Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia

Submitter information

Name

Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia

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)

No

Elevating the profession

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

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

The proposed targeted campaign to raise the status of the profession is an important and long overdue initiative. It would be helpful if there was a more proactive response from Government (as employers of teachers), Teacher Unions, sector groups (such as Catholic Education, Independent School Association) and Principal groups when negative and inaccurate reports appear in the media. While the proposed campaign is welcomed, this needs to be sustained that focuses public attention on the importance of teachers and the teaching workforce. The suggestion for annual teacher awards and potential nominations for Order of Australia awards may not bring about the intended consequences. Teachers’ work is very much collaborative and collegial, and individual awards, much like performance pay, has the potential to be divisive. Further suggestions include:
1. Security of employment, increased remuneration for teachers
2. Financial incentives for teachers who achieve HALT status
3. Review of HALT status criteria as it is currently onerous to obtain and anecdotal evidence from teachers indicates that this is a deterrent, especially as various systems have their own levels, such as senior teachers in Western Australia.
4. Leadership roles in classrooms be developed as career opportunities for teachers. This might include coaching and mentoring colleagues and PSTs. This might address career opportunities for teachers that does not require quality teachers to exit the classroom to take up leadership roles

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.

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

The suggestion of additional places and bursaries is welcomed. To increase the number of students entering ITE courses as well as to attract teachers back to the profession we suggest consideration of the following:
1. Offer scholarships or stipends for PSTs during the course of their studies, particularly during Placement.
2. Increase the minimum number of placement days to 80 in a postgraduate course and provide funding to reflect this increase for both schools and universities.
3. Offer more flexible options with regards to professional placement.
4. Offer returning teachers a reimbursement of their Working with Children Check, National Criminal record check and Registration fees.
5. Educational Assistants to be available for all classrooms so teachers can focus on their core work.
6. Clear and transparent criteria for HALT status, including a requirement of mentoring PSTs.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

We strongly support the need to strengthen ITE pathways and courses. In consideration of this, we suggest the following:
1. That ITE courses prepare graduates to be profession-ready.
2. Reconsider the over-regulation of ITE courses.
3. Review the AITSL standards and ensure these are ‘fit for purpose’. For example, the requirement for a professional learning plan and to identify professional development needs ought to be a requirement after 1 year in the teaching workforce.
4. Reconsider the graduate standards for Professional Engagement. If they could be streamlined, ITE providers would be able to spend more time on teaching Professional Knowledge and Professional Practice.
5. LANTITE: consider the financial impact on students with low incomes.
6. LANTITE: The Test is based on speed; 65 questions in 2 hours, and there is an absence of evidence that LANTITE meets acceptable testing and assessment requirements.
7. Offer more than one way for ITE students to demonstrate they meet literacy and numeracy standards. For example, having successfully completed ATAR English and/or ATAR Maths, or equivalent.
8. ACER: In the interests of public accountability and transparency, there ought to be more than one provider, and for that provider to administer the same LANTITE which is robust, fit for purpose and meets international testing standards.
9. Provide Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), including work experiences for those entering an ITE course, including masters courses
10. Schools to be given status and recognition for their work as mentors of PSTs, and ongoing professional development of teaching staff.
11. Link teacher re-registration with their roles as effective mentors of PSTs.
12. Offer coaching and mentoring professional development for teachers working with PSTs to increase their effectiveness.
13. Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA): as yet there is no evidence that this has been an effective policy initiative.

The immediate challenge for attracting high-quality candidates to teaching includes the current status of the profession, workload issues, and insecure employment contracts detract from making this an attractive profession

Maximising the time to teach

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

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

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?

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

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?