The Workload Intensification Taskforce aims to progress initiatives to address workload pressures being experienced by teachers and school leaders. Photo: Western Australian Department of Education.
Western Australian Education Minister Sabine Winton has appointed Emeritus Professor Colleen Hayward as the Workload Intensification Taskforce chair.
The taskforce intends to drive progress on new projects to reduce pressures on teachers, as many educators leave the sector.
Recently convening as part of the Teachers and Administrators General Agreement, the taskforce will examine methods to provide more support to teachers while also strengthening their ability to focus on educational outcomes.
“WA’s teachers and school leaders are our most valuable assets in providing the next generation with a quality education,” Ms Winton said.
“This taskforce will play a key role in progressing initiatives to address workload pressures being experienced by our teachers and school leaders, reporting directly to me and providing regular updates to the workforce.”
Professor Hayward’s appointment is considered a boon as she has decades of experience not only in teaching but also in education, employment, health, training, housing, law, justice and child protection.
“Public education is in my blood, with both my mum and dad having been teachers,” Professor Hayward said.
”My dad was WA’s first Aboriginal teacher and principal, which inspired me to choose it as my first career and view education as a lifelong endeavour.
“Quality student learning is a direct result of quality teaching, so it’s incumbent on us all to ensure the salaries and conditions of teachers and school leaders attract and retain the best.”
Professor Hayward will function as the independent chair guiding the taskforce, which is made up of representatives of the State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia, the Department of Education and the Principals’ Federation of Western Australia.
The initiative will consider methods to reduce the administrative weight placed on teachers and school leaders while delivering a high-quality education in the state’s public schools.
The taskforce’s key initiatives are:
- $21.8 million in funding over two years for the Small Group Tuition Initiative, which provides numeracy and literacy support to more than 350 public schools in WA. This policy intends to address learning gaps affecting up to 13,000 students, and reduce the complexity and workload for their daily teachers.
- $16.5 million in funding over two years for an increase in the number of full-time-equivalent complex behaviour support coordinators to 64 across 192 WA public schools. This provides more support for students with complex needs.
The taskforce project is also working on a renewed strategy to improve teachers’ and educators’ professional learning, built on evidence-based practices.
