Anonymous #199

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #199

Where are you located?

New South Wales

What type of area do you live in?

Remote

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

Yes

Which sector do you work in?

Primary and Secondary

What is your occupation?

School Counsellor

Elevating the profession

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

Strongly disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

The reality is that you have thought of doing everything except the most basic of things to attract and retain teachers. Better pay and reduced workloads. Teachers used to be paid the same as other public servants-including parliamentarians. Just look at the Gallop report. You don’t need to spend $10 million to reinvent the wheel. Save your money the hard work is already done. I talked my son out of being a maths teacher and into becoming a Dr. He has started his specialty training (3rd year out) and earns more than me. A dual degree school counsellor. He can’t believe we aren’t paid for our time at meetings and for lesson preparation. A registered psychologist earns $280/ hour. A school counsellor earns the same as a teacher. About 20% of what we are paid in private practice. There’s the reason right there as to why you can train 45 new school counsellors every year for the last decade and you still have a shortage. Better pay and better working conditions. Simple.

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 disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Better pay and better working conditions. People will put up with high workloads if they are paid properly.
A top teacher should be able to easily earn $180k. A school counsellor $200k and a principal $250k. I was offered a great school counselling job in Sydney but can take it up because I can’t afford to rent in Sydney.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Strongly disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Secondary teachers need to get a band 6 in any subject they are going to teach. Knowing the content is the least of their worries once they get into a classroom.

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?

Not effective at all

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Read the Gallop Report. It’s all in there.

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.

Strongly disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

You fail to mention specialist teachers-learning and support teachers and school counsellors. The expertise of these teachers is extraordinarily and they are being poached into better paying positions. Imagine not having to supervise students in your lunch time. Playground duty is an absolute waste of teachers time and expertise. Parents could do that and teachers could eat and prepare for the afternoon