Educators in South Australia are looking at incentives to try and encourage teachers to follow their profession in regional schools. Source: ABC News.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare this week called on his state and territory counterparts to meet to create a national strategy to stop educators leaving the field and to attract more people to the profession.
He said the shortage wasn't about flu and COVID-19 infections keeping teachers out of the classroom, but a drop in people entering the profession and an increase in educators leaving.
SA Department of Education chief executive Martin Westwell said the department was looking at incentive options for regional teachers and ways to create placements for education students to experience living in the country.
Catholic Education South Australia Port Pirie Diocese education director Nicchi Mardon said the education sector needed to "strongly encourage" teachers to work in regional areas.
She said that when people come into regional communities they not only come into a school, but a town and regional community and they find it “so rewarding”.
Ms Mardon said there can be incentives as a part of that, but the heart of attracting people to come to the regions and stay, “is actually to experience an amazing community".
FULL REPORT
Financial incentives for regional teachers pitched to help fill SA skill shortage (By Sam Bradbrook, ABC Riverland)
RELATED COVERAGE
Minister Jason Clare backs push for career-change teachers (The Australian)
