The Education Directorate is to establish a taskforce with the Australian Education Union (AEU) to help address teacher shortages across the Territory.
Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry said a recent survey conducted by the AEU ACT Branch confirmed that the national teacher shortage was having an impact locally.
“This survey captures the experiences of teachers in Canberra,” Ms Berry said.
“Their stories will lead and inform the work of the new Taskforce,” she said.
“Government has been working with the AEU to tackle some of the issues raised in this Report.”
Ms Berry said the Directorate had introduced some new strategies to help with workforce shortages, including a dedicated staffing hotline and more centralised management of the relief teacher pool.
She said work was also underway on a national and international recruitment campaign, to attract teachers to ACT public schools.
The Minister said the Taskforce was expected to meet for the first time next week and would work with universities, the Teacher Quality Institute and relevant experts.
“Understanding the whole school context and all the professionals who contribute to public schools will be an important consideration in the work of the Taskforce,” she said.
“Thank you to all teachers and school staff.
“The work you do every day makes a significant difference for your students, their families and their communities,” Ms Berry said.
