With education playing such a pivotal role in the lives of a good majority of everyone, it’s surprising to learn that there is actually a dire need for teachers in Australia.
Well, maybe to some degree, it’s not that surprising as it just takes one look at TikTok and other social media platforms to see that the school environments, all on a global scale, have become increasingly challenging for teachers due to a number of factors – but this just emphasises the need for more teachers.
In this article, we’re going to look at the contributing factors as to why there is such a high demand for teachers in Australia and why teaching is one of the most fulfilling roles anyone can aspire to take on.
What factors contribute to the demand for teachers?
The heavy demand for teachers is prevalent and results from various complex mixes of issues. In fact, the teacher supply crisis is only one facet of a deeper problem in modern education. Some of the most pending issues contributing to the greater problem include:
- Competitive education
- Competitive employment opportunities
- Mental health issues
- Political tensions
- Technological advancement
- Younger, disengaged students
- The younger generation is graduating with fewer teachers
- The older generation of teachers are retiring
- Teachers leaving education due to conditions
Student engagement is a key component in the success of teaching; after all, a teacher’s job is to teach students; the mix of global pressures has resulted in a rise in students struggling to find hope and meaning in life. The state of the students’ well-being has a direct impact on the teaching environment and is aggravated in areas that experience a lack of teaching resources and support.
Now, there is a serious lack of teachers, which has resulted in a desperate demand for teachers – seeing to this demand needs to be made a priority. But not just anyone can fill the void, as Education needs professional, compassionate and devoted teachers.
How does the government plan to meet the demand for teachers?
The Australian government has acknowledged the importance of meeting the need for teachers for the sake of Australia’s future. As the population continues to grow, more teachers are retiring and leaving the system, and fewer students are graduating in the field of teaching, it has implemented a plan to alleviate the pressure and meet the need through the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan Consultation.
This Action Plan includes five priority areas in Education that address the primary drivers of teacher shortage:
- Promoting the teaching profession ensures that the country as a whole recognises and places value on teachers and how they impact students, communities and even the economy
- Improving the teacher supply by making the profession more appealing and thus increasing the number of individuals choosing teaching as their future career
- Reinforcing and improving teacher training to ensure that initial teacher education supports teacher supply and delivers classroom-ready graduates
- Keeping the current teachers encouraged and valued to promote teacher retention. The plan is to increase the support for teachers, help reduce the unnecessary workload, give teachers more time to focus on core teaching tasks and collaborate more, and also improve their career pathways
- Improving the understanding of what future teachers need in order to better the information that can be used for teacher workforce planning
What are the most in-demand jobs in Australia?
The need for good teachers is obvious, but are there any particular areas that have a higher demand for educators? Yes! Here are some of the most in-demand teaching jobs:
- Teachers in remote and rural areas
- Special education teachers
- Early childhood teachers
- Primary school teachers (especially those who have specialised in science, mathematics and technology)
- High school or secondary school teachers (especially those specialised in English, mathematics, design and technology and foreign languages)
Final Thoughts
There is a growing demand for good-quality teachers, and while there are a lot of difficult circumstances in the industry, teaching is one of the noblest and most rewarding professions. Teachers should never underestimate the positive impact that they have on students, and with the right attitude, resources and support, educators will be able to turn things around with buy-in from the government, students and parents, too.
For those who are passionate about raising up the next generation and pursuing a meaningful career, then consider studying teaching. Those switching their career to teaching can get the ball rolling by obtaining a Graduate Certificate in Education and moving on to a graduate diploma and even a master’s degree, should they want to specialize.
