligibility and process

Information on eligibility and the application process is outlined here.

Who is eligible to apply?

The program is open to graduates and final year students who hold a non-teaching degree and want to switch careers to teaching.

Applicants must be domestic students, including Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents.

To be eligible:

• You'll need to have achieved strong undergraduate results.
• Your academic background can be in a range of fields, including Mathematics, English, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences.

And as success in the classroom is as much about how you communicate as it is about what you communicate, your application must include a personal statement from you.

There will also be an interview with the HAT@ECU team.

How to apply

Applying for the HAT@ECU program is a three-step process:

1. Apply for your Master of Teaching in Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary.
2. Apply for the HAT@ECU Scholarship.
3. Interview and accept your offer. Applications are assessed and shortlisted. If invited, attend an interview with the HAT@ECU team. If you're successful, you'll be offered a place in the program. If you're unsuccessful for the program, you can still accept an offer for your place in a chosen master's course.

Apply now

Applications for the next HAT@ECU program intake in late January 2026 opened on Monday, 19 May 2025, and close on Monday, 15 September 2025. Please note we're filling places as applications come in, so apply before 15 September 2025 for your best chance. If needed, applications may reopen later in the year.

Frequently asked questions

Contact Us

Director
Associate Professor Matt Byrne
m.byrne@ecu.edu.au

Associate Director
Dr Sarah Jefferson
sarah.jefferson@ecu.edu.au

Hub Coordinator (Metro)
Dr Carli Sanbrook
c.sanbrook@ecu.edu.au

Hub Coordinator (South West)
Mrs Ashley Hetaraka
a.hetaraka@ecu.edu.au

Project Manager
Dr Andrea MacRae
HAT@ecu.edu.au