Teacher Mentoring Program
Exclusive and expert support for your teaching.
The Fighting Extinction Schools Teacher Mentoring Program provides comprehensive support for your curriculum. Your Zoos Victoria mentor, an education expert, will provide up to 20 hours of support through video meetings, phone calls and emails.
This popular and exclusive program can help you with:
- wildlife conservation projects
- units of work and lesson planning
- using Zoos Victoria teaching and learning resources
Wildlife conservation projects
Your mentor will help you identify real opportunities for wildlife conservation projects that match your students' capability and interests. This might include:
- Improving the natural environment
- Collecting real data to inform scientific research
- Building your community's awareness and connection to wildlife
- Improving social and economic systems
- Developing new ideas that improve Zoos Victoria’s conservation work
- Fundraising for wildlife projects
Application process
Applications open in March each year and mentoring takes place at the relevant time during the school term.
Any Victorian teacher from the Early Childhood, primary or secondary sectors can apply. Places are limited and the process is competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to commonly asked questions.
Your mentor will be one of our fully qualified Zoo Teachers, all of whom have experience in the classroom and designing conservation linked projects. You can learn more about our teaching team here.
Your Zoo Teacher Mentor will provide you with a range of flexible wildlife conservation project to best match the needs of your students and curriculum.
Successful applications will be matched to Mentors with the most complementary experience and knowledge for the proposed project.
This program is exclusively for Zoos Victoria members. You are welcome to become a member in order to apply for this program, and access a range of other member benefits.
Your Mentor will not be working directly with your students. They will provide you with access to zoo videos and other resources so that you can create awesome experiences for your students.
Each Mentor has a maximum of 20 hours over the mentoring program to work with you. Use of this time is negotiable with your Mentor based on your needs and their availability. Your Mentor will ensure you are getting support during key moments of your wildlife conservation project.
Teachers from all over Victoria can be part of the program because the program is designed to be flexible. You and your Mentor will discuss how best to meet, which can include video conferencing, phone calls, emails or face-to-face meetings.
If a project design finishes early, your Mentor will still be available to work with you on the program as you reflect on your practice and plan for future improvements.
Email Zoos Victoria's Fighting Extinction Schools Coordinator - feschool@zoo.org.au