Monday May 31, 2021
Teach for Australia’s innovative model of attracting and training high quality professionals from all walks of life to the teaching profession has been endorsed today in the newly released NSW Productivity Commission White Paper, Rebooting the Economy.
“We welcome the endorsement of the NSW Productivity Commission and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the NSW Department of Education and other key voices in public education in NSW,” CEO Melodie Potts Rosevear said.
“Several reports confirm areas of teacher shortage NSW must address in order to ensure that every child, no matter where they live, has the great teachers they deserve. This is an opportunity for us all to come together and tackle this educational inequity.
“TFA is experienced in recruiting talented career-changers who go on to be outstanding classroom leaders and subject specialists in schools that serve regional and remote areas and low socio-economic communities. Of our 2021 TFA cohort, 69 per cent have been placed in regional, rural and remote locations, and 51 per cent are qualified to teach STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
“Through our careful selection process, TFA recruits people who are committed to working for educational equity and we know that, after 12 years, 88 per cent of our Alumni continue to teach and lead in schools and work in education.*
“We know teachers have the most powerful impact on students’ learning but not every school can secure the subject specialists or school leaders they need. TFA has more than a decade of experience in helping these schools solve this challenge, and would welcome the opportunity to undertake this work in NSW too.
“There are many people in NSW who, like Teach For Australia, care deeply about ensuring students have high achieving teachers with professional backgrounds and knowledge, and we are committed to working with education stakeholders in NSW to support the specific needs of schools, students and communities.”
TFA developed and operates Australia’s premier employment-based pathway for teaching, the Leadership Development Program, and has also developed and implemented professional development programs for mid-career teachers on a pathway to school leadership.
For 12 years, TFA has worked exclusively with schools which serve low socioeconomic communities, supporting them to improve student and school outcomes.
“Teach for Australia stands ready to work with the NSW Government and education stakeholders in NSW to make this vision a reality,” Ms Potts Rosevear said.
* Source: Teach For Australia’s 2021 Alumni survey data
Media Contact
