Career change teachers

Australia is facing a teacher shortage crisis. Consequently, there have been concerted efforts by governments to attract people into teaching from other sections of the workforce. However, career change teachers often do not stay longer than five years in the profession. There is little evidence on how their retention can be enhanced. This project aims to better understand the differing motivations and experiences of these teachers from diverse backgrounds, and to determine how they can be better prepared and supported through their early years of teaching. A clear benefit of this project will be the longer term success for career change teachers and their schools and will ensure young people are not disadvantaged by high teacher turnover.

The QTU joins with other stakeholders in the Australian Research Council Linkage Project (2022-2025). The research team consist of Professor Martin Mills (QUT), Professor Terri Bourke (QUT), Professor Simone White, Associate Professor Lisa van Leent (QUT) and Associate Professor Reece Mills (QUT). QTU’s Research Officer, Dr Craig Wood, is recognised as a Partner Investigator on the team.