Our Graduate Induction and Mentoring Program reflects DOSCEL’s commitment to nurturing early-career teachers and fostering their growth.

In partnership with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, we offer a series of full-day workshops throughout the year, designed to strengthen graduates’ teaching skills and confidence.

Beyond professional development, the program emphasises peer connection, creating a network of support where new teachers can share experiences and collaborate.

Graduate teachers work closely with their mentor educators to explore vital topics such as effective mentorship, developing their graduate enquiry question, understanding the code of conduct and other associated issues, and navigating the transition from provisional to full registration.

Ultimately, this program aims to equip early-career teachers with the skills, confidence, and support they need to inspire their students and confidently guide them on their learning journeys.

Photo above: In 2025, 65 first-year graduate teachers were welcomed as they began their journey in DOSCEL Catholic primary and secondary schools.

DOSLP provides a unique platform for learning, growth, and networking across primary and secondary education sectors within the Diocese.

Purpose of the DOSLP

The program is designed to:

• Empower leaders to identify their strengths and apply their leadership skills strategically within their schools and the Diocese.

• Deepen understanding of leadership within the Catholic school context and the broader DOSCEL framework

• Connect leadership practice directly to school improvement strategies, including the CILLT strategy
• Build the capacity, knowledge, and skills necessary for effective school improvement leadership

Program Structure

The DOSLP comprises two three-day residential sessions held during the year. Prior to the first session, participants, in consultation with their principals, select a school improvement priority to focus their efforts throughout the program. Between the two residential sessions, participants have dedicated opportunities to reflect on their learning, discuss their progress, and refine their leadership approaches.

In Term 4, each participant reviews their leadership development journey and presents a culminating project to their principal. This presentation provides a platform to:

Outcomes:

• Showcase progress and achievements related to their school improvement priority  
• Reflect on leadership lessons learned during the program  
• Share future leadership aspirations  
• Explore opportunities for ongoing leadership growth within Catholic education  

Since 2017, over 220 educators have completed DOSLP – many going on to senior leadership and principalships across the Diocese.

In 2024, there were 60 recipients of Sponsored Study support – 33 primary staff members and 27 secondary staff members.

In addition to those who received Sponsored Study, there were six previous recipients of Sponsored Study from across the Diocese who graduated with a Master of Evidence-Based Teaching, and five teachers who graduated with a Master of Education and Theology.

Our Catholic schools also offer a number of scholarship and bursary programs to support staff career development including the new Accelerated Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree specifically tailored for Education Support Officers (ESOs) working in our Catholic schools who wish to become teachers. The three-year program is offered via a partnership between DOSCEL and Swinburne University of Technology.

New teachers (graduates) are supported through the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) Graduate Induction and Mentor Program.

DOSCEL provides strategic and targeted Sponsored Study support for the Master of Evidence-Based Teaching through the University of Melbourne, and the Master of Education and Theology through Catholic Theological College and Yarra Theological Union.

The three-year program is offered via a partnership between DOSCEL and Swinburne University of Technology.

The program offers significant benefits to students, schools, and the Diocese including:

• An employment-based model, which will see students employed within schools at the beginning of the third year of study
•  An applied learning pedagogical design, encouraging students to take their workplace experiences and link it to their university studies
• Religious education accreditation included as part of the program design
• A balance of online and face-to-face delivery with a focus on care, connection, and community.

Twenty-nine participants were selected to take part in the program’s inaugural year in 2025.

Participants, from Catholic schools across our Diocese, attend week-long intensive study blocks held during term break holidays. 

This collaboration between Swinburne University of Technology and Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited not only aims to address teacher shortages and invests in the professional development of our dedicated support staff.

The partnership developed between DOSCEL and Swinburne is an exciting new chapter in high-quality teacher education.

DOSCEL engages with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education to leverage the expertise and capabilities of Master of Evidence-Based Teaching graduates and middle leaders to provide unique professional development and networking opportunities for educators within our diocese.

Through Learning and Teaching Communities of Practice, middle leaders connect, collaborate, implement and share evidence-based teaching practices.

These Communities of Practice focus on addressing system-wide learning and teaching priorities, strengthening middle leadership practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement grounded in educational research, evidence of student learning, and effective and impactful teaching.