Welcome additions: Notre Dame College deputy principal learning and teaching Kris Walker (second from left) with new teachers to join the Shepparton school for 2023. They include Aaron Lawler, who has moved from Wagga and will be teaching science, biology and mathematics, Permission to Teach program teacher Izzy Willmott, who is from Shepparton, and Moeka Ito, who has moved from Ballarat to teach Japanese.
Photo by
Murray Silby
Both government and non-government schools in the Goulburn Valley have indicated they have adequate teacher numbers to meet their classroom needs as the 2023 school year gets under way.
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In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza and even housing shortages have left schools across the state and region scrambling to put enough teachers in classrooms.
It has meant embracing innovative measures, such as granting permission to teach for student teachers nearing the completion of their courses, attracting teachers out of retirement and reassigning teachers from other roles.
In the Catholic system, Notre Dame College says it is starting the year in a positive place for teacher numbers.
“The picture here for the start of 2023 is very positive,” deputy principal learning and teaching Kris Walker said.
“We worked very hard on recruitment at the end of last year, which includes recruiting graduate teachers, many of whom did teaching rounds here at Notre Dame while they were completing their courses.
“Additionally, we have also been working with the VIT, which is the Victorian Institute of Teachers, to attain Permission to Teach, which is a registration category that allows undergraduate teachers to work in schools and teach classes.
“Another thing we did at the end of the year, just before Christmas, is we interviewed two teachers from South Africa.
“So we’re working with the Department of Home Affairs because they require a sponsorship arrangement for four years, so we’re finalising the details for that.”
In demand: “If you’ve ever thought about becoming a teacher, now is the time!” Greater Shepparton Secondary College executive principal Barbara O’Brien says there’s never been a better time to be a teacher.
Photo by
Murray Silby
Greater Shepparton Secondary College has reported starting the 2023 school year with close to a full complement of permanent teaching staff and a reliable pool of casual relief staff.
The college said it was still recruiting for a number of permanent positions, but that had not stopped it providing all subjects that were offered during 2022, with the exception of Years 7 and 8 Italian language classes, for which it is still recruiting.
The course is still being offered, but online with support from a qualified tutor.
“Ensuring our young people have access to quality education remains our priority and all staff have stepped in and stepped up to make sure all classes are covered and subjects offered,” executive principal Barbara O’Brien said.
“Here, we have the advantage of being a brand new school, our amazing facilities and the diverse make-up of our student and staff base are a drawcard, but we acknowledge the difficulties faced by schools right across the state and that it continues to be an ongoing issue.”
Ms O’Brien said Department of Education initiatives, such as the Graduate Recruitment Program, the Access Quality Teaching Program and Teacher Re-engagement Program, as well as international teacher recruitment and targeted financial incentives, had brought new teachers to the school, while the school’s leadership team was also taking classes to share the load.
Bright start: Guthrie St Primary School principal Brendan Bicknell says students have returned for the start of the 2023 school year in a positive manner.
Photo by
Murray Silby
At the primary level, Guthrie St Primary School Principal Brendan Bicknell said many schools in the region were just below their optimal level when it came to teachers, but were in a relatively good position thanks to many of the same creative solutions implemented in the secondary sector.
“Most schools have started the year looking for teachers,” he said.
“One or two teachers for most schools, but we’ve managed to cater for it with extra staff you have on board running other programs — you can put them into classrooms.
“It hasn’t impacted the students here by any means and I think that would be pretty similar across other schools.”
Mr Bicknell said it had been a pleasure seeing the students returning to school in numbers after the disruption of recent years.
“We found the students have started the year really, really well and are really settled,” he said.
“Even last year, we had a full year of school, apart from the flooding, we found that there was still that hangover from COVID and there were lots of restrictions around.
“So it was still impacting big time, but we’ve started the year really fresh and the kids have come back, and I know it’s early days, but they’re really settled and engaging well at this point.”
Ms O’Brien said with the nationwide demand for teachers came opportunities for people who might ponder teaching as a career change, with a range of incentives available to them.
“If you’ve ever thought about becoming a teacher, now is the time,” Ms O’Brien said.
“You will not find a more rewarding career, helping our young people become the best version of themselves and achieve their goals will always outweigh the challenges.”
