About Us

Who we are

The Australian Professional Teachers Association (APTA) is a federation of state and territory joint councils of teacher professional associations representing over 160 000 teachers, from government and non-government schools within Australia.

Our work provides value to the community, ensuring ongoing support for the profession while developing quality teaching and leadership. Each of these councils represents its professional education member associations. All of these associations are managed and maintained by professional educators. The APTA provides a national voice for Australian teachers from all sectors and all levels of education.

We invite you to download a factsheet that explains our association in more detail. This factsheet also discusses how teaching associations are represented nationally and in each state and Territory.

Governance

APTA is committed to operating with good governance practices to ensure transparency, accountability, and responsibility. Our board of directors comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise who bring their experience and insights to guide us in our work. The board is responsible for setting strategic goals, monitoring APTA’s performance, and ensuring that we comply with legal and ethical standards.

APTA has established policies and procedures that guide our operations, including financial management, risk management, and processes for meeting legislative and regulatory requirements. These policies are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they align with our values and continue to meet the needs of our members..

We invite you to learn more about our governance – including reviewing our constitution and strategic plan – by visiting our governance page.

What we do

Common Voice

We speak up to raise the profile of the teaching profession.

Networking

We build networks for collaborative activities, projects and research.

Policy Contribution

We are proactive in the development, implementation and review of policy.

Advocacy

We advocate in matters of significance to the teaching profession.

Collaboration

We liaise, collaborate and network with relevant national and international organisations.

Support

Our shared experiences allow us to support our members to achieve their goals.

Professional teacher associations are a vehicle for collaborative professionalism and teacher agency

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Our members

Our Executive

For further information on our board, please visit our main governance page.

Karen Yager
President (PTCNSW & ETANSW)
Cheryl Brennan
VICE PRESIDENT (PTCNSW & EBE NSW)
Chris Callus
Treasurer (PTC WA & AARE)
Steve Hawkins
SECRETARY (PTANT & GHTANT)

Recent submissions

gate of xingtian temple in taipei taiwan
Inquiry into Building Asia Capability in Australia
Inquiry into civics education, engagement, andparticipation in Australia
APTA response to the Inquiry into AI
Disruption in Australian school classrooms
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Latest News

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News / Newsletters

APTA News in Brief – October 2025

.The Australian Professional Teachers Association (APTA) continues to provide national leadership that supports and advances the teaching profession. Throughout 2025, APTA has focused on strengthening governance, advocacy, and member support …

News

Follow our LinkedIn

While APTA is committed to making better use of our website by including additional news, we invite you to follow us on LinkedIn to keep abreast of our work and …

News

APTA AGM

After another very productive year in advocating for teaching associations and the centring of the teacher voice in decision making, APTA is preparing for our next AGM to establish the …

More news

Get in touch

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Please read this before contacting us

Please note that we are only able to respond to requests relevant to teaching associations. We are unable to provide advice or support relating to employment, industrial, registration, university or immigration matters.

For registration and qualification requests, please contact the regulatory authority in your state or territory.

For employment related questions, please contact the relevant employer – this page may help you determine who to contact.