Music in Me: Western Australia

Music in me operates nationally, promoting quality music education in classrooms across remote, regional, and metropolitan Australia. Experienced K-6 music teachers (mentors) collaborate with participating teachers (mentees) in their classrooms, building confidence, skills, and practices in delivering enriching music experiences for students.

Music in Me:

• focuses on team-teaching lessons co-designed by the mentor and mentees
• provides flexible delivery negotiated between the mentor and mentees
• does not require specialised equipment or prior knowledge
• empowers teachers to confidently embed musical content into their regular teaching practice
• is linked to the Western Australian Curriculum

Music in Me provides participating teachers (mentees) with:

• personalised professional learning delivered in their classroom
• skills and confidence to deliver musical learning experiences
• expert support and mentoring from an experienced K-6 classroom music teacher
• co-designed planning, programming and assessment strategies
• a range of resources and practices to embed across the curriculum
• access to a supportive community of mentees and mentors
• hours may be recorded as Professional Learning for registration purposes

Music in Me provides mentors with opportunities for:

• sharing and modelling meaningful music education practices
• improved leadership skills
• networking with other teachers around WA
• training and development, with masterclasses delivered online
• ongoing support with optional online mentor sessions
• access to emerging department and other music resources
• engagement with a supportive community of mentees and mentors
• the mentor online learning is designed to align with AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers and can be recorded as Professional Learning hours for registration purposes

Every second year, all mentors attend an in-person national conference – in 2025 this will be in Sydney, with all travel and accommodation expenses covered by the national Music in Me program.

In alternate years mentors complete specially designed online learning modules through our new digital platform providing unique tailored professional learning to upskill new mentors, we now have the capacity to implement the program at any time, and in any regional or remote area, once a prospective mentor has been identified.

The cost for delivering a program of mentoring through Music in Me is funded by participating schools, with support by ASME WA as assessed and required. The Music in Me program through the Australian Youth Orchestra sets the strategy, funds the training of mentors, provides Lead Mentors to support implementation and present additional professional learning, develops resources and evaluates the Program, funded by the Commonwealth government and private support. ASME WA work with the national team to manage local co-ordination and mentor selection, and schools fund the mentor’s participation.

A program of mentoring has been designed for new WA participants in terms 2-3 2025:

‘Welcome to Mentoring’

Across two school terms, this program proposes 10 visits by the mentor, to the mentee’s school:

Step 1: Participants confirmed, matched with local Mentor.
Mentor completes professional learning (online modules OR in person conference).

Session 1 – planning, goal setting, resource sharing.

Session 2 – Mentor presents demonstration lesson.

Session 3 – team teaching, mentor observes and provides feedback.

Session 4 – lesson presentation – team teaching, observing, feedback.

Session 5 – Mid-program reflection, revision of goals.

Session 6 – 9 Mentoring program continues: observation of mentor in their classroom, team teaching, mentor observes teacher, feedback.

Session 10 – Evaluation meeting at participating school. Review of achievements, complete program evaluation surveys.

Mentor sessions accrue 0.25-day casual relief days per session per teacher, therefore a single teacher’s professional learning cost is 3 casual relief days across the year. Considering the current notional salary daily rate, this is a total of $1,922.

This model is most effective and efficient when the mentor is supporting more than teacher in the school – ideally they will work individually for 90 minutes with each mentee, spending a half day or more on site per visit. This may vary pending travel time, the number of teachers being mentored, and the addition of further collaboration or external professional learning.

If a remote school, the mentor/mentee time is shared between a remote online model with full day visits once or twice a term. WA Coordinator will work with the school to design a program that addresses your needs.

• Landsdale Primary School
• Poynter Primary School
• Baynton West Primary School (Karratha)
• Millars Well Primary School (Karratha)
• Roebuck Primary School (Broome)
• Broome Primary School (Broome)

• Alkimos Primary School
• Ardross Primary School
• Ballajura Primary School
• Baynton West Primary School
• City Beach Primary School
• Clarkson Primary School
• Coorow Primary School
• Dampier Primary School (Karratha)
• Duncraig Primary School
• East Victoria Park Primary School
• Harmony Primary School
• Heathridge Primary School
• Karratha Primary School
• Karrinyup Primary School
• Koorow Primary School
• Landsdale Primary School
• Lockyer Community Kindergarten
• Marri Grove Primary School
• Millars Well Primary School
• Moora Primary School
• Mount Barker Community College
• Nedlands Primary School
• Norseman Primary School
• North Perth Primary School
• Pannawonica District High School
• Paraburdoo Primary School
• Poynter Primary School
• Roebuck Primary School
• South Coogee Primary School
• South Kalgoorlie Primary School
• Subiaco Primary School
• Tuart Hill Primary School
• Warriapendi Primary School
• Wembley Primary School
• Yakamia Primary School (Albany)

Application information:

• only one application is required per school (up to 4 applicants can apply per application)
• principal approval is required to apply
• schools who have previously participated in the program are encouraged to reapply
• all school contexts will be considered, with preference given to schools with 2 or more participating teachers.

To apply:

• read the information on this page
• complete the application form

Successful applicants will be provided with more detailed information in the program acceptance paperwork.

For further information please contact Amanda Herriman, State Coordinator and Lead Mentor for Music in Me in Western Australia via email: mandyherriman@ayo.com.au