Teach For Australia welcomes Coalition support to train more high-impact maths educators

Teach For Australia welcomes the Coalition’s commitment to support TFA to train more high-impact maths teachers, if elected on 3 May.

The funding commitment will support the launch of a new targeted initiative to recruit, train and place 105 new secondary maths teachers and 365 additional teachers through our proven teaching pathway.

Edwina Dohle, Chief Executive Officer of Teach For Australia, welcomed the continued support, which will increase the intake of the flagship Leadership Development Program from 2026.

“We are grateful for the Coalition’s pledge to further scale and expand our life-changing program,” said Ms Dohle.

“With over 15 years of experience, we know that a great teacher can have a huge impact on student outcomes, having successfully recruited over 1600 inspiring and talented people to teaching since 2010.”

With one-third of Australian secondary school maths teachers not qualified to teach the subject, Ms Dohle says the need for more dedicated and skilled maths educators has never been more urgent.

“With this support, we can help address out-of-field teaching, which affects student engagement and contributes to teacher attrition and stress,” continued Ms Dohle.

In 2025, 167 new educators started in classrooms around the country through Teach For Australia’s flagship program, with over 40 per cent teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

“We need STEM educators educating our kids today. By prioritising the recruitment and training of exceptional maths teachers, Australia can strengthen its leadership in STEM – fuelling student’s aspirations in future careers such as AI, robotics, fintech, and beyond.

“Teach For Australia remains a non-partisan organisation that has proudly collaborated with successive Australian Governments since 2009 in pursuit of our mission.

“We look forward to working across the political spectrum to ensure every Australian child can access a quality education that gives them greater choice for their future.”

Media contact: Saraya Musovic, Media and External Affairs Manager, 0407 091 383, saraya.musovic@teachforaustralia.org