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Social and Emotional Learning in pre-service teacher education

The University of Southern Queensland course for pre-service teachers

The recent inclusion of a compulsory unit on social and emotional wellbeing in teacher training education at the University of Southern Queensland acknowledges the critical link between wellbeing and learning. Students engage with evidence that underscores the importance of understanding not only how to teach the curriculum but how to embed social and emotional learning in their classroom practice.

Good teachers know that it's not enough to cultivate students' academic skills alone. Learning is optimised when schools actively teach and embed social and emotional competencies to build resilience, self and social awareness, relationships skills and empathy - essential for the wellbeing of everyone in the school community.

  • learn more about the course
  • listen to pre-service teachers discuss the value of the course
  • find practical ways to use the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework and the School Wellbeing Check tool in teacher training courses.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Contemporary Secondary School Contexts

Lecturer Nicole Brownlie outlines the compulsory Social and Emotional Wellbeing course for pre-service teachers. Watch as Nicole and her pre-service teachers explore the importance of the Social and Emotional Learning and Wellbeing.

Meet the pre-service teachers

Why they've chosen to join the teaching profession

Future teachers share the reasons they decided on a teaching career and outline how they hope to make a difference in the lives of students they will teach.

The Framework and the School Wellbeing Check

Support and resources for Pre-service teachers

The Student Wellbeing Hub is a rich resource for pre-service teachers on a range of wellbeing topics. The Social and Emotional Wellbeing course includes modules on Bullying and Mental and Physical Health. Nicole outlines how the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework and the School Wellbeing Check are integrated into the course and her students' major assignment.

Pre-service modules

Explore two modules from the Social and Emotional Wellbeing course

What pre-service teachers are saying...

"I encourage students to draw upon their own unique experiences and backgrounds…to highlight that difference is accepted and encouraged…and so students feel supported and safe within the classroom and foster positive relationships with others"

Emma (Student)

"I need to be prepared for the unexpected…to ensure I support the students’ social and emotional wellbeing within the classroom…"

Ryan (Student)

"For students to feel socially and emotionally well within the classroom, it's important that all students are supported according to their needs. The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework is a great starting point for teachers"

Louise (Student)

"I want to be a teacher who...genuinely cares about [their] learning and welfare and provides students with a greater opportunity to succeed academically, emotionally and socially"

Sophie (Student)

School placement assignment

Social and Emotional Wellbeing course

Learn how students apply their knowledge of the course content, the Framework and the School Wellbeing Check to an analysis of their placement schools' approaches to wellbeing.

Find more details of the major school placement assignment for pre-service teacher education in the course assessment booklet.

Exploring school wellbeing - Part 1

Using the Framework to explore school placement

As part of their major assignment, pre-service teachers use the School Wellbeing Check tool to highlight an Element from the Framework to explore their placement school's approach to wellbeing. They make recommendations for possible ways to strengthen areas of weakness.

Exploring school wellbeing - Part 2

As part of their major assignment, pre-service teachers use the School Wellbeing Check tool to highlight an Element from the Framework to explore their placement school's approach to wellbeing. They make recommendations for possible ways to strengthen areas of weakness.

Why it's essential for teacher training education

Hear students talk about what they've gained from the Social and Emotional Wellbeing course

The Social and Emotional Wellbeing course has equipped them to teach more effectively and to look after their own wellbeing.

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