New data shows more people applying to become school teachers

New data shows more people applying to become school teachers.

Data analysis by the Department of Education shows both applications and offers are up for people wanting to study an undergraduate course in education.

Overall, preliminary results from tertiary admission centres are showing a 7 per cent increase in applications and a 14 per cent increase in offers compared to 2024.

These positive early results come after the Albanese Labor Government and state and territory governments have been working together to tackle the teacher workforce shortage through the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan.

Many states and territories have delivered significant pay increases for the teaching profession over the past two years.

They have also taken important steps to help reduce teacher workload. 

The Albanese Government brought back teaching scholarships worth up to $40,000 each to encourage more people to study teaching. 

And for the first time ever, the Australian Government is introducing a Prac Payment for teaching students which provides financial support while they do the practical part of their course. 

These initiatives come on top of the biggest reforms to teacher training in a generation, which include a stronger focus on how to teach children to read and write and do maths and manage behaviour.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Being a teacher is the most important job in the world, and we don't have enough of them.

“The Liberals ripped the guts out of public school funding and under them, the teacher shortage crisis got worse. 

“We’re now starting to see this turn around.

“I want more young people to leap out of high school and want to become a teacher, rather than a lawyer or a banker.

“That’s why we are tackling the teacher workforce shortage with teaching scholarships, reforms to teacher training and paid prac for teaching students.”

Additional background

Tertiary Admissions Centre total (undergraduates) – preliminary data⁽¹⁾ as at 16 January each reporting year
 

1.    Domestic, undergraduate student applications and offers for first semester study in Commonwealth Supported Places at Table A universities
2.    Data reflect each applicant’s highest preference application and the most recent offer made to each applicant (one application and one offer per person).