Thousands temporary teaching staff are to be transitioned to permanent rolls, with the first round of job offers now underway.
Announced by Premier Chris Minns, around 1,400 temporary staff across hundreds of NSW schools are to be the first to benefit from the scheme.
“The casualisation of teaching has forced thousands of talented teachers to leave the profession,” Mr Minns said.
“Since 2017, just 63 per cent of the teaching workforce in NSW public schools have had the security of a permanent position.”
He said this had made teaching less attractive, hurting teacher and support staff retention rates, while leaving students worse off.
Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car said the scheme would be rolled out in stages with the first priority cohort to focus on some of the State’s highest-need students and communities.
“It includes Aboriginal Education Officers and schools that have desperately struggled to find staff,” Ms Car said.
“Staff who have worked at a single school for at least three years and are still engaged at that school will be eligible in the first stage of the scheme,” she said.
“Once principals confirm the eligibility of their staff, the Department of Education can make formal offers to these employees.”
Ms Car said staff included in this priority group were expected to have their first day of permanent duty on the first day of Term 3.
She said the Department would work through the remaining eligible staff in the coming months.
“It is expected the full complement of at least 10,000 teachers and around 6,000 support staff who accept this offer will be part of the permanent workforce by the beginning of term 1, 2024,” the Minister said.
“The offers will not depend on there being a current permanent vacancy at the school.”
