The term ‘good teacher’ is extremely personal, each person has had their own experience with a good and a bad teacher. These prior experiences have been what has shaped many people and more importantly how they feel regarding teaching and learning.

There are many different characteristics and skills needed in order to be a good teacher. Being a good teacher is not just about knowing the content and the students but also about the ability to create connections with staff, students and their parents/carers.

The skills needed to be a teacher are incredibly important to the overall experience in educating young people, along with skills there are a number of expectations placed onto teachers. One such expectation is the use of the Australian Professional Teacher Standards (AITSL, 2022), these standards are necessary to ensure that all teachers are meeting the requirements, and all young people are being educated by good teachers.

Overtime the expectations including rules and responsibilities of teachers have changed drastically, the prior rules included in 1879, “women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed” and in 1915 “you may not dress in bright colours” (Document - Newspaper Clipping, Rules for Teachers 1879 and 1915, 2025). These rules are greatly contrasted to the rules regarding personal life and now the problems concerning social media (NSW Department of Education, 2024), this code of conduct sets an example and supports the professional identity of those who work in the education sector.