EDUCATION MINISTERS' MEETING OUTCOMES:
There is a teacher shortage across all states, territories and sectors. The situation is dire in rural, regional and remote areas, and in science, mathematics, special/inclusive education, languages and technology and applied studies.
* Ministers committed to developing a National Teacher Workforce Action Plan to increase the number of people entering and remaining in the profession
* The plan includes work on: elevating the profession; improving teacher supply; strengthening initial teacher education; maximising the time to teach; better understanding of future teacher workforce needs
* A working group will deliver a report in December 2022
* The federal government will deliver 5000 bursaries and expand the High Achieving Teachers program by up to 1500 teachers in collaboration with states and territories
* Jurisdictions will work on a series of national attraction and recruitment initiatives
* States and territories will work with the federal government to further the internship model, to increase the number of final year students working in schools
* Federal ministers will seek to prioritise visa processing times for qualified teachers from overseas
* National guidelines will be developed to support early career teachers including mentoring, induction and classroom behaviour management
* Better quality data will be gathered to enable a better national understanding of teacher demand.
Australian Associated Press
