More than 25,000 teachers and school support staff who were previously on uncertain temporary contracts are now in permanent roles, keeping more teachers in the classroom and delivering better outcomes for students across New South Wales.
These reforms are attracting more teachers into the classroom and helping to retain those already there, resulting in teacher vacancies falling to a 12-year low and the number of merged and cancelled classes in NSW halving since the election of the Labor Government.
In addition to ensuring there are more teachers in our schools, these changes are also improving student outcomes with NSW now leading the nation, ranking first or equal first across multiple year levels in writing, reading, grammar, and numeracy.
Since July 2023, permanent roles have been delivered for 14,672 teachers and 10,363 school staff that were previously stuck on temporary contracts, in the largest transition of staff from temporary to permanent employment across the NSW public sector in a decade.
This far exceeds the government’s commitment at the 2023 NSW election to transition 10,000 teachers and 6,000 support staff to permanent contracts.
Temporary teacher numbers in NSW public schools surged under the former Liberal National government, with temporary teacher numbers more than doubling on their watch, leaving many staff on short-term contracts despite long-term commitments to their schools.
The transition of these staff follows the Minns Labor Government abolishing the Liberals and Nationals wages cap, taking NSW teachers from the worst paid to the best paid in the country.
The government is also delivering the largest school infrastructure build in NSW history, including a record $9 billion investment that is delivering 230 new and upgraded school and preschools.
This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education in NSW, ensuring every family has access to a world-class public education with a qualified teacher in every classroom.
Premier Chris Minns said:
“My dad was a public school teacher so I know just how important having a great teacher in front of a classroom is for our kids.
“We’ve moved more than 25,000 teachers and school support staff from uncertain temporary contracts to permanent roles so that our kids have the certainty of a teacher they know in front of their class.
“These reforms are making a real difference improving student results while driving teacher vacancies to a 12 year low and halving the number of merged and cancelled classes in NSW”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
“Students benefit from consistency. When teachers and support staff are part of a school long-term, it supports settled classrooms and strengthens learning outcomes.
“That is why the Minns Labor Government has made it our priority to restore job security and improved wages for teachers and staff who are critical to the education of our future leaders.
“Thousands of teachers and staff in our public schools now have the certainty that comes with a permanent job. That stability matters, not just for staff, but for the students and communities they support every day.”
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