Primary English Teaching Association Australia

PETAA Strategic Plan

PETAA’s Strategic Plan sets the priorities that guide our work as a national professional association for primary English and literacy teaching.

 

A strategic plan connects an organisation’s purpose to the choices it makes over time. For PETAA, that means ensuring our work in professional learning, resources, publications, advocacy and community engagement remains connected to our vision, mission and position.

The statements below set the foundation for PETAA’s 2026–2028 Strategic Plan.

Vision

All students across Australia are engaged, informed, highly literate and effective users of language.

Mission

To strengthen the teaching of English and literacy in primary schools by equipping and connecting teachers, and championing their expertise.

Position

PETAA is a vibrant community of empowered and engaged teachers, leaders and students of English.

PETAA’s strategic priorities describe how this direction will be enacted across the next phase of our work.

  • Deepening our understanding — strengthening knowledge and understanding of quality English and literacy curricula, pedagogy and assessment.
  • Connecting our profession — fostering an engaged community of teachers through professional learning, shared interests and teaching achievements.
  • Amplifying our voice — promoting increased recognition of teachers as professionals and experts in their field.

Strategic priorities

To achieve our desired vision and outcomes, PETAA’s 2026 – 2028 Strategic Plan adopts three priorities. These are detailed below, along with how we will deliver these.

Deepening our understanding

Strengthening our community's knowledge and understanding of quality English and literacy curricula, pedagogy and assessment

Actions will include:

  • Sharing, promotion, and support of the adoption and delivery of a clearly documented, evidence-informed model of English teaching at the classroom and school level
  • Publishing and financially supporting publications and research that continues to build an understanding of evidence-based teaching strategies
  • Design & delivery of quality professional learning meeting the needs of teachers, schools and systems, including collaboration with national and international leaders
  • Supporting/empowering schools to determine their specific professional learning needs and meeting those needs where possible

Connecting our profession

Fostering an engaged community of teachers across professional learning, shared interests and teaching achievements

Actions will include:

  • Professional forums for teachers and school leaders to build their understanding of evidence-informed approaches, addressing divergent understandings, and supporting decision-making (including differentiated support between teachers, instructional leaders and school leaders
  • Support for pre-service and early-career teachers through tailored resources, professional learning and forums, and through partnerships with universities, education departments and schools
  • Sharing, promoting and celebrating excellent work occurring in schools that is aligned to PETAA's model of English teaching
  • Continuing to expand PETAA's network and range of activities nationally

Amplifying our voice

Promoting the increased recognition of teachers as professionals who are experts in their field

Actions will include:

  • Advocating to all levels of the education system nationally, to raise awareness of the critical agency, competencies and needs of the teacher in the classroom
  • Working with government departments and curriculum bodies to work towards a cohesive and clear model of English teaching in primary schools
  • Conducting national surveys on key components/aspects of teaching English and literacy, disseminating results to ensure real teacher practice and needs informs policy and curriculum development
  • Collaborating with critical stakeholders within English, literacy, primary education and other related fields

Strategy in practice

PETAA’s strategic priorities are enacted through the work we undertake with teachers, schools, systems and the wider English and literacy education community.

Professional learning

PETAA develops professional learning that supports teachers, school leaders and systems to build shared knowledge about English and literacy teaching.

Explore professional learning →

Resources and publications

PETAA publishes and curates resources that support evidence-informed English and literacy teaching across primary classrooms.

Browse resources →

Professional community

PETAA connects educators through membership, events and shared professional learning opportunities.

Explore membership →

Advocacy and partnerships

PETAA works with education stakeholders to champion teacher expertise and contribute to national conversations about English and literacy.

Read PETAA Position →

Continue exploring how PETAA’s position, professional learning, resources and membership support English and literacy teaching across Australia.

Read PETAA Position