Unlocking the Power of Teaching Assistants: A Framework for School Leaders 

As inclusion grows more complex and expectations continue to rise, leaders can’t afford accidental deployment of teaching assistants. The Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS) Framework offers a clear, practical, research-informed pathway for schools ready to move from “extra pair of hands” to “intentional instructional partner.” 

In this fast-paced session, you’ll explore the national need driving this work, unpack the ATAPS Framework, and discover how it can be used to strengthen deployment, clarify roles, and elevate the professional growth of teaching assistants. Most importantly, you’ll walk away with practical tools, ready-to-use templates, and professional learning resources you can implement immediately. 

Kim Nuske is passionate about inclusive education; she has ten+ years teaching experience, and during that time has taught a range of year groups, and held various leadership roles, including Head of Inclusion in a P-12 school.  

Kim completed a master's degree with a specialisation in Special Education after recognising that her Bachelor of Education degree did not equip her with enough tools to teach the full bell curve of students in her classes.  

Kim joined the team at Australian Teacher Aide at the beginning of 2024 and is passionate about empowering educators, both teacher aides and teachers, to feel confident in being inclusive educators. Kim was a key contributor to the development and launch of the Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS), and she has created many supporting resources since, including the ATAPS Facilitator Training to help school leaders implement the standards framework into their school’s performance and professional growth framework.