The TLN is pleased to be able to recommend to member schools and early childhood centres consultants who are able to work on their internal professional development program.

Workplaces may wish to use these consultants:

• to run an internal program for the whole staff;
• to conduct a sequence of courses with staff;
• to work with an individual or small group of staff;
• as a source of expert opinion on a complex issue;
• to provide motivation and renewal for staff at a staff meeting or PD day;     
• or for any other purpose designed to improve the quality of teaching and learning, leadership or school organisation.

These consultants have agreed with the TLN to have their contact details provided to schools for the Consultant program

The Referral

When contacted by a TLN member, the TLN staff will provide the contact details and in many cases a resume for the listed consultant. TLN staff may also provide insights into the strengths of a particular consultant and comment on the match between the consultant and the expressed needs of the workplace.

The nature and scope of the program is agreed between the workplace and the consultant.

The Financial Arrangements

The financial arrangements for each referral are a direct agreement between the school and the consultant. The school is responsible for meeting the fee of the consultant for any work for which he/she is engaged.

The TLN does earn a brokerage fee from the consultant for any income derived as a result of a referral by TLN staff. This fee is 10% of the income earned by the consultant as a result of the referral. The TLN does not charge the school for the service provided and the service is only provided to members. The TLN runs as a not-for-profit and any earnings arising from the brokerage fee are used to keep TLN membership prices and course fees to a minimum.

The ‘full service model’

The TLN also welcomes the opportunity to work directly with workplaces on a whole school professional development program.

If you have identified your professional development needs then the TLN staff may be able to recommend consultants or programs that will help meet those needs. TLN staff will then do the ‘legwork’ to book consultants and if needed venues, equipment, catering and printing of resources to ensure that your in-school program runs smoothly and efficiently and the professional development meets the objectives set by the school.

The TLN will only provide this service to members and will charge on a cost recovery basis for the service. TLN staff time is charged at $50 per hour. The TLN fee for this ‘full service’ would not normally exceed 10% of the total cost of the program.

A typical ‘full service model’ might look like this for ‘Smith College’

1.     TLN staff meet with school representatives to discuss identified professional development needs, school charter priorities, staff culture and school climate and objectives for a ‘three day program’;

2.     TLN staff identify and meet with three consultants to deliver the PD program;

3.     TLN staff prepare a draft program for each day and meet with College staff to have this approved;

4.     TLN staff organise an off-site venue with equipment eg data projector, interactive whiteboard, and catering;

5.     TLN staff prepare relevant notes and welcome packs for staff;

6.     TLN staff ensure that the venue is prepared and all activities occur; and

7.     TLN staff to collate evaluations and prepare a report for the school.

If the consultants, venue, equipment, catering and printing for the three days cost $5500, then the TLN fee would not exceed $550 (and could be less depending on time and printing costs).

Areas of Expertise

• Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS)
• Assessment and Reporting
• Individual Teacher Performance
• Classroom Management and Behaviour Management
• Health and Wellbeing
• ·School Culture, Leadership and Change
• Early Childhood and Early Years