The Department of Education has announced an allocation of $400,000 to develop a new model to encourage professionals to make a mid-career jump into teaching.
Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell said the aim was to attract the best and brightest from other professions into teaching.
Mr Perrottet said the model would be jointly developed by the Department and Teach for Australia, drawing on their experience in attracting mid-career and high-achieving professionals into teaching.
“We know that traditionally it has been difficult for people to make a career switch to teaching due to the cost associated with leaving employment whilst undertaking a Masters of Teaching,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This partnership will look at enabling successful mid-career professionals to make the switch to teaching by lessening the adverse financial impact of taking time out of the workforce to gain a teaching qualification.”
He said subject areas and schools with teacher shortages would be targeted — particularly in the science, maths and TAS (Technology and Applied Sciences) areas, and in rural and remote schools.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell said the bespoke model would be developed from scratch in collaboration with key education stakeholders.
“We know that more teachers are required in priority subject areas as well as our rural and regional schools, and this partnership will enable us to attract more high-quality people into the profession,” Ms Mitchell said.
“This new pathway will be aimed at mid-career professionals, not new graduates, and is being rolled out alongside our reforms to ensure the highest standards for teachers in NSW.”
