According to a recent survey, half of all Australian teachers are considering leaving their jobs due to unmanageable workloads, teacher shortages, and having to teach subjects outside of their area of expertise.
According to a survey conducted by the Black Dog Institute and released on Saturday, over 47% of instructors are considering leaving the field within the next year.
Associate Professor Aliza Werner-Seidler, Head of Population Mental Health at Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, stated that the data “suggests we are looking at a profession in crisis.”
The burden on teachers is increasing as they work longer hours with fewer resources, leading to a rise in burnout and time off for mental illness.
The 47% percentage is a sharp contrast to the 2021 results, when 14% were thinking about leaving in the following year.
More than 4000 teachers participated in this year’s nationally representative study, which also revealed that 85% of respondents came at work earlier than necessary and 70% of teachers reported having unmanageable workloads.
While the cohort indicated levels of moderate to severe stress, depression, and anxiety significantly above the general population, three-quarters of respondents said there was now teacher shortages in their schools.
According to Dr. Werner-Seidler, it is evident that instructors are not receiving the necessary mental health support.
“Teacher wellbeing has effects on non-teachers as well. According to research, teacher well-being can also affect students’ academic and emotional outcomes as well as parents’ economic productivity and emotional well-being.
According to the study, more focused government funding for initiatives that support improved teacher mental health is required.
The research was deemed “damning” by the NSW Teachers Union.
President Angelo Gavrielatos stated that “this dismal report again underscores the effect and severity of the teacher shortage situation in NSW.”
“Unsustainable workloads lead to burnout in teachers and educational gaps for students.
Many teachers are being forced to teach subjects outside of their areas of competence, which increases stress and anxiety and contributes to burnout because the (state) government is doing nothing to alleviate the teacher shortage situation.
This Monday, NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said that concerns of a teacher shortage were exaggerated, noting that one or no teaching posts were available in three out of four public schools.
