Request accessible format of this publication.
Priority areas
What are priority areas
NESA Accredited Professional Development (PD) courses are aligned to prescribed priority areas.
Priority areas are areas of teaching practice that are a priority for all NSW teachers’ ongoing professional growth. NSW teachers must complete PD in these areas to maintain their accreditation.
There are mandatory priority areas and an optional priority area.
Teachers must complete at least 1 NESA Accredited PD course from each mandatory area:
- delivery and assessment of the NSW Curriculum/Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)
- student/child mental health
- students/children with a disability
- Aboriginal education and supporting Aboriginal students/children.
They may also complete NESA Accredited PD in the optional priority area:
- leadership to support the learning outcomes of students/children.
If your course aligns to more than 1 priority area
You can only select 1 priority area for each course. Choose the priority area that fits best. To help you decide:
- Use the NESA content criteria below.
- Identify the aspects and Standard Descriptors that align with the course.
- Ensure your course meets the mandatory features.
NESA content criteria
The NESA content criteria describe the eligible content for each priority area in specific detail across each career stage.
NESA Accredited PD courses can only be accredited for 1 priority area and 1 career stage. The alignment of a course to a priority area is assessed within Principles 1 and 2 of the principles of effective professional learning.
Career stages represent increasing levels of knowledge, practice and professional engagement for teachers. The Standards describe career stages and the evidence required for accreditation.