The Australian and Queensland Governments are co-funding a $1.88 million pilot program in Queensland state schools to reduce teacher workloads.
The program is employing 11 specialist staff to support teachers and principals across 33 schools.
The new staff will manage workplace health, safety and wellbeing administrative workloads, taking the load of teachers and enhancing the delivery of this important work.
This will mean teachers are spending less time on admin and more time doing what they do best, teaching students in the classroom.
Commonwealth funding, under the Workload Reduction Fund, will be matched with equal co-investment from the Miles Government to implement the pilot.
Schools have identified workplace health, safety and wellbeing as areas contributing to increasing workload.
At the end of this year, participating schools will assess whether having dedicated staff in schools to undertake these tasks has reduced administrative burden.
The pilot has been co-designed with key education stakeholders, including principal associations and unions.
It is part of Action 12 of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, which was agreed to by Education Ministers in December 2022.
The 33 state schools involved in the pilot include secondary, primary and special schools, across Queensland.
The selection process included a cross-section of schools, including those with large and diverse facilities, smaller schools, and schools with a health and safety advisor in a teaching or principal role.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Jason Clare:
"Teaching is the most important job in the world.
"The idea that teachers clock on at 9am and knock off at 3pm is rubbish.
"That's why the Albanese Government is investing $30 million in the Teacher Workload Reduction fund so they can spend less time doing admin and more time in the classroom."
Quotes attributable to the Queensland Minister for Education, Di Farmer:
"This is an exciting project that aims to reduce the administrative burden many teachers and principals face in their day-to-day work.
"Our teachers are highly valued and highly trained in the art of teaching, and we want to make sure they spend more time focused on educating students in the classroom.
"This pilot will see what impact having specially trained support staff, working alongside teachers and principals, has on freeing them up to spend more time teaching.
"The safety and wellbeing of our education staff and students is a priority. Investing in expert support like this new pilot program for our teachers and principals will enhance the management of risks, improving safety and support for the school community."
Quotes attributable to Donna O'Keeffe, Principal Tingalpa State School:
"We are pleased to be a pilot school for the Teacher Workload Reduction Fund.
"The specialist staff member has been working with our teachers and school leaders to help reduce administrative workload and improve wellbeing."
Quotes attributable to the President QTU, Cresta Richardson:
"The QTU welcomes the pilot for WHS support in Queensland schools. Our members have advised that this is a matter of intense workload and anticipate that this additional resource will be a step to address this.
"We will continue to work with the department and government to gauge the success of the pilot. We are hopeful that this additional support to be rolled out to all schools."
