Australia has recently experienced a teacher education policy reform agenda characterised by implementing standards and high stakes accountability measures. The current policy reform agenda has mandated ‘partnerships’ and policy documents have placed a heavy emphasis on the professional learning of supervising teachers to solve the issue of preparing the next generation of ‘quality’ teachers. University based teacher educators as an occupational group are currently absent in such policy reforms. Their role however is arguably vital in establishing effective school-university partnerships and in working closely with supervising teachers. To better understand the impact of current policy reform and the professional learning needs of teacher educators, a qualitative study was conducted. The objective of the study was designed to consider the ‘partnership’ policy implications for teacher educators and to consider the professional learning needs of this occupational group. The study comprised two parts: first, a policy document analysis (Bowen, 2009) and second, a thematic analysis from semi-structured interviews of teacher educators currently engaged in partnership development. The call for mandated partnerships clearly heralds the need for a shift beyond the current status quo for stakeholders. The silence around the role of the university based teacher educator in much of the policy focus however, means that there is a missing piece to the collective puzzle of improving teacher education. The study offers insights into how teacher educators might be more active in turning policy reform knowledge into action. Findings from the two components revealed the need for a new set of professional learning support and career trajectory structures for teacher educators. The study importantly illuminates the professional learning of a key group often known as the ‘hidden profession’ (Snoek, Swennen & van der Klink, 2011). The study offers a more productive way forward for turning the current accountability policy into a more productive way to engage with schools and communities.

Bowen, G A. (2009) Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method [online]. Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2. Snoek, M., Swennen A and van der Klink, M . (2011). The quality of teacher Educators in the European Policy Debate: Actions and Measures to improve the professionalism of teacher Educators. Professional Development in Education, 36 (1-2) 131-14