Tuition centres in Australia can now apply for accreditation, giving parents clearer choices in education support for their children.

The Australian Tutoring Association has long been the recognised organisation for tutoring centres, providing membership and resources to their applicants. In 2013 the ATA partnered with Accredited Tutor to provide a measuring tool for the assessment of tutors and tuition centres according to standards of training, background checks, best practice and a code of conduct. According to the ATA, Australia is leading the way, with similar standards only otherwise available in the U.S.A.

My Academy in Claremont is the first and currently the only centre in Western Australia to be accredited. Director Rachel Hayes felt this was an important move to clarify why they are the tuition centre of choice in Perth. ‘It’s not that we’re doing things differently than before,’ Ms Hayes explains. ‘It’s that being accredited means we can more easily be recognised as an education service doing things exceptionally well.’

My Academy is recognised for their qualified primary school teachers, experienced high school specialists who were top-performers in their own studies, and an extensive exam preparation programme, including being the go-to centre for scholarship-entrance exam applicants. Ms Hayes graduated from Oxford University with Honours and has completed a Master of Education in Early Childhood and a second Masters in Special Learning Needs.

Tutor accreditation is not currently mandated in Australia. If you see the Accredited Tutor logo when next searching for a tutor, you will know the centre complies with current Australian standards of tutor training and best practice.

Rachel Hayes