Anonymous #321

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #321

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.

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

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.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Access to Teaching courses need to be available at more Universities. Here in Perth the only place to study a Bachelor in Education Home Economics is at ECU Joondalup with some units at Mt Lawley. This has led to a decreased amount of Home Economics teachers in the southern suburbs of Perth and often zero applicants applying for advertised positions.

Attracting women back into the workforce after maternity leave. Schools need to seriously consider on site creche care or childcare services. My department alone currently has 4 permanent skilled Home Economics on maternity leave with no desire to return to full time work until their children are in school.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

As a trained chef I was not awarded any raise in pay scale when commencing work in a public school despite my skills being essential for student success.

Maximising the time to teach

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

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Supporting schools to allocate more time for Teacher in Charge of Home Economics. A HOLA is not enough in a curriculum which offers a range of contexts (wood, metal, food, textiles, childcare, digital tech). There are just too many hats to be worn for one person and the role of Teacher in Charge Home Economics is very important. What makes the role even harder is not having trained teachers delivering the programs. Out of subject teachers require a significant amount of mentoring and there is no LEAP program for Home Economics in WA to assist with this burden.

With the projected teacher shortage expected to be 100% of schools in 2025 I foresee and have experienced huge workload pressures and staff shortages. [REDACTED] . I now wear her shoes and the burden is heavy, as the only trained Home Economics teacher in my department. I am not sure how much longer I can hold on.

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?

I think it is important that any data collected is separated into the following categories:

Design and Technologies-Wood and Metal
Design and Technologies -Home Economics
Digital Technologies

As a Home Economics teacher it is hard to find information about our learning area alone.

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.

Somewhat agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Career pathways for Home Economics classroom teachers are not plentiful. It is uncommon to find a female D&T Head of Department and Teacher in Charge positions have no pay rise and not enough time given.