2017 POLICY DOCUMENT
Quality Teachers for Every Classroom
Putting Queenslanders First 2 Quality Teachers for Every Classroom Quality Teachers for Every Classroom
Contents
Message from the Premier 3
Our Commitment 4
The Newman-Nicholls Legacy 5
The Palaszczuk Government’s Record 6
Our Plans: Putting 7 Queenslanders First
Call: 07 3844 8101 Mail: PO Box 5032, West End QLD 4101 www.queenslandlabor.org Quality Teachers for Every Classroom 3
Message from the Premier
Every day, our dedicated teachers are working hard in schools throughout the state to give our children the best-possible education.
And they deserve to be supported. MORE THAN That’s why my government is employing more teachers, increasing 3,700 access to professional development, building better facilities and NEW TEACHERS providing the resources our schools need to deliver an outstanding education.
We know we are on the right path however there is still much to do to lift education outcomes for every young person. For example, we RECRUIT have already committed to recruit at least 3,700 additional teachers TRAIN to meet growth over the next four years. RETAIN Quality Teachers for Every Classroom is our plan to recruit, train and QUALITY retain quality teachers in our state schools. TEACHERS
My government will always support our principals, teachers, early childhood educators and school staff as they work hard every day to deliver quality learning for every child.
Annastacia Palaszczuk PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND Putting Queenslanders First 4 Quality Teachers for Every Classroom Quality Teachers for Every Classroom
Our Commitment
A re-elected Palaszczuk Government is determined to ensure we recruit, train $107m and retain quality teachers QUALITY TEACHER in every state school. INVESTMENT
We will invest $107 million over three years to:
Develop our Teach Queensland’s Future strategy to ensure we meet the demand for quality teachers in all areas of the state
Extend support for graduate teachers through our Mentoring Beginning Teachers program. Quality Teachers for Every Classroom 5
The Newman- Nicholls Legacy
The Palaszczuk Government has restored the teachers cut from SACKED MORE THAN Queensland state schools while 700 Tim Nicholls was Treasurer in the EDUCATION Newman-Nicholls Government. SUPPORT STAFF
As Treasurer, Tim Nicholls slashed more than 500 teaching positions from Queensland schools. CUT MORE THAN This decision put greater pressure on class sizes, robbed teachers of collaboration and 500 preparation time and also meant there were TEACHERS fewer teachers in our schools to support students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
The Newman-Nicholls Government also sacked more than 700 education support staff including hundreds of IT and infrastructure roles from the Department of Education, putting service delivery under pressure.
Putting Queenslanders First 6 Quality Teachers for Every Classroom Quality Teachers for Every Classroom
The Palaszczuk Government’s record
The Palaszczuk Government This investment in frontline services and has invested in state schooling upskilling our teachers is putting downward pressure on class sizes and ensuring all because we know a quality students get the individual attention they education changes lives for the deserve to make the most of their education. better and supports a knowledge- based economy that creates jobs We are driving strong improvements in the early years with free playgroup membership, for all Queenslanders. we have grown kindergarten participation to more than 95 per cent and we have introduced Our Advancing Education action plan is compulsory Prep to provide a critical our commitment to teacher excellence and foundation year for schooling. supporting students to become life-long learners. We are also investing nearly $1 billion to support students with disability, ensuring we It is being delivered through our record deliver an inclusive education for all students. $9.8 billion education budget which is achieving some of Queensland’s best ever Our ground-breaking Autism Hub and Reading results in NAPLAN since testing began. Centre are providing the support teachers and parents need throughout the state. Since we were elected, we have employed 3,450 new teachers and 1,000 additional teacher aides The Palaszczuk Government is also delivering and we have committed to drive STEM outcomes the greatest reform to senior secondary and through the employment of specialists in each tertiary entrance in a generation. region to support every school. Quality Teachers for Every Classroom 7
Our Plans: Putting Queenslanders First
Teach Queensland’s Future We will work with universities, the Queensland College of Teachers and education sectors Queensland state schools are expected to to ensure we meet the demand for specialist grow by more than 10,000 extra students secondary teachers – including STEM and every year. We are putting in place the extra language educators. classrooms and facilities schools need to meet this growth and we have committed to recruit To this end, we will provide incentives to an extra 3,700 teachers. attract the best and brightest teachers to rural, remote and regional Queensland. We also want to ensure our classrooms have the best and brightest teachers who And in partnership with Queensland are passionate about educating young University of Technology and the University Queenslanders. of Queensland we will establish “teaching schools” at our new high schools in Fortitude Through our $107 million commitment, we will Valley and Brisbane’s inner-south. These roll-out a five-point plan to ensure we meet the schools will provide a centre of excellence demand for quality teachers across the state. for teaching students and graduates.
