Course Overview

The High School Teaching Foundation Program (HTF) is designed to support educators who seek to expand beyond traditional methods of education, placing the adolescent’s unique needs at the centre of the learning process and empowering teachers to inspire growth, resilience, and self-discovery during this pivotal stage of life, with a focus on fostering human potential, nurturing empathy and connection, and cultivating a life-long love of learning.

This is a one-year course, delivered part-time and online via weekly lectures during term time. Attendance at the Pedagogical Section’s in-person High School Seminar is an additional requirement of this course.

In consideration of the pressures placed on high school teachers, the course has been designed to ensure that students are able to complete the coursework while maintaining a full-time teaching position, and supports the transition from mainstream to Steiner Education.

On successful completion of the course, Students will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Pedagogical Section, Sydney Rudolf Steiner College, and the Tutors.

No prior learning or teaching qualification is required for enrolment in this course however, a relevant Australian tertiary qualification is required for teaching at any level in education in Australia.

About the Tutors

Michaël Merle has been a long-term Waldorf teacher in South Africa, a teacher trainer for many years, a member of the International Forum for Steiner/Waldorf Education and is much appreciated as a whole school mentor across Africa and increasingly in Australia. His expertise in deepening the work of teachers comes from a lifelong study of the world, its cultural/spiritual history, and the art of teaching. Michaël has had a collegial association with Newcastle Waldorf School since 2018, through which he has collaborated alongside Sophia Montefiore and, more recently, with SRSC to develop a comprehensive Steiner/Waldorf High School Foundation course supported by the Pedagogical Section in Australia.

Sophia Montefiore has been a Waldorf teacher for over 25 years and is currently the Senior HSC Coordinator at the Newcastle Waldorf School. She teaches a range of High School subjects including English, History, Mathematics, Projective Geometry, Art and Philosophy. Sophia is an exhibiting artist and published illustrator and has written peer-reviewed pedagogical journal articles on Projective Geometry including for the Journal for Waldorf/Rudolf Steiner Education (Vol 20, Sept 2018). Sophia has also conducted Projective Geometry workshops around Australia as well as in India and the UK.

Career Path and Employment

This Steiner/Waldorf High School teacher training course is recognised and supported by the Pedagogical Section in Australia.

On successful completion of the course, Students will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Pedagogical Section, Sydney Rudolf Steiner College, and the Tutors.

Employment prospects both here and internationally are excellent for our students.

There is an ever-increasing demand for qualified Steiner/ Waldorf High School teachers as Steiner Education continues to expand in Australia and throughout the world. At present, there are over 40 Steiner Schools (including State schools with Steiner Streams) in Australia requiring on average 2 or more new Steiner Teachers each year. There are currently over 1,100 Steiner schools worldwide in 64 different countries and nearly 2,000 Early Years settings in more than 70 countries.

Please be aware that an Australian tertiary qualification is required for teaching professionally at any level of education in Australia.

Course Requirements

Online Lectures

Course content presented online over 4 terms, with one weekly webinar for 7 weeks per term

Assignments

Assignments are given throughout the course (these support students’ understanding and are manageable within the course timeframe)

In-Person Intensive

Attendance at the annual Teacher Intensives held in January at Newcastle Waldorf School is required

Blackboard Drawing

Blackboard Drawing – a recorded self-paced course accessible through SRSC

Annual course fee: A$2,200

Payment options:
Full fee: $2,200 (with 5% discount if paid by 10th December 2025)
Termly Fee: $550 (x4)

Please note that your first payment must be made to secure your place. This amount will be deducted from your total course fees. The next invoice will be due in February 2026, unless you have paid the full course fee upfront.

Note:
Attendance at the High School Intensive in Newcastle is not included in the Annual Course Fee.
Registration and payment for this must be processed through the Pedagogical Section in Australia

Refunds and Cancellation Policy