The Minns Labor Government has slashed the number of permanent teacher vacancies by 61 per cent, ensuring thousands more NSW public school students are receiving a quality and consistent public education.
New data released today on the first day of Public Education Week shows NSW public schools began Term 3 with 962 permanent teacher vacancies, down from 2,460 at the same time in 2022 under the former Liberal National Government.
While there's more to do, the 61 per cent drop in vacancies has brought the number of permanent teacher vacancies to the lowest level in four years.
This progress follows the Minns Labor Government's decision to scrap the unfair wages cap that held teacher salaries back and devalued the profession for more than a decade.
In contrast to the record 3,311 vacancies under the former Liberal National Government in late 2022 - which led to widespread class cancellations and merged lessons - public schools began Term 3 this year with just 962 vacancies, down from 2,460 at the same point in 2022.
There's also been a sharp drop in the number of schools affected. Just 566 schools - a quarter of NSW's 2,200 public schools - reported a vacancy in Term 3, down from 1,383 schools in 2022.
Areas with the fewest vacancies include the electorates of Kiama and Lane Cove, which both reported just one vacancy each at the beginning of Term 3, and the electorates of Castle Hill, Drummoyne, Heathcote, Cronulla and Vaucluse, which all reported two vacancies each.
Under the Minns Labor Government, the Department of Education has also ramped up efforts to provide dedicated support to schools facing recruitments challenges.
The Priority Recruitment Support initiative has been expanded from 79 to more than 150 schools with three quarters being in regional and rural areas - bringing fairness to communities that have been left behind for too long.
From this year, every NSW public school principal has been supported by a dedicated Recruitment Officer who will be a first point of contact and work closely with them to manage all recruitment in the school.
Over the past 12 months, 6,398 permanent teachers have been appointed, while resignation and retirement rates have declined - pointing to better retention and a stabilising workforce.
While there is more work to do, the reduction in vacancies is a demonstration of the Minns Labor Government's commitment to rebuild public education, value the teaching profession and lift student outcomes.
While this work is ongoing, it is already delivering results and has included:
- Delivering the largest pay rise in a generation to all of NSW's public school teachers.
- Making over 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contracts permanent.
- Banning mobile phones in all public schools, minimising classroom distractions.
- Addressing workload by allowing additional time to roll out a new curriculum, improving mandatory training and professional learning requirements, providing access to AI assistance, providing additional administrative support in schools.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
"This is a step in the right direction. I've always said you can't replace a teacher in front of the classroom."
"We know there's still work to do, but fewer vacancies means more consistency for students and less strain on schools.
"We scrapped the unfair wages cap, we're making more roles permanent, and we'll keep doing the work to rebuild public education properly."
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:
"The Minns Labor Government has demonstrated that when you stop suppressing teachers' wages and genuinely value the expertise of the teaching profession, then you'll keep more of our high-quality teachers in the classroom.
"Teachers are the most critical factor when it comes to improving student outcomes and that's why, under the leadership of the Deputy Premier, we have been so determined to address the teacher shortage crisis we inherited."
"There is still more work to do, but the 60% reduction in teacher vacancies is a clear demonstration of the Minns Labor's Government commitment to rebuilding public education."
"Families across NSW should know that while thousands more students now have permanent teacher in their classrooms, this could all be undone if the Liberals and Nationals succeed in their promise to bring back the wages cap."
