Each year, the QUT School of Education holds the Stepping Out conference. It serves as a capstone event for final-year education students and provides a crucial link to the teaching profession through networking, career guidance, interviews with industry partners, and discussions on early-career challenges and wellbeing.
Connection to industry
This event is an exclusive event for QUT Education students that gives them the opportunity to connect with teachers and school representatives as prospective employers and to also gain their insights into the various teaching environments that students will walk into as graduate teachers.
Robert Pettis, Master of Teaching graduate, attended the Stepping Out conference in 2024. “I hadn't considered the idea of working in a school in a rural area. Meeting with the representatives from All Souls St. Gabriels was incredibly impactful. Their enthusiasm and the unique educational environment they described immediately sparked my interest, showing me the appeal of teaching in a close-knit, rural community.”
Robert went on to secure his first teaching position at All Souls St. Gabriels following the conference.
Jasmine Ellis, Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) graduate, talked about her experience with the Stepping Out conference. “This event allowed me to connect with education industry professionals and learn about different pathways after graduation.”
Transition from university to teaching
As the education landscape continues to evolve, the Stepping Out Conference remains a vital touchpoint for aspiring teachers. It’s more than just a conference - it’s a celebration of everything these students have achieved and a powerful step toward the classrooms and communities they’ll soon serve.
Jasmine also told us, “A panel was created, that shared advice for graduate teachers when applying for jobs and the first year of teaching. It was highly insightful to hear from recent graduates, their experiences in the classroom, challenges and strategies that helped them succeed. Hearing firsthand about the transition from university to teaching helped me feel more prepared and gave me practical tips for beginning my own teaching career.”
QUT ensures the success of their graduates and the Stepping Out conference is just one of the many opportunities education students have available to them when the choose to study at QUT.
