How will Labor incentivise teachers to pursue continued learning in disability education in NSW schools?

Today, while chairing a Budget Estimates hearing, Abigail pressed the Minister for Education on how teachers will be encouraged to engage in professional development in disability related areas now that Labor has removed it as a mandatory requirement.

The CHAIR (Abigail Boyd): The recent announcement in relation to the requirement for teachers—previously they had to complete the 50 hours of education in disability, mental health and Aboriginal education. I know that you've not had time to consider our full report coming out of our recent inquiry, but one of the recommendations was around how we, I guess, incentivise teachers to continue to learn, particularly in areas to do with disability. Appreciating the need for teacher autonomy and respecting that, when you made that decision to remove that requirement, were there thoughts given to what else we can do?

Ms PRUE CAR (Minister for Education): There's no doubt that we need to support the professional development of teachers to continue to upskill when it comes to servicing an increasing student population with disability. The changes that were announced recently about professional development were about trusting the profession to be able to choose which professional development is relevant to them in their professional setting, as is pretty much afforded any other profession that has similar accreditation requirements. We trust teachers to be able to do that. It significantly cuts down workload. Every single sector was calling on this. I'm very proud of the work that the NESA board did on this with all three sectors—not just public schools but Catholic and independent school teachers as well. We have made it very clear that the professional development needs to be of the highest standard and relevant to their setting. I would absolutely bet my bottom dollar that there will be lots of teachers that will be using the opportunity to upskill using PD on disability. We'll be doing everything we can. I'm sure that we're intimately involved in that.

The CHAIR: And we can track that data—

Ms PRUE CAR: Absolutely.

The CHAIR: —so I'll no doubt be asking you again in a year's time.

Ms PRUE CAR: There'll be regular audits is my understanding.

27 August 2024

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How will Labor incentivise teachers to pursue continued learning in disability education in NSW schools?

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