NSW teachers finalise pay deal

NSW public school teachers have accepted a three-year award agreement from the State Government, receiving a 3 per cent pay increase annually for the next three years.

The vote formally completes last year’s four-year pay deal and ensures the state’s 95,000 public teachers will maintain highly competitive salaries.

The agreement follows the once-in-a-generation pay rise last year, which saw starting salaries lift from $75,791 to $85,000, and top-of-the-scale teacher salaries from $113,042 to $122,100.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said that pay was a function of respect.

“Teacher vacancies have fallen by 24 per cent year on year, and we are committed to continuing our work addressing the teacher shortage crisis we inherited from the former government,” Ms Car said.

“Having teachers in front of classrooms, providing high-quality learning to students is the key to improving learning outcomes in the state.

“Offering better conditions and work-life balance will help us to attract new teachers and ensure those already teaching will stay on board”.

The agreement also offers improved workplace flexibility, which aims to improve attraction and retention, including opportunities for job-sharing, part-time employment, and full-time and part-time leave without pay.

Initiatives to maximise teaching time include capping regular after-school meetings to one hour a week and after-school events requiring planning with reasonable notice.

Teachers will also be provided with additional school development days for the duration of the three-year agreement to assist with rolling out the new curriculum with a focus on explicit teaching.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said the Government’s new industrial relations framework was working.

“It recognises not only the important work our educators provide but acknowledges and rewards their efforts and, at the same time, helps address the teacher shortage crisis,” Ms Cotsis said.

As part of its work to support the public school system, the NSW Government has also converted more than 16,000 temporary teachers and support staff to permanent roles and has banned mobile phones in schools to improve student behaviour.

In addition, the expanded School Administration Reduction Program trial aims to streamline teachers’ non-classroom work.

NSW public schools reported 24 per cent fewer vacancies than at the same time last year, and teacher vacancies are currently at a three-year low of just over 1600.