Anonymous #440

Submitter information

Name

Anonymous #440

Where are you located?

New South Wales

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?

Early childhood education and care

What is your occupation?

Teaching and Learning Practice Partner

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?

* All teacher-related activities to specifically include and reference Early Childhood Teacher
* Always using the language of ‘early childhood education and care’, never ‘child care’
* National teacher registration to enable all Early Childhood Teachers to be registered.
* National campaign to include the neuro-science on brain development in the first five years and the vital role Early Childhood Teachers and educators have in supporting Child Development
* National approach that all Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers and Educators are classed as essential workers
* National campaigns and all media releases to ensure Early Childhood Education and Care is a Sector not an Industry.
* The inaugural Australian Teacher of the Year Awards to be held in late 2023 to include categories for Early Childhood Teachers specifically.
* ACECQA and State Departments to nominate teachers for awards from early childhood centres of Excellence and Exceeding in all 7 quality areas in the National Quality Standard.

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?

* State Departments to reconsider threshold on waiver for Early Childhood Teacher's when students are actively working towards qualification
* For the Provisional status in Teacher accreditation to extend to students currently undergoing studies whilst working in the Sector that considers current and completed units of study
* Bring wages for early childhood teachers in line with school teachers with a 5% interim wages subsidy
* Federal funding for 1,500 university places for early childhood teachers should only go to universities that offer birth-5 years degrees (or birth-8 years in SA)
* Extend the HECS/HELP reduction for doctors and nurses to early childhood teachers in regional and remote locations
* Training.gov.au to ensure all teacher and educator qualifications have a component/unit of study on Trauma Informed to be skilled in working with children of all ages.

Strengthening Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

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

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

* A national agreement to no longer deliver early childhood degrees that are not recognised or qualify the graduate for teacher registration and national recognition from Governing body
* Provide practice literacy and numeracy skills tests online that can be engaged with during studies.
* Recognition of prior learning and work experience to contribute to upskilling of qualifications. Including opportunities to demonstrate skills and knowledge

Maximising the time to teach

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

Strongly agree

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

* Providing early childhood teachers (and educators) with student-free days for professional development, just like school teachers, by allowing providers to claim CCS and waive gap fees for families
* Early Childhood Teachers to have equivalent face to face teaching hours as school counterparts including school holidays and sick leave. The Sector authorities acknowledging this within the National Regulations with Early Childhood Education and Care terms aligning with School Terms

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?

Very effective

Would you like to provide feedback about these actions?

* Opportunities for connections, mentoring and communities of teachers that support and strengthen teachers in their professionalism are critical for growth and sustainability of the profession.

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?

* Opportunities for connections, mentoring and communities of teachers that support and strengthen teachers in their professionalism are critical for growth and sustainability of the profession.
* National teacher registration to enable all Early Childhood Teachers to be registered
* Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers and Educators to be consulted on the Professional Development they require with option on delivery method.
* Additional 4 weeks leave after 5 years of continuous teaching in Schools and Early Childhood Education and Care services.