At St Catherine’s today, we have teachers who are great activators of change for girls and who enhance their students’ learning immensely. I watch frequently teachers who encourage girls to be fearless, teach them how to harness the storm of adolescence, and encourage girls to question and believe in themselves and their abilities. The qualities in those teachers are always the same – an acute interest and belief in students, a desire to challenge them, and the power to inspire and uplift.  

Australia’s celebration of World Teachers’ Day occurs on the last Friday of October each year. World Teachers’ Day was started by UNESCO and is celebrated in over 100 countries each year. On its 45th anniversary this year, it represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the contribution that teachers make to education.  

Teachers are instrumental in shaping people. Some teachers play vastly under-recognised roles in setting high achievers on their paths. As one example, computer revolutionary Bill Gates, known for dropping out of Harvard, claims of his school Mathematics and Drama teachers, “There’s no way there would have been a Microsoft without what they did.” 

The role of a teacher is compelling, with educators often energised by their mission. Teachers do more than teach, and their impact extends far beyond the classroom. I have always thought great schools reflect great teaching. In my conversations with Old Girls from St Catherine’s and past parents, I have been delighted to learn of the teachers who have been instrumental in shaping St Catherine’s girls over the past 127 years.

As we celebrate Teachers’ Day in Australia this year, we take this occasion to remind the broader community that “the right to education means the right to a qualified teacher.” This theme was chosen to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), where education is recognised as a fundamental right. A right that cannot be fulfilled without qualified teachers. 

As our Barbreck children learned recently at the celebration day for International Day of the Girl Child, one of the main challenges to this right worldwide is the continued shortage of teachers. There are an estimated 264 million children and youth still out of school globally. According to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, the world needs to recruit almost 69 million new teachers to reach the 2030 education goal of universal primary and secondary education.  

This ‘teacher gap’ is more pronounced among vulnerable populations – girls, children with disabilities, refugee and migrant children, and poor children living in rural or remote areas. Trained and qualified teachers are fundamental to the right to education. 

Today, Friday 27 October 2023, the theme ‘Hats Off to Teachers’ encourages the community to share appreciation by posting a ‘hats off’ selfie on social media to celebrate teachers and tell the community what great teachers meant to you. This is an opportunity to join with Australia in celebrating teachers. So, I encourage you to grab your hat, beret, beanie, bucket, or bowler and remember to tag #worldteachersday@aitasl.   

VCAA Exam Assessors 2023  

At this time, we also take an opportunity to acknowledge our St Catherine’s staff who have successfully been selected as VCAA Exam Assessors for 2023 providing comprehensive professional development opportunities for teachers of VCE subjects.