AMI Teacher Training in Australia

AMI Teacher training in Australia commenced with the establishment of the Sydney Montessori Teachers College in 1983. The college was later renamed the Montessori Teachers College of Australia to reflect its national nature. Pat Hilson was the first Australian to become an AMI Director of Training and was involved in all six courses given by the College; first as course assistant, then as course coordinator and finally as Principal and Director of Training of the MTCA. 79 students graduated in all with the last course being held in Melbourne in 1993. The MTCA has since ceased to operate due partly to the sad and untimely death of Pat Hilson.

After a hiatus of several years a new initiative began to re-establish AMI teacher training in Australia. This initiative culminated with the establishment of AMTEF and the running of its inaugural course from 27 October 1999 to 13 August 2000 with Ms Shannon Helfrich as Director of Training. AMTEF owes a debt to Shannon and to the Montessori Institute Northwest (MINW) in Portland Oregon. MINW closed for a year so that Shannon could come to Australia to conduct AMTEF's first course. AMTEF has also run Australia's first Assistants to Infancy Course. Ms Silvia Carbone-Singh was Director of Training for the course that took place between June 2000 and August 2001. AMTEF also ran Australia's first Elementary (6-12) Training course in 2003 with Dr. Jean Miller as Director of Training.

Please see Course Schedule page for details of future courses.