The Expression of Interest (EOI) process for VCEA schools closed on the 7 February 2025.
Please note: expressions of interest from teachers from government and independent schools closed on 20 December 2024. New expressions of interest from teachers in these schools will not be accepted.
Principal endorsements for teacher EOIs from all sectors will close on Wednesday 12 February 2025.
The Department of Education is seeking to appoint 4 inaugural Victorian Mathematics Ambassadors to promote excellence in the teaching of mathematics and to strengthen family and student engagement and aspirations in mathematics.
Ambassadors will be teachers who are confident, enthusiastic and passionate about mathematics and exemplify excellence in mathematics teaching. Initial appointments will be for 2 years, 2025 and 2026.
Background
One of the 5 key priority areas of our renewed Education State vision is Excellence in teaching and learning. This includes a focus on numeracy and mathematics, areas of national challenge.
Every Victorian student should leave school with the numeracy required for engaged citizenship and with the level of mathematics needed for their preferred post-school pathway.
To support this goal, the Victorian Government has established the role of Victorian Mathematics Ambassador to:
- promote excellence in mathematics teaching practice
- strengthen family and community engagement and confidence with mathematics, particularly in the early years
- inspire students to be confident mathematical learners and to enjoy mathematics
- raise students’ aspirations for studying higher-level mathematics at secondary school
- highlight mathematics careers and pathways.
Eligibility
To be eligible to be appointed as a Mathematics Ambassador, a person must:
- be employed as a teacher in a Victorian government or non-government school when applying, with an intent to continue as a practicing teacher in 2025-26
- be accomplished in teaching mathematics
- be willing to participate in a range of key activities, including promotional events and some out-of-hours events
- have discussed the opportunity with their school principal and have their principal’s endorsement to be considered for appointment.
Role of Mathematics Ambassadors
Four Mathematics Ambassadors will be appointed.
Mathematics Ambassadors will:
- have demonstrated excellence in mathematics teaching using explicit teaching as the foundation
- be confident, enthusiastic and passionate about mathematics
- be effective communicators.
As part of their roles, Mathematics Ambassadors will be asked to:
- share their practice with teachers and leaders, including by:
- developing short videos
- presenting at conferences and networks
- speaking at promotional and other events
- communicate the importance and value of mathematics and numeracy
- encourage parent/carer engagement in mathematics, particularly in the primary years
- inspire students to be confident and interested mathematical learners
- highlight mathematics careers and pathways.
Funding support
Mathematics Ambassadors
On top of current salaries, each Mathematics Ambassador will receive a special payment of $10,000 per year for each of the 2 years of their role.
Mathematic Ambassadors will also be provided with funding to cover travel, meals, and accommodation costs for agreed activities.
Appointment process
The EOI process was open for teachers from VCEA schools from Tuesday 28 January and closed at 11.59pm on Friday 7 February 2025.
The EOI form asks:
- general questions (e.g. name, school)
- questions that will be used to confirm eligibility
- questions with free text boxes that will be used to confirm suitability for shortlisting
- teachers to confirm they have discussed the opportunity with their school principal and have their principal’s endorsement to be considered for appointment.
Teachers are also asked to provide their principal’s contact details. After an EOI has been submitted, the department will contact each principal for their written endorsement.
Shortlisting and final selection
Shortlisting will occur in mid-February 2025, with shortlisted applicants invited to submit a short video as part of the final selection process.
Based on their submitted video, finalists will be determined. Each finalist will be interviewed by an expert panel.
Mathematics Ambassadors will be announced in Term 2 2025.
Contact
For more information or queries, please email the Numeracy and STEM Education Unit at mathematics@education.vic.gov.au
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