The degree program is designed within five overarching commitments as the focus of the course design.
Professional Values: graduating Teacher Librarianship professionals who can demonstrate an understanding of professional standards and values, and have the skills to operate within both Australian Library and Information Association Accreditation standards and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Research Informed Practice: support graduates in developing creative, intuitive and innovative information services, management, and practices.
Creative and Innovative Practice: support graduates in developing creative, intuitive and innovative information services, management, and practices.
Leadership and Collaboration: support graduates in developing a conceptual understanding of the importance of professional practice as teachers coupled with the synergies of a new discipline within an experienced career path, in order to engage in creative leadership and collaborative processes within the education community.
Ongoing Professional Learning: graduating Teacher Librarianship professionals who have the capacity to engage in ongoing professional learning, and collaborate with clients, families, communities, and other information professionals for the benefit of school students, the school, the wider community, and the profession.
The course aims are:
- to encourage and permit critical appraisal of theory, policy, and practice in the field of teacher librarianship;
- to improve the teacher librarian's professional competence and enlarge the capacity for self-development;
- to provide the basis for collaboration and leadership in schools and in the teacher librarianship profession;
- to increase awareness of the importance of educational research and research methods to teacher librarians;
- to permit highly qualified graduates of the program to proceed to higher research degrees such as professional doctorates and PhDs;
- to enhance graduates' standing within their education and teacher librarianship communities;
- to enhance students' career prospects; and
- to produce graduates who have the capacity to assist in the transformation of education to meet the changing needs of society.
