Ours is the Best Profession in the World:
Unpacking the Essence of Teaching
Good morning colleagues, and especially to all our early career teachers.
It is a privilege to stand with you today as a fellow member of our wonderful profession – perhaps the noblest of professions.
I want to begin with a simple but profound acknowledgment: we have the opportunity and the privilege to make a positive difference in the lives of young people daily. What an honour.
Each of you brings something unique to this profession—your talents, your perspectives and your way of being in the world. In the words of a giant of our profession, Emeritus Professor Frank Crowther AM, these are your personal pedagogical gifts or PPG’s. Our commitment is not only to use those gifts, but to help you nurture and develop them over time.
Teaching is, at its core, a deeply human endeavour.
We may teach subjects, ideas, and skills—but above all, we teach young people. And that means we work in relationship. Relationship that requires attentiveness, empathy, and a willingness to truly see those in our care. As Parker Palmer reminds us, good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher. We teach who we are. Some refer to this as pedagogical love – it sounds pretty spot on to me.
Importantly we also inherit a rich body of knowledge and practice from those who have come before us. Our responsibility is to draw from it—and to contribute to it—so that our profession continues to grow in wisdom and in humanity. In many respects our work is all about custodianship. Our job is to leave things better than we found them. Not an easy gig.
In doing all of this, it is also important to recognise individual difference. An essential component of our professional ‘eye’ is to recognise that young people learn in different ways and at different speeds. Our commitment is to hold firmly to the belief that, with the right support, every young person can learn—and more importantly, can come to love learning.
This belief shapes how we teach, and how we assess. We strive for assessment that is valid, reliable, and fair—but we also honour what cannot be easily measured: curiosity, resilience, character, laughter, fun, exhilaration, disappointment and a sense of belonging. We have all learned that results are only one measure. Much of what we do cannot be measured.
None of this work is done alone.
Teaching is a collaborative profession. Our work is strengthened through our colleagues and enriched through our partnerships with parents and caregivers. Together, we contribute to something larger than any one classroom.
In a world that is currently so fragmented and uncertain, teaching is a profession that builds connection—between people, between generations, and most importantly through the interrogation of ideas.
We can offer young people optimism, resilience, and a belief that their lives have purpose and possibility. We can make hope possible in a world so often marked by despair. And to do that well, we must remain learners ourselves—committed to growing, to questioning, and to adapting in a changing world. Never stop asking questions. You will learn that sometimes the most powerful question is simply ‘why’?
Finally, we must recognise the trust placed in us.
To be a teacher is to be entrusted—by our young people, by our families, and by society—with something of profound importance. In accepting that trust, we accept the responsibility to act with integrity, care, and professional judgement. Mistakes are made and it is important to learn from them.
So as we continue our journey, I invite you to see teaching not simply as a job, but as a vocation—one grounded in relationship, sustained by community, and shaped by hope.
It is about showing up, with integrity and care, in the lives of our young people—every day – sometimes this is not easy.
Quite a few years ago I received a card from one of my students. She didn’t have the best of times at school – I never quite understood why. It said simply … thank you Mr Addison you taught me much about economics but you taught me much more about kindness! It was the best Christmas present I could get! I framed it and it is on my desk at home. Its fading now and is now difficult to read. It will always be emblazoned on my heart.
Thank you for being here and thank you for being teachers. It is the best profession in the world.
References
Lingard, B. Hayes, D. Mills, M. and Christie, P. (2003). Leading Learning: Making Hope Practical in Schools. Maidenhead.
In memory of Mr Ken Symonds: Teacher, Coach and Leader
Ken Symonds was for many years the Head of the Senior School and then Chief of Staff at All Saints Anglican School on the Gold Coast. He was a master teacher, fanatical sports coach and the preserver and defender of all that is good about our profession. Ken always listened to, engaged and noticed this young teacher.