Anonymous #111

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #111

Where are you located?

Western Australia

What type of area do you live in?

Metropolitan

Are you an education professional?
(e.g. teacher, school leader, learning support assistant, teacher’s aide)

Yes

Which sector do you work in?

Secondary

What is your occupation?

Teacher

Elevating the profession

The actions proposed recognise the value teachers bring to students, communities and the economy.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Initiatives like NSW's "Teaching Opens Doors Campaign" are fantastic, but need to be supported by real examples of how teacher salaries and benefits are keeping commensurate with the implied importance of the role. Recognition needs to go beyond words; actions speak louder.

Lead/expert teacher salaries are an obvious target. At the upper end, NT lead teacher salaries reach $165k. This sort of renumeration should be reflected country wide, not just in the NT.

Salaries increases year on year should exceed (not just match) CPI.

If fixing upon this particular item seems cliched, that's because it's a low hanging fruit with immediate (and long term re: teacher retention, better student outcomes) benefits that is recognised by every teacher currently in service - and of course, the ones that have left the industry.

Improving teacher supply

The actions proposed will be effective in increasing the number of students entering ITE, number of students completing ITE and the number of teachers staying in and/or returning to the profession.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Again, excellent.

Bursaries should be increased - as it stands, they *may* cover the cost of training, but nothing beyond.

Regarding point 8, at least in WA, teacher benefits for working rurally simply do not "make up" for the mental cost of working in a difficult to staff rural school. Improvements to school processes and more comprehensive initiatives are more likely to assist with teacher retention in these locations.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

The actions proposed will ensure initial teacher education supports teacher supply and quality.

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Maximising the time to teach

The actions proposed will improve retention and free up teachers to focus on teaching and collaboration.

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

This is an excellent initiative, and any actions undertaken in regard to this point should be reflected in any "Elevating the profession"-related advertising campaigns, as it demonstrates that the Department is responsive to teacher experiences and views on the profession.

Many teachers "take their work home", or work more effectively on class planning, marking, etc when not in the busy school environment. DOTT should reflect this, allowing for late start / early finish where DOTT falls on the first or final period of the day, or should otherwise offer more flexibility.

Better understanding future teacher workforce needs

How effective are the proposed actions in better understanding future teacher workforce needs, including the number of teachers required?

Moderately effective

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

To point 23: overworked, underpaid.

Benefits to HELP repayments would be appreciated.

Better career pathways to support and retain teachers in the profession

The proposed actions will improve career pathways, including through streamlining the process for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) accreditation, and providing better professional support for teachers to retain them in the profession.

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?