Navigating Tricky Conversations: Handling Difficult Colleagues and Parents

In the fifth episode of our practical Q&A series for CRTs, we shift our focus from student behaviour to the other crucial relationships relief teachers must navigate: interactions with school staff and parents.

Schools are complex ecosystems where high pressure and miscommunication can easily lead to friction. As a CRT, you are often entering these dynamics with little background context, making it challenging to advocate for yourself or defuse tension on the spot. In this episode, our panel shares realistic advice and experience-based strategies for maintaining professionalism, setting boundaries, and managing difficult adult interactions.

What do you do if –

A regular staff member treats you with disrespect or dismisses your professional capability?

An anxious or confrontational parent challenges a decision you made during the day?

This series is designed to support CRTs with realistic advice, reassurance, and practical strategies that will help you handle challenging interactions with confidence and professionalism.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.1      Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2     Understand how students learn

2.1     Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area

2.5     Literacy and numeracy strategies

2.6     Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

3.4     Select and use resources

3.5     Use effective classroom communication

4.1     Support student participation         

4.2     Manage classroom activities

4.3     Manage challenging behaviour

4.4     Maintain student safety

4.5      Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethically

7.1     Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Helen, Sue and Terry meet with Tamara Howlett, Northeastern Melbourne Coordinator from the Navigator Program about supporting young people who have disengaged from education and helping them reconnect with learning, training, employment and future opportunities.

We explore the reasons students disengage, the importance of relationships and trust, and the practical role educators can play in supporting re-engagement.

A valuable conversation for CRTs, graduate teachers and school staff, reminding us that success isn't always about returning to the classroom—it's about helping young people reconnect with a positive pathway forward.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.2  Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2 Understand how students learn

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation         

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Help! How do I control this class?

In this episode of our practical Q&A series for CRTs, we tackle one of the most common and daunting challenges in relief teaching: behaviour management and maintaining control.

Schools are dynamic, fast-moving, and often unpredictable environments, and walking into a new classroom can sometimes feel like stepping into a whirlwind. In this episode, our panel discusses proactive strategies to prevent chaos before it starts, followed by practical, experience-based responses to real-life scenarios that can derail a lesson in seconds.

What do you do if –

• A student has a loud emotional meltdown during a transition?
• A group of students challenges your authority with sarcasm and refusal?
• The class becomes noisy and unfocused during independent work?

This series is designed to support CRTs with realistic advice, reassurance, and actionable strategies that can be applied immediately to keep your classroom calm, focused, and under control.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.1      Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2     Understand how students learn

2.1     Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area

2.5     Literacy and numeracy strategies

2.6     Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

3.4     Select and use resources

3.5     Use effective classroom communication

4.1     Support student participation         

4.2     Manage classroom activities

4.3     Manage challenging behaviour

4.4     Maintain student safety

4.5      Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethically

7.1     Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we take a step back from the day-to-day of relief teaching to look at the broader landscape - how Victorian classrooms, students, and school culture have shifted dramatically over the past decade. For CRTs, understanding these changes isn't just interesting background; it's directly relevant to what you encounter the moment you walk through the door.

We explore how the role of schools has expanded well beyond delivering curriculum content, now encompassing mental health support, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practice, and inclusion in all its forms. We look at how parent expectations have changed, why student behaviour is increasingly complex, and how technology and social media have created new challenges that follow students into the classroom. We also discuss the rise of school refusal, the shift toward evidence-based teaching, and the growing emphasis on student voice and relationships over rules and consequences.

For CRTs, these shifts mean that success in the classroom today requires far more than keeping students on task. This episode is designed to give relief teachers the context they need to make sense of what they're seeing — and to feel more confident and prepared in an ever-changing environment.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2 Understand how students learn

2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area

2.5 Literacy and numeracy strategies

2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

3.4 Select and use resources

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation         

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

4.5 Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethically

7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third episode of our practical Q&A series for CRTs, we answer more real-life questions sent in by teachers.

