Appendix 1 - A national profile of Australian teachers
There is no detailed and nationally comparable data
available on which to develop a comprehensive profile of the Australian
teaching force. However, from the data supplied in submissions and at public
hearings the following rough sketch emerges.
A teacher in Australia is likely to be in his/her mid
forties.
Almost half the teaching workforce is four year trained.
Another quarter is currently upgrading its qualifications. Over 50% of secondary
teachers are female and this proportion increases to around 75% of primary
teachers.
Teachers are most likely to leave the profession within the
first two years, or after 10 to 15 years of service. Those who stay on will
probably retire between the ages of 55 and 60.
The majority reach the top of their salary scale within 10
years. Promotion opportunities are limited and in most cases lead out of the
classroom. Promotional opportunities continue to favour males, despite the
large proportion of females in the teaching workforce.
Very few teachers are from non English speaking backgrounds.
While still small in number, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teaching
force is increasing as a result of government initiatives designed to recruit
and train more teachers from this group. Retention of Aboriginal teachers
remains a problem.
Contract employment is increasingly replacing permanent
employment.
The following tables provide further information on the
backgrounds and career paths of Australia's teachers and are taken from the Graduate
Destination Survey, 1996 published by the Graduate Careers Council of
Australia.
This table gives an indication of the number of people from
Non-English speaking backgrounds who undertake an Education course leading to a
teaching career.
|
|
Non-English speaking
Background |
English speaking Background |
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
All
|
Males
|
Females
|
All
|
|
Agricultures
|
0.9
|
0.4
|
0.6
|
2.5
|
1.1
|
1.6
|
|
Architecture, Building, Urban
& Reg. Planning
|
2.9
|
1.3
|
2.0
|
3.1
|
1.2
|
1.9
|
|
Humanities, Social Science
Visual & Perform Arts |
11.2
|
25.2
|
19.3
|
18.2
|
29.2
|
25.1
|
|
Business, Administration,
Economics
|
26.1
|
20.9
|
23.1
|
23.0
|
12.5
|
16.5
|
|
Education
|
4.2
|
12.5
|
9.0
|
8.3
|
18.3
|
14.6
|
|
Engineering, Surveying
|
17.8
|
2.4
|
8.9
|
12.5
|
1.3
|
5.5
|
|
Health
|
11.6
|
19.7
|
16.3
|
8.2
|
22.7
|
13.5
|
|
Law, Legal Studies
|
3.5
|
3.2
|
3.3
|
4.4
|
3.2
|
3.7
|
|
Science
|
21.8
|
14.3
|
17.4
|
19.3
|
10.0
|
13.5
|
|
Veterinary Science
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
Note:
Only graduates with Australian Citizenship and permanent residence were used in
this comparasion. No overseas graduates were included.
Source: Graduate Destination Survey, 1996, Table 12 p.30
Destination, Bachelor Education Degree Graduates (%)
|
|
Males
|
Female
|
All
|
|
Avail.FT. Employ
|
79.2
|
71.7
|
73.3
|
|
FT Study
|
11.9
|
14.9
|
14.3
|
|
PT Employment
|
6.6
|
10.0
|
9.3
|
|
Unavailable
|
2.3
|
3.4
|
3.1
|
|
Total %
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
|
Number
|
1,206
|
4,210
|
5,416
|
Graduate Destination Survey, 1996, p.40
Main Occupations, Full-time employment (%), of
Education Degree Graduates
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
All
|
|
Primary Teacher
|
24.3
|
39.9
|
36.1
|
|
Secondary Teacher
|
34.8
|
22.4
|
25.5
|
|
Pre-Primary Teacher
|
1.2
|
12.6
|
9.8
|
|
Other Teacher
|
13.2
|
8.4
|
9.6
|
|
Management/Admin
|
5.4
|
3.1
|
3.7
|
|
Clerical/Sales
|
5.2
|
6.3
|
5.5
|
|
All others
|
15.9
|
7.3
|
9.8
|
|
TOTAL
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
|
Number
|
773
|
2,358
|
3,131
|
Graduate Destination Survey Statistics 1996
|
Total number of Graduates
(1995 completers surveyed in
1996)
125,361 |
Total number of Usable
responses To 1996 survey
88,797
|
Response Rate
70.8%
|
The following table reveals the employment status of
Education graduates who responded to the Graduate Destination Survey, 1996.
