Respecting the profession vital to attracting and retaining staff

Better pay and working conditions are vital to attracting and retaining staff.

But IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews told HR Leader that “tackling staff shortages also requires listening to teachers and respecting the profession.”

Matthews told the online publication for human resources professionals that improving job satisfaction for teachers and school staff was essential to attract and retain staff.

“Schools and employers must invest in their staff by improving job satisfaction for teachers and school leaders, ensuring sustainable workloads, providing financial stability through fair pay, supporting mental and physical health, and preserving professional autonomy and teacher discretion,” she said.

Matthews’s comments were in response to a survey showing non-government schools continue to face challenges in attracting and retaining staff.

Rising expectations

The Independent schools risk report 2026 from professional services firm Aon found non-government schools are competing for a shrinking pool of qualified teachers as student numbers continue to grow.

Aon education practice leader Lachlan Bowden said non-government schools were operating in an increasingly complex environment due to regulatory change, technology and heightened community expectations.

“Schools are responding to growing expectations around academic performance, student wellbeing and community engagement while managing workforce shortages that continued to place additional pressure on existing staff,” he said.

''Our community must strive to fully value and respect the teaching profession.''

Reduce stress and burnout

Matthews said heavy workloads were leading to teacher burnout and explained why so many leave the profession.

“The safety and wellbeing of school staff are central to a high-quality education system – urgent action is needed to reduce workplace stress and burnout,” she said.

Matthews said “the federal government’s right to disconnect, which protects overworked school staff from unreasonable out-of-hours contact, was an important first step.

“Employers must remove the requirements for teachers to enter data in multiple locations and streamline administrative processes,” she said.

“Teachers should not have to constantly prove they are doing the right thing.

“Our community must strive to fully value and respect the teaching profession.”