Anonymous #079

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #079

Where are you located?

Victoria

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?

Lab tech

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?

As a part-time education staff for the past 2 years, I have been swayed to not obtain a Masters of Teaching and enter the teaching profession. While the starting salary is good, the pay increase is negligible especially for STEM. It takes 10 years to obtain 100k annually, which anyone with a STEM background could easily do after 5 years. The Federal Government has wanted to push STEM in Australia, yet it does not attract or compensate those with STEM backgrounds, where pay is much more than teaching. As an undergraduate university student, the scolarships/grants offered also do not entice me. I would rather be paid more, than earn a scholarships for uni that I already do through the uni itself. Teachers are also not recognized by parents or the department with the monumental number of admin work that is required. Teachers are meant to be in classes not behind computers filling in another report.

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?

Entice STEM teachers with guaranteed ongoing positions or higher salary starting points. There is no incentive other than to help kids. I can easily help kids through volunteering which I already do. The only benefit for STEM educated students is either secure jobs or higher salary, which can be found in the private sector. It would also be beneficial to add the Diploma of Teaching back. No one wants to do M Teaching which takes 2 years and deals with theoretical pedagogy. Teachers and students know the degree is worthless since classes and students differ a lot depending on the socioeconomic era.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Somewhat disagree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

Again to entice STEM university students a higher salary or job security is required. I once thought about teaching, but after working as an education support staff part-time, I will enter the clinical industry where I can obtain both things. No highly-educated maths, engineering and science student will be incentivized without the two conditions aforementioned.

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?

Enable report-writing to be more streamlined. It is absurd that every student should be written comments, and that they must be unique for each student. Make it a simple tick the criteria, as it is in most other nations. It would save teachers a lot of time. Comments/feedback are already provided at parent/teacher conferences.

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?

Stop finding overseas teachers, when every other nation has teacher shortages. The government's policy to obtain overseas teachers failed miserably and cost the tax payer too much. Instead, financially incentivize teachers with higher salaries.

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?

Good to have opportunities for teachers to become accredited in other specialist areas. Retaining teachers will only be through job security or higher pay. It cannot be that hard to figure out.