The Federal Government has released its draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, including new spending to attract, train and retain teachers.

Australia is in the grips of a teacher shortage. The federal government projects a shortfall of more than 4,000 high school teachers by 2025, with shortages are being felt across the board, especially in rural and remote schools, and in maths and science. 

The government says it wants to focus on ways to build the respect and reputation of the profession, encourage more young people to become teachers, better prepare teachers for the classroom, tackle workload issues, and make sure governments have the right data.

It has pledged to fund actions including; 

  • $159 million to train more teachers,

  • $56 million for scholarships worth up to $40,000 each to encourage the best and brightest to become teachers,

  • $68 million to triple the number of mid-career professionals shifting into teaching,

  • $10 million to boost professional development,

  • $10 million on a campaign to raise the status of the teaching profession, and

  • a $25 million Teacher Workload Reduction Fund - to trial new ways to reduce the workload on teachers and maximise the time they have to teach.

But Education Minister Jason Clare says he wants feedback on the draft plan from teachers, principals, parents and the broader community.

“What do you think is right? What do you think is wrong? What should be in it and what should be taken out?” Mr Clare asks. 

“In December I will get together with State and Territory Education Ministers to go through all the feedback and sign off the plan,” he said. 

“This is a problem 10 years in the making and it will take time to fix.”

The Australian Education Union says it will consult with members across the country on the recommendations of the draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan.

AEU Deputy Federal President Meredith Peace said this is the first time a plan about teachers and their profession has gone to broad consultation for teachers to contribute to. 

“However, a draft National Plan alone will not fix the shortages being experienced in public schools across the nation,” Ms Peace said.

“AEU members have been reporting high levels of stress and burnout arising from low levels of professional recognition and respect, poor pay and conditions, unsustainably high workloads and inequitable funding for many, many years.

“The shortages we are seeing across the country are a direct result of ten years of neglect of public education by the previous federal government and their failure to recognise these concerns.”