A damning new national report has backed growing concerns about Tasmania's teacher shortage, with applications for vacant positions falling dramatically.
The 2022 Skills Priority List Key Findings Report released this week shows a sharp decline in suitable applicants for education professionals, including early childhood teachers, primary school teachers and secondary school teachers.
This is despite analysis suggesting the number of trained and qualified graduates should be sufficient to meet demand.
The report points out that the 'true' supply of workers for teaching positions may be influenced by other factors including workplace conditions, remuneration and impacts on mental health and wellbeing.
This is precisely what Tasmania's teachers have been saying as the State Government refuses to address increased workloads, staff shortages and competitive pay that keeps up with the cost of living.
Our teachers and school staff have done the heavy lifting throughout Covid and are now leaving the profession in droves because they are burnt out and fed up with being prioritised behind the government's stadium obsession.
The Liberals need to get their priorities right and deliver the pay and working conditions that reflect teachers' value to the community and the importance of our children's futures.
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
