Teach For Australia Marks World Teachers’ Day by Highlighting Educators in Disadvantaged Schools
By Harry Taruva — Teach For Australia marks World Teachers’ Day by highlighting its recruitment programme, which has placed nearly 2,000 participants in disadvantaged schools across the country.
Harry Taruva 
Melbourne — Teach For Australia has renewed calls for greater investment in teacher recruitment, professional development and leadership pathways, highlighting the role of educators in improving opportunities for students in disadvantaged communities.
The appeal comes as Australia marks World Teachers’ Day on Friday under the theme Shine a Light on Australia's Teachers, recognising educators who support young people and help address educational inequality.
Teach For Australia (TFA), a non-profit organisation that recruits and develops teachers for schools experiencing disadvantage, says it has placed almost 2,000 participants in classrooms across the country since launching its Leadership Development Program in 2010.
The programme recruits professionals from fields including engineering, science, accounting, law and research, offering them a two-year employment-based pathway into teaching while they complete a Master of Teaching (Secondary).
TFA Chief Executive, Edwina Dohle, said teachers played a role beyond delivering lessons, helping students develop confidence, curiosity and a sense of belonging.
“Great teaching is about so much more than what happens at the front of a classroom.
"It’s about building relationships, inspiring curiosity, creating a sense of belonging and helping young people see a future full of possibility,” Dohle said.
She said the programme sought to attract people who might not otherwise consider teaching, bringing professional and industry experience into classrooms.
According to TFA, half of its programme participants are qualified to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, while 86 per cent have previous professional or industry experience.
All participants are placed in low-socioeconomic, regional or remote schools, where the organisation says the need for quality teachers is greatest.
TFA also reported that 74% of its participants continue teaching for at least another five years after completing the programme's two-year teaching commitment.
Dohle said celebrating teachers should also involve creating more entry routes into the profession and supporting educators to strengthen their teaching skills and leadership capacity.
“We need to create more pathways into the profession, support teachers to develop their practice and leadership, and become the best teachers they possibly can be,” she said.
World Teachers’ Day provides an opportunity to recognise the contribution of educators while drawing attention to the need to attract and retain skilled teachers, particularly in communities facing educational disadvantage.
