Talk to many teachers and they will say they love their job and it is the best job in the world.
Why, then, is Australia suffering from a severe shortage of teachers?
Australia is currently facing a dire shortage of teachers.
Experts estimate that by next year, there will be 4,000 fewer graduates than the number of secondary teachers required nationwide.
There has also been an increase in the number of teachers leaving the profession early and entering workers’ compensation.
So what are the main issues that teachers face, and what can be done to attract more people to the industry?
What issues are teachers currently facing?
According to the OECD, Australian teachers work longer hours and receive less competitive salaries than other comparable countries. It says this is responsible for the national teacher shortage.
Indeed, the workload of teachers has only increased in recent years. Teachers report that they are now required to perform more administrative work. For example, they must keep detailed records of interactions with students, parents and reporting agencies. However, despite these increased requirements, the number of face-to-face teaching hours has remained the same. This has led to a situation where some teachers work 50 hours a week.
Violence and the behaviour of students are also a key concern for many teachers.
A study by Australian Catholic University revealed that 48 per cent of teachers reported witnessing violence. 54 per cent said they had been threatened with violence.
In addition, a study of Queensland teachers revealed that managing student behaviour was the number one concern of half of teachers. Some teachers reported being mentally, physically and emotionally abused by students. However, teachers reported that smaller behavioural issues also impeded their ability to perform their roles.
Many teachers also say some parents place unrealistic expectations on them. For example, they are expected to respond to emails early in the morning or late at night.
How do we attract more teachers to the profession?
Pay increases such as those recently announced by the NSW Government will help. The NSW Government recently announced that the state’s teachers would receive a 9 per cent pay increase over the next three years, with graduate teachers in the state the first to earn a six-figure salary. Research has suggested up to a third of Australians would consider a career in teaching if the salary was higher. However, experts say increased pay is not the only solution to addressing Australia’s shortage of teachers.
It is critical that teachers entering the industry are mentored and supported by their colleagues in their early years. Research indicates that teachers who don’t feel supported are more likely to leave the industry within their first five years.
Public perceptions of teaching need to change in order to attract more people to the industry. While all parents want their children to be taught by the best teachers, many parents don’t see teaching as an attractive profession for their children. Currently, only 1 in 3 parents want their child to become a teacher.
If teachers are expected to perform more administrative duties, additional support staff should be engaged to assist them with this. Administrative staff could be used to perform roles such as photocopying and planning excursions and school functions. This allows them to focus their attention on face-to-face teaching.
Despite the challenges teachers face, many still consider teaching to be a highly rewarding and satisfying career.
Are you looking for a teaching career? Public Service Resumes can help. We are pleased to offer various services tailored to teachers, including our resume and selection criteria writing service.
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Article References
Croll, V (13 May 2024) ‘One-third of Australians would switch to teaching if the salary was higher, survey finds‘, Courier Mail, accessed 12 November 2024.
Tuetsch, D (6 November 2024) ‘Teacher shortage: How to attract our best and brightest to the profession’, The Lighthouse (Macquarie University), accessed 12 November 2024.
Walden, M (15 October 2024) ‘Teachers cite violent, abusive behaviour among growing list of things making their jobs harder’, ABC News, accessed 12 November 2024.