The Tasmanian Government is delivering on its commitment to support teacher recruitment and retention in hard-to-staff schools, with the registration of a new industrial agreement in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC) today.
The Hard-to-Staff Schools Teacher Incentive Pilot Program Agreement 2024 will commence at the start of Term 1, 2025, and remain in effect for four years.
The Agreement, developed with support from the Australian Education Union (AEU), introduces targeted incentives for teaching staff at selected schools to address staffing challenges.
Minister for Education, Jo Palmer, said the Agreement will help remote and regional areas that often face challenges when recruiting.
"We know there is a national shortage of teachers, and through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we're working to ensure schools have the high-quality teachers they need," Minister Palmer said.
"This program is focussed on attracting teachers to hard-to-staff schools and includes two incentive payments for staff who commit to working at the identified school for a minimum of one year.
"The first payment of $1000 will be paid six weeks into Term 1 and the second payment of $2275 six weeks into Term 3, with the option for renewal for up to four years."
Initially, the program will cover the following schools:
There are varied reasons for schools being classified as hard-to-staff, and the list of selected schools will be reviewed each year to ensure resources continue to be directed to areas of greatest need.
With the inclusion of the nine schools under this pilot program, the total number of schools providing teacher incentives will rise to 17, demonstrating the Tasmanian Government's commitment to addressing staffing challenges across more Tasmanian schools.
