The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to tackle the long-standing challenges confronting school communities in the bush, holding NSW's first roundtable with teachers and experts on the supply of quality teacher housing in regional, rural and remote areas.
Teacher housing was identified as a key priority in the Government's response to the Auditor General's scathing report into the Liberal and National's failed strategy for rural and remote education.
Feedback from teachers and principals highlighted that a school's ability to attract and retain teachers at regional schools was vital to improving regional students' outcomes, with schools in the bush impacted by teachers struggling to find quality, stable homes close to their work.
The renewed focus on teacher housing is part of the Minns Labor Government's ongoing work to address chronic teacher shortages in NSW, which are more acutely felt in our regional, rural and remote communities.
The first Teacher Housing Roundtable, held at Canobolas Public School in Orange, aims to drive greater co-ordination between the Department of Education and Homes NSW.
Key topics for discussion at the roundtable include:
- The development of a comprehensive Education Housing Strategy - to inform future planning and policy, and boost teacher housing availability in the regions
- The need for additional housing supply to retain educators in specific rural and remote areas
- Improving the quality of existing teacher housing in regional areas, and reducing the timeline between teacher housing refurbishments
Teachers in the bush face unique challenges, however finding affordable, quality housing is one issue that shouldn't cause additional strain.
In NSW, there are more than 1,300 teacher housing properties managed by the Teacher Housing Authority across more than 200 rural and remote towns, but the need for additional housing support continues to grow.
Roundtable attendees include representatives from the Primary Principals Association, the Secondary Principals Council, Housing NSW, the NSW Teachers' Federation, the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and rural representatives from the Department of Education.
Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
"Without quality teacher housing we cannot attract or keep our amazing teachers in our wonderful regional schools, which is critical to addressing teacher shortages.
"Ensuring regional schools have the teachers they need is essential to providing our students with the quality education the deserve.
"I look forward to having productive discussions about how we can improve housing available for teachers in the bush, and work together to see outcomes lift for our regional students."
Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said:
"Providing more quality key worker and affordable housing in regional areas is an important priority for the NSW Government.
"Everyone benefits from having skilled key workers in our regional and rural communities. Access to affordable housing is vital to making this possible.
"Teachers are a crucial part of our broader key worker housing strategy, which is currently being delivered by Homes NSW. I look forward to collaborating with the education sector to better understand their specific needs.
