Special kind of challenge
For educators looking for a niche field where jobs abound, consider special education; there's a continuing shortage of qualified teachers for this important role.
"There are a lot of different ways special education professionals work. They might focus particularly on kids with an issue like autism, and work collaboratively with a classroom teacher; or they might have a class of their own made up of children with special needs. Others work in a special school, where there are kids up to 18 years old with a range of emotional or behavioural disorders or other challenges to learning, including intellectual disability," says associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Michael Arthur-Kelly.
Duration: One semester full-time or part-time equivalent.
Time: Expect to study around 30 hours a week if attending full-time.
Where: University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus and the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children's Renwick Centre in North Rocks. Also available online.
When: Next intake Semester 1, 2014.
newcastle.edu.au
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Emotional Disturbances/Behavioural Disorders) is a one-semester tertiary course aimed at educators who want specialist training in working with children who have emotional or behavioural challenges. The program covers support for a range of needs, including behavioural disorders and intellectual disability, and prepares teachers for specialist roles in schools and other settings.
Educators looking for a niche area with strong job demand should consider this special education qualification. The article notes a continuing shortage of qualified special education teachers, so the certificate can help teachers build specialist skills and improve their career prospects in fields such as autism support, behavioural disorders and special-school teaching.
Graduates can work in a variety of special education roles: focusing on children with autism and supporting mainstream classroom teachers, running a dedicated class for children with special needs, or working in special schools that cater to students up to 18 with emotional or behavioural disorders and intellectual disability.
The certificate is structured as one semester full-time or the part-time equivalent. If you attend full-time, expect to study around 30 hours a week.
The course is offered at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus and at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children’s Renwick Centre in North Rocks. The program is also available online for remote study.
According to the article, the next intake is Semester 1, 2014. For up-to-date intake dates and enrolment details, the University of Newcastle website (newcastle.edu.au) was referenced.
Yes. The article states the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Emotional Disturbances/Behavioural Disorders) is available both on-campus (Callaghan and Renwick Centre) and online, giving flexibility for working teachers or remote learners.
Associate Professor Michael Arthur-Kelly from the University of Newcastle’s School of Education is quoted in the article, explaining the different ways special education professionals work and highlighting roles that focus on autism, collaborative classroom support, dedicated special-needs classes and special schools.
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