Schools are dynamic, fast-moving and often unpredictable environments, and CRTs are regularly required to make immediate decisions with little context and no time to prepare. In this episode, we explore some of the everyday challenges relief teachers face and offer practical, experience-based responses drawn from years in classrooms. 

What do you do if:

• The class keeps comparing you to their regular teacher? 
• A student refuses to come into a classroom?
• You are teaching out of your area – can you be credible?
• A student keeps needing your attention?

This series is designed to support CRTs with realistic advice, reassurance and strategies that can be applied immediately in real classrooms.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2 Understand how students learn

2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area

2.5 Literacy and numeracy strategies

2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

3.4 Select and use resources

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation         

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

4.5 Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethically

7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join in as we chat with Cara Macfarlane, Assistant Principal from Vermont Secondary College to explore her journey from graduate teacher to school leader and gain an insider's perspective on what helps schools thrive.

We gain insight into the school culture, student success, leadership and the qualities that make relief teachers the first choice for future bookings. This episode is packed with practical insights and thoughtful reflections from someone who has successfully navigated every stage of the profession.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2 Understand how students learn

2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No two days of relief teaching are ever the same, and sometimes the most challenging situations arise when CRTs least expect them. From difficult parent interactions and last-minute timetable changes to student incidents and unexpected school procedures, adaptability is an essential skill for relief teachers.

In this episode, we continue exploring common “What happens if…” scenarios that CRTs may encounter in schools and provide practical strategies for responding professionally, confidently and calmly under pressure.

We also discuss the importance of communication, problem-solving and understanding school expectations when navigating unfamiliar situations, helping relief teachers feel more prepared for the realities of day-to-day CRT work.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.2 Understand how students learn

3.3 Use teaching strategies

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice

7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relief teaching can be incredibly rewarding — but it can also be one of the most challenging roles in education. From constantly adapting to new environments to managing behaviour, building relationships quickly and handling uncertainty, CRTs are often expected to perform under pressure with very little preparation time.

In this episode, we explore why relief teaching can feel so difficult, the hidden pressures many CRTs experience and the realities of working across different schools, classrooms and student cohorts.

We also discuss strategies for building confidence, developing resilience and recognising the value CRTs bring to schools every day. This episode aims to reassure relief teachers that many of the challenges they face are shared experiences across the profession.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2 Understand how students learn

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice

6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice

7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every CRT eventually faces unexpected situations in the classroom — from student behaviour incidents and missing lesson plans to technology issues, emergencies and difficult conversations with staff or students.

In this episode, we explore a range of common “What happens if…” scenarios that relief teachers may encounter during a school day and discuss practical ways to respond calmly, professionally and confidently.

We also look at the importance of adaptability, communication and problem-solving when navigating unfamiliar environments, while offering strategies to help CRTs feel more prepared for the unpredictable nature of relief teaching.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.2 Understand how students learn

3.3 Use teaching strategies

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice

7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burnout is one of the biggest challenges facing educators and CRTs alike — especially when balancing unpredictable workloads, difficult classroom environments and the pressure to constantly perform at a high level.

In this episode, we explore the warning signs of burnout, why it is so common in education, and the impact it can have on both professional performance and personal wellbeing.

We also discuss practical strategies for protecting your energy, maintaining healthy boundaries, managing stress and creating sustainable habits that support long-term success in the classroom. Whether you are new to CRT work or an experienced educator, this episode provides valuable insights into maintaining balance while continuing to support students effectively.

Professional Development Opportunity

Professional learning may include:

•seminars, conferences, workshops and online learning

•collegiate meetings and professional conversations focused on improving practice and outcomes for learners

•participation in education-related boards, committees or panels.

This episode focuses on:

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2 Understand how students learn

4.1 Support student participation

4.2 Manage classroom activities

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice

6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice

7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities

Looking for work?

Submit your CV

Looking for quality teachers?

If you would like to use Tradewind’s teachers in your school, please call 1800 192 195 or send your details to us and we will be in contact shortly.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.