|
|
Initial
Teacher Education
General |
Teacher
Education
General |
Early
Childhood Teacher
Education |
Primary
Teacher
Education |
Secondary
Teacher
Education |
TAFE
Teacher
Education |
Special
Teacher
Education |
Teacher
Education
General |
Early
Childhood
Teacher
Education |
Primary
Teacher
Education |
Secondary
Teacher
Education |
| |
FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT |
|
Schools
|
40.0
|
29.8
|
43.2
|
42.2
|
53.5
|
2.9
|
62.5
|
60.7
|
40.8
|
62.1
|
56.5
|
|
Higher Education
|
0
|
8.2
|
0.5
|
0.7
|
1.3
|
38.2
|
0
|
1.2
|
3.8
|
1.0
|
5.4
|
|
Other Education &
Training
|
0
|
4.4
|
2.9
|
1.1
|
1.7
|
7.4
|
2.8
|
4.7
|
5.4
|
1.4
|
2.0
|
|
TOTAL Education
|
40.0
|
42.4
|
46.5
|
44.0
|
56.5
|
48.5
|
65.3
|
66.7
|
50.0
|
64.5
|
63.9
|
|
Other Full-Time Employment n.e.i.
|
0
|
0.5
|
5.0
|
1.1
|
0.7
|
0.4
|
0
|
2.5
|
12.3
|
0.3
|
0
|
|
TOTAL Full-Time Employment
|
40.0
|
62.4
|
66.0
|
48.5
|
63.8
|
79.4
|
69.4
|
74.9
|
76.2
|
69.7
|
70.7
|
| |
SEEKING FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT |
|
Work P/T seeking F/T
Employment
|
0
|
11.3
|
7.0
|
13.6
|
15.6
|
7.0
|
5.6
|
6.4
|
3.1
|
10.2
|
8.2
|
|
Not working, seeking F/T
Employment
|
0
|
4.3
|
2.6
|
2.8
|
3.3
|
2.2
|
0
|
1.8
|
0.8
|
2.0
|
1.4
|
|
TOTAL seeking F/T
Employment
|
0
|
15.6
|
9.6
|
16.3
|
18.9
|
9.2
|
5.6
|
8.2
|
3.8
|
12.2
|
9.5
|
| |
NOT SEEKING FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT |
|
Work P/T Not seeking F/T
Employment
|
0
|
10.7
|
10.0
|
7.7
|
7.4
|
5.5
|
15.3
|
7.9
|
13.8
|
11.5
|
5.4
|
|
Not Working, seeking P/T,
Casual Employment
|
0
|
0.6
|
0
|
1.6
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
1.4
|
1.2
|
0
|
0.8
|
0.7
|
|
TOTAL Not seeking F/T
Employment
|
0
|
11.3
|
10.9
|
9.2
|
7.8
|
5.9
|
16.7
|
9.1
|
13.8
|
12.4
|
6.1
|
| |
STUDYING FULL-TIME |
|
Honours Year
|
0
|
0.2
|
0.9
|
1.3
|
0.8
|
0.7
|
0
|
0.1
|
0
|
0.1
|
0.7
|
|
Higher Degree
|
40.0
|
1.1
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
1.1
|
0
|
0
|
0.7
|
0
|
0.2
|
0
|
|
Other Degree or Diploma
|
0
|
06.7
|
8.2
|
20.0
|
4.2
|
1.8
|
4.2
|
1.1
|
1.5
|
1.8
|
10.2
|
|
Other Full-Time Study
|
0
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
1.0
|
0.4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.2
|
0
|
|
TOTAL Full-Time Study
|
40.0
|
8.5
|
10.0
|
22.6
|
6.5
|
2.6
|
4.2
|
1.9
|
1.5
|
2.2
|
10.9
|
| |
UNAVAILABLE |
|
Unavailable F/T Employment
or F/T Study
|
20.0
|
2.1
|
3.5
|
3.4
|
2.9
|
2.9
|
4.2
|
5.8
|
4.6
|
3.5
|
2.7
|
| |
GRAND TOTAL |
|
TOTAL RESPONDENTS, %
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
|
Number
|
5
|
655
|
658
|
2,450
|
1,304
|
272
|
72
|
825
|
130
|
1,189
|
147
|
Source:
Graduate Destination Survey, 1996 p.57
(Australian
Citizens/permanent residents only)
Main destinations of bachelor degree graduates of
all ages by field of study, 1996*
|
Field
Of
Study
|
(1)
Avail.
For
FT
Emp
(%)
|
(1a)
In
FT
Emp.
(%)
|
(1b)
Seek
FT empl.
Work
PT
(%) |
(1c)
Seek
FT empl
Not
Work
(%) |
(2)
In
FT
Study
(%)
|
(3)
Not
Wrk
Seek
PT
Emp.
