Day 8 teacher shortages: Full list of southeast QLD schools still looking for staff

TPAQ secretary Tracy Tully said schools across the state were struggling to fill about 2000 relief teaching positions and teacher vacancies had increased since last year’s Covid dismissals.

She said a 4 per cent Enterprise Bargaining Agreement struck last year between the government and the Queensland Teachers’ Union failed.

“These ads show there is still a serious teacher shortage especially in the southeast, where there are many opportunities for those with teaching skills,” Ms Tully said.

“Even the prestigious schools are struggling to fill positions after last year’s Covid dismissals.

“Teachers, unlike other government workers, are forced to do overtime without financial remuneration, which equates to wage theft.

“The Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland proposed 7 per cent in line with the reality of rising costs.”

But Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard, who was acting as Education Minister last week, dismissed the staffing shortage claims and said incentives including better pay were in place to retain and attract teachers.

She said 6000 new teachers and almost 1500 new teacher aides had been employed in the past five years with the state on track to employing the full-time equivalent of 6190 new teachers.

“There are wage rises of 4 per cent, 4 per cent, and 3 per cent over three years, and a cost-of living adjustment payment each year of the wage agreement.”

Queensland Education said 95 per cent of state school primary classes and 97 per cent of state secondary classes achieved the agreed class-size targets last year.

The majority of classes where the targets had blown out, were over by “just one or two students”, the department said.