“100% just jump in:” Alex and Flynn on their shared journey to teaching

3 November 2026

Meet Alex and Flynn. They’ve been together for three years, graduated from university last year and are both now training to go straight into teaching. What’s more, they’re both training in their former high schools, each with a mentor who was once their high school teacher.

Flynn always planned to teach.

“I’ve played sports since I was about five. Through PE at school I realised I found the bones and muscles really fascinating, and I thought, I actually want to teach this. So my sporting background was a huge influence in my decision to be a teacher.”

Flynn went from high school straight into a degree in sport and recreation, majoring in health and PE. He’s now training to teach PE to Years 7-13., and has been pretty pleased to see the progress of his Year 7 class.

“I can quiz them now and they’ll name almost every bone in the human body.”

For Alex, who studied graphic design at university and is training to be a secondary school Visual Arts teacher, a part-time job working with children planted the idea. “I saw how my interactions made a difference in their lives, and I thought teaching would give me that feeling in a more educational sense.”

Her highlight so far? Growing in confidence and her relationships with students. "It's been really great to make an impact on some of the students and see their relationship with me develop positively as a result.”

During her away placement, she saw the hesitancy of her Year 9 students fall away as the programme went on. “It really affirmed my experience as a teacher because I felt like I was helping them try new things and challenge themselves and I saw a lot of progress. I really felt like I was making a difference.”

Both chose TTI for its hands-on model. Alex had been weighing up a few providers and went along to a TTI Information Session with Flynn. “I was pretty much convinced after that. The lecturers were really invested in student wellbeing.”

“Unlike other unis where you’re at a school for eight weeks at a time, you’re there for the full year,” adds Flynn. “I find it so cool to get behind the scenes at the school and be a part of that community for the whole year.”

The time management required to juggle assignments, lesson plans, slides, part-time work and a social life has been challenging for the pair. Both work part time in the weekends, but say the bursary has helped to take the financial pressure off [in 2027 all SOTP trainees receive a bursary of $20,660].

Both are now training alongside teachers who once taught them.

“My mentor is my old PE teacher,” says Flynn. “He gives me feedback on everything I do. Sometimes I’m like, do I need feedback? But he knows it’s the best thing for me. I've learned so much. He's just been the best legend to be part partnered with.’”

Alex’s mentor has offered feedback and emotional support. “When I’ve had a rough lesson or a lot going on, it’s been really nice to rely on him. Being on the other side, I can see the reasons behind how things were done when I was a student.”

On training side by side, Alex values having someone she knows and trusts to talk to about the challenges and the fun opportunities. Flynn agrees. “If I ever have trouble on an assessment, I can go to Alex and say, ‘Hey, where’s your head at?’ It’s good to have a backup person to do it with.”

Their advice for anyone considering teaching?

“Definitely do it,” says Alex. “You’re making a positive impact on children’s lives and

becoming a more well-rounded person. I’d 100% just say jump in.”