Major investment in teacher workforce

• Miles Government investing in teacher attraction, recruitment and retention
• Grants and incentives to support preservice and beginning teachers
• Extra focus on regions in Queensland that need it the most
• Unlike the LNP who cut teacher numbers, shut down 8 schools and had another 50 they wanted to close on a secret hit list

The Miles Government in investing an additional $71 million as part of its teacher attraction, recruitment and retention plan.

This new investment is aimed at supporting people financially who are already studying teaching, and attracting and retaining our state school teacher workforce in our highest priority locations in the state.

The funding includes:

• $39.4 million to provide financial support to preservice teachers to complete their final practicum placement in a Queensland state school, through a new Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant
• $32 million to provide financial support to graduate teachers who begin their careers in a state primary, secondary, combined or special school located in Far North Queensland, North Queensland, and Central Queensland regions through a new Beginning Teacher Support Payment.

The Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant will be a payment of $5 000 to support preservice teachers undertaking their final professional experience placement in Semester 2, 2024 through to the end of 2026.

On top of this. preservice teachers seeking to travel further afield for their final placement may also be eligible for the Regional Professional Experience Grant and the Beyond the Range Professional Experience Grant which means they could receive up to $10 000 in support.

Graduate teachers commencing employment in state primary, secondary, combined or special schools across our three Grow Your Own priority regions of Far North Queensland, North Queensland and Central Queensland, between 2023 and the end of 2025 will be eligible for up to $20 000 through the new Beginning Teacher Support Payment.

The payment over four years, gives early career teachers the opportunity to address cost of living challenges and assist with any HECS HELP debt they may have incurred during their teaching degree.

These measures are in addition to the funding already announced including:

• extending the highly regarded Trade to Teach and Turn to Teaching internship programs.
• subsidised accommodation for newly appointed or transferring teachers in priority regional and remote communities
• recognition of service payments for teachers in priority schools, and
• expansion of the Rural and Remote Teacher Experience program.

 Quotes attributable to the Education Minister Di Farmer:

“Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers and I want to see more Queenslanders teaching in our great state schools.”

“Those final few pracs can be tough, and for some the financial burdens of not being able to continue with other forms of work while studying can make it even tougher.

“That’s why these grants could be the difference between completing your studies and dropping out.

“We are also doing plenty to attract teachers to work and live in regional, rural and remote Queensland, where they can not only gain unique and rewarding experiences but make such a huge difference to young Queenslanders.”

Quotes attributable to the QTU President Cresta Richardson:

“The QTU welcome this investment in our profession.”

“This announcement enhances current supports for preservice teachers and encourages placement in state schools providing our system with the opportunity to develop, grow and employ great teachers.

“The additional support for HECS HELP fee debt reduction is something we have been calling for some time. It extends the program already offered by the Federal Government to other parts of Far North Queensland, North Queensland and Central Queensland that are not already beneficiaries of this program.

“We know schools in these regions are experiencing the effect of the teacher shortage crisis and we look forward to continuing to work with the government on attraction and retention incentives for other areas around the state.”

Further information:

To register interest in finding out more about the Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant, visit www.teach.qld.gov.au/scholarships-and-grants.

The Minister made this announcement at the Teach Queensland Career Fair 2024 held at Brisbane Entertainment and Convention Centre on 7 September 2024.

The Teach Queensland Career Fairs promote teaching opportunities in Queensland state schools to preservice (university undergraduate and postgraduate teaching students), and beginning and experienced teachers (from state and non-state school sectors). Around 600 people were expected to attend the Teach Queensland Career Fair.

Media - Tim Auguston 0427 090 563

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