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Aiming to improve the quality of Health and Physical Education teachers' working lives and their likelihood of staying in the profession, a new program will be launched at The University of Western Australia on Friday.

Funded by the Department of Education and Training (WA), the $33,000 pilot project will link 25 experienced teachers with 25 early career teachers for a year.

Dr Peter Whipp, a lecturer in UWA's School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, said Government school teachers with at least seven years' experience would be paired with teachers who were early in their careers in a project titled Physical Educators Mentoring Active Teachers through Experience and Support (PE MATES).

"All the teachers will explore their career plans, teaching strategies and work perspectives," Dr Whipp said.

"The project will help us to understand the impact of a teachers' mentoring program on quality of working life, workplace buoyancy, career aspirations and skills.  Ultimately, we hope such a program might help us retain teachers."

PE MATES will be launched by UWA's Institute of Advanced Studies, Professor Carmen Lawrence, at the University Club at 9am on Friday, November 21.

Media references

Dr Peter Whipp (Lecturer, School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health)  (+61 8)  6488 2793
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716