The starting salary for graduate teachers in NSW public schools will rise from $75,791 to $85,000 as part of a new four-year pay deal.
Under the proposal agreed on between the NSW Teachers Federation and the state government, teachers at the top end of the scale will see their salaries increase from $113,042 to $122,100. Meanwhile all teachers, regardless of their experience level, will benefit under a restructuring of the pay scale.
“The teacher shortage is a crisis that brewed for 12 long years. It can only be tackled by paying teachers what they are worth,” said NSW Teachers Federation acting President, Henry Rajendra.
“The proposed agreement is a breakthrough moment. We will attract and retain more hardworking teachers and prevent them drifting to other professions or states.”
Rajendra said thousands of teachers across NSW had fought tirelessly for this result.
“They have done it because they believe in the value and social purpose of the teaching profession. And they believe all kids deserve a decent shot at life, regardless of background or bank balance,” Rajendra said.
The deal will see NSW teachers become among the highest paid public school teachers in the country.
School counsellors will be paid under a new salary scale, recognising their dual qualifications as well as the “acute” staffing shortages in the discipline. Senior psychologists and leaders in psychology practice will have their salaries adjusted to the same level as head teachers, assistant principals, deputy principals and principals.
Minister for Education Prue Car said the NSW government is hopeful this agreement will be made with the teachers’ union and said the negotiation had been her highest priority.
“In order to tackle the teacher shortage crisis we must restore respect to the teaching profession, so teachers are free to do their jobs without additional stress,” Car said.
“While there is much more to do, today marks an important step forward as we continue working to rebuild our state’s education system.”
To make the deal official, the offer must be formally accepted this Saturday at a Teachers Federation state council meeting. The union executive will recommend to that the proposed Heads of Agreement be endorsed.