Australian Journal of Teacher Education
Abstract
Although it is impossible to know with any certainty what the future holds, it is likely that in a world replete with complex social, political and environmental issues, including the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the priorities of schooling will shift in the future and graduate teachers will need relevant knowledge, skills and dispositions to meet these priorities. This paper presents a perspective on possible future priorities and the capacity of the initial teacher education (ITE) system in Australia to prepare teachers who can meet these priorities. The article draws from the OECD’s Teaching Compass: Reimagining Teachers as Agents of Curriculum Change, which attempts to offer a future focused vision of what it means to be a teacher, concentrating on the need to build teacher agency and wellbeing, as well as other teacher competencies, within collaborative networks and partnerships. The article, which has a particular focus on Western Australia in line with this special issue, argues that current policies and practices in schooling and teacher education do not necessarily align with a future focused approach.
Was this research funded?
No, research was not funded
Recommended Citation
Oakley, G. (2026). Preparing teachers for the future in Australia: Challenges and possibilities. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 51(4). https://doi.org/10.14221/1835-517X.8288