We will provide opportunities for experienced teachers to build their skills, capabilities and confidence to teach new and emerging SUPPORTING QUALITY curriculum. TEACHERS TO RURAL, REMOTE REGIONAL QUEENSLAND
Putting Queenslanders First 8 Quality Teachers for Every Classroom Quality Teachers for Every Classroom
Our Teach Queensland’s Future plan will:
1. Increase the number of Queenslanders aspiring to a teaching career
Appoint teaching career ambassadors to promote teaching as a career and employment in state schools
Partner with secondary schools to deliver Future Teachers program, including guaranteed entry into initial teacher education programs
Provide pathways for school-based support staff, such as teacher aides and scientific officers to transition to a teaching career
Establish new pathways for mid-career professionals and trades people to enter the teaching profession. Quality Teachers for Every Classroom 9
2. Increase the number of graduate and experienced teachers seeking employment in Queensland state schools
Establish teaching Centres of excellence to ensure high-calibre preservice teachers are classroom, school and community ready and start their careers where they are most needed
Boost the number of teaching scholarships offered to aspiring and preservice teachers that include a commitment to employment in state schools
Support experienced primary teachers to transition to Junior Secondary
Continue to provide opportunities for temporary teachers to secure permanency.
3. Support state schools to recruit the best teachers from across the state and nationally
Continue to monitor workforce trends FIVE POINT to develop detailed teacher demand PLAN FOR projections over the next five years QUALITY Review incentives and benefits available to TEACHERS teachers and school leaders in rural, remote and regional communities.
Putting Queenslanders First 10 Quality Teachers for Every Classroom Quality Teachers for Every Classroom
4. Support greater mobility of experienced 5. Support the best teachers to stay in the and specialist teachers across curriculum classroom and build their expertise across the areas curriculum
Provide Junior Secondary teachers with Improve our wellbeing support for beginning the opportunity to teach senior curriculum and early career teachers and those areas through coaching and professional undergoing career transition development Implement flexible work practices for Continue to provide early career and teachers and school leaders, including those experienced teachers with professional managing family responsibilities. development to increase their confidence and capability in high priority curriculum areas and emerging areas of need. Quality Teachers for Every Classroom 11
Mentoring teachers MORE THAN A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will continue to support graduate teachers get the best start to their career by extending 3,000 the Mentoring Beginning Teachers Program. MENTORS FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS We know that with better support at the beginning of their career, teachers have a smoother transition from university to classroom, greater job satisfaction and are more likely to pursue a long-term career in SUPPORT THE education. TRANSITION FROM The Mentoring Beginning Teachers program UNIVERSITY TO ensures that all graduates employed CLASSROOM in Queensland state schools receive a professional mentor.
We have already trained more than 3,100 mentors who have supported thousands of graduate teachers.
Putting Queenslanders First Quality Teachers for Every Classroom
Call: 07 3844 8101 | Mail: PO Box 5032, West End QLD 4101 | www.queenslandlabor.org
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Authorised by E. Moorhead, ALP 16 Peel St, South Brisbane.