Anonymous #235

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #235

Where are you located?

South Australia

What type of area do you live in?

Regional or rural

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?

The government, particularly politicians, need to stop bashing teachers in the media for a 30 second sound bite around election time. Our job is complex and so is politicians so recognition of that and the fact we are often inheriting very complex issues and do our best, would be appreciated.

Regarding action 2 - please don't make an Australian Teacher of the Year award where the teacher has to write their application. We currently have these in SA and it's nice getting a nomination, but then a teacher must write their application to win it. This is ridiculous and time wasting from other things teachers could be utilising their time for such as engaging planning for lessons. It ends up that only the teachers that would like to do further study apply or the teachers that are in it for the ego and recognition on their CV.

Regarding action 4 - don't get me started on the Lead and HAT process and initiative! Once again it is onerous to apply and go through the process. In my experience the teachers that do this are super passionate or do it for the extra dollars, ego and prestige. I could also do this process but the impact on my work life balance would be extreme to complete it and not worth it monetary wise. In SA only certain schools have the funding to employ Lead and HAT teachers, and mine isn't currently one of them, so why would I even bother? Don't get me wrong, the process of establishing high teacher standards is great and so is recognising people who do a fantastic job. However, either give everyone that goes through the process extra money or don't do it at all. Also, consider making the process friendlier time and work wise.

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?

All of the points have merit, however one glaring issue is that so many of these initiatives are state by state. We supposedly have a national curriculum but what is long overdue is having a national teaching registration rather than relying on state by state. This would make teaching more attractive to young people who particularly want to travel and professionals who may choose to swap careers. At the moment, nurses as an example, can pick up work anywhere around the country, but I can't as a teacher due to the fact I'm only registered in SA. Sure I could apply and go through the process, but once again the process is long and onerous, with many checks. Simplify it so it is nationally recognised and done once every 5 years instead of 3 and I think for some people, teaching will be more attractive as it will give them freedom of movement they've never had before. Most will still stay in their own states but it may just be the catalyst to attract a type of person teaching has seldom had in it's ranks. Otherwise we will once again lose young teachers to overseas for years in their 20s - to places like London and Hong Kong - when we could have them working and travelling in Australia.

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?

Regarding action 8. One of the things that is most annoying is how convoluted and time consuming it is to apply for funding for One Plan students or if you are in a low socio economic area. This is an area SA could get better at as even though teachers may get paid more for working in rural schools, it doesn't mean it isn't time wasting and difficult. Also, I would pay teachers according to the category of the school i.e. category 1 a certain bonus payment, and so on for every category. The rural extra payment also needs to be re-thought. I work and live only 1 hour away from Adelaide yet we find it hard to attract teachers and TRTs particularly, yet we don't get any extra money. Perhaps looking at a fuel incentive for teachers who do live in Adelaide but are willing to teach at schools in a certain radius could be looked at. At the moment we are relying on our newly retired (withing the last 5 years) teachers as TRTs but when they stop relief teaching, it will be even harder to find teachers for short term contracts, and relief teaching.

Maximising the time to teach

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

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Regarding action 10. I think teachers need longer teaching practicum's to be successful as early career teachers. This allows them to see the real world of teaching and experience the roller coaster that is a term. At the moment some universities have 4 week placements. This is a complete waste of time as we don't ever even finish a teaching unit within that time so they miss out on much of the process i.e. drafting, marking, planning for a new unit whilst finishing a unit, etc. just to name a few things.

What would be better is if teaching students, particularly in their final year, were allocated to a school over a semester and had a few (1-5) introductory days in term 1, and then spent term 2 entirely in a school. However, to do this universities also need to come to the party. Uni students cannot be doing assignments extra to what they are doing as a teacher in school. Instead their planning, drafting and marking should be used as credit for a semester grade. Also, financial support should be possible given the longer length of time for a practical. This could be done through the states or federal governments as a centre link payment. Publicize this and you may attract more people to teaching as many professionals from other industries entertain the idea but never follow through due to the final years placements and lack of money.

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?

Slightly effective

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

One of the major things that gets forgotten about regarding future teacher workforce needs is our skillset in dealing with increasingly complex students and families. We are expected to teach, be first aiders, nurses, psychologists, trauma experts, camp specialists, administration experts and technology whizzes, and to keep up to date with each skill set to the most modern limit as well as always improve our teaching pedagogy. The answer is the governments need to fund schools appropriately and with appropriate professionals. For example, we need IT specialists for every school that are full time and appropriately trained with a certain qualification. We need psychologist and wellbeing professionals in every school. Some schools need experts in trauma onsite at all times. Fund this and I think you'll find that more teachers stay teaching - we're sick of being jack of all trades, and that's why we get burnt out. We care too much so it's hard to stop helping when we aren't resourced. Eventually, people then hit a limit that it becomes too unhealthy for them to continue.

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.

Neither agree nor disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Absolutely agree with action 27.