(%) |
(4)
Wrk
PT
Not
Seek
FT emp.
(%) |
(5)
Not avail
For emp
Or
Study
(%) |
(6)
Total
No. |
(7)
Median
Srting
Salary
(1st FT
empl)
($,000) |
(8)
% had
same FT
emp. As
fnl yr
(%) |
|
Agriculture
|
75.5
|
78.5
|
9.9
|
11.6
|
17.0
|
0.3
|
4.2
|
3.1
|
913
|
26.8
|
11.1
|
|
Architecture
|
68.1
|
84.1
|
7.2
|
8.7
|
23.0
|
0.1
|
4.5
|
4.2
|
709
|
23.0
|
7.1
|
|
Building & Related
|
88.8
|
83.8
|
6.9
|
9.4
|
7.4
|
0.6
|
0.0
|
3.2
|
312
|
28.0
|
28.8
|
|
Urban/Reg. Planning
|
85.0
|
84.1
|
8.0
|
8.0
|
12.6
|
0.0
|
1.9
|
0.5
|
207
|
31.0
|
26.1
|
|
Humanities
|
48.7
|
68.3
|
17.1
|
14.6
|
35.6
|
1.9
|
8.0
|
5.8
|
7388
|
26.0
|
11.2
|
|
Languages
|
44.7
|
66.5
|
21.0
|
12.5
|
39.8
|
2.1
|
7.4
|
6.1
|
1288
|
26.3
|
6.5
|
|
Visual/P'forming Art
|
52.6
|
52.9
|
22.6
|
24.5
|
26.2
|
2.2
|
14.2
|
4.8
|
2255
|
25.0
|
2.7
|
|
Social Sciences
|
55.1
|
67.0
|
17.3
|
15.6
|
27.5
|
1.9
|
10.2
|
5.2
|
1623
|
28.0
|
11.6
|
|
Psychology
|
43.3
|
65.9
|
20.5
|
13.6
|
41.3
|
1.2
|
9.5
|
4.6
|
2888
|
27.0
|
8.0
|
|
Social Work
|
82.2
|
81.7
|
10.6
|
7.8
|
3.7
|
1.4
|
9.7
|
3.0
|
657
|
29.2
|
11.9
|
|
Business Studies
|
82.3
|
79.5
|
11.8
|
8.7
|
10.8
|
0.4
|
3.7
|
2.9
|
5262
|
27.9
|
21.6
|
|
Accounting
|
87.6
|
87.7
|
4.8
|
7.5
|
7.8
|
0.3
|
1.8
|
2.6
|
4302
|
27.0
|
25.8
|
|
Economics
|
69.0
|
78.8
|
11.1
|
10.1
|
23.7
|
0.4
|
3.3
|
3.5
|
1580
|
28.0
|
10.6
|
|
Education: Initial
|
73.3
|
78.8
|
17.1
|
4.1
|
14.3
|
1.0
|
8.3
|
3.1
|
5416
|
29.0
|
12.1
|
|
Education: Post/Other
|
80.6
|
87.8
|
9.9
|
2.3
|
3.1
|
1.0
|
10.7
|
4.6
|
2998
|
34.0
|
54.0
|
|
Engineering: Aero
|
84.9
|
75.4
|
12.7
|
11.9
|
8.6
|
0.0
|
3.6
|
2.9
|
139
|
34.3
|
26.6
|
|
Engineering: Chemical
|
77.6
|
81.9
|
5.6
|
12.5
|
15.4
|
0.0
|
2.0
|
5.0
|
299
|
34.2
|
3.0
|
|
Engineering: Civil
|
91.7
|
89.6
|
3.2
|
7.2
|
5.2
|
0.1
|
0.9
|
2.1
|
773
|
31.0
|
15.7
|
|
Engineering: Elect’l
|
88.3
|
88.7
|
2.9
|
8.4
|
9.6
|
0.2
|
0.8
|
1.2
|
512
|
33.0
|
22.3
|
|
Eng: Elect/Comp.
|
85.4
|
84.9
|
4.8
|
10.3
|
11.2
|
0.6
|
1.1
|
1.7
|
636
|
33.0
|
11.6
|
|
Engineering: Mech’l
|
88.3
|
83.4
|
5.6
|
11.0
|
6.1
|
0.4
|
1.1
|
4.1
|
724
|
33.0
|
14.2
|
|
Engineering:Mining
|
92.3
|
98.1
|
0.9
|
0.9
|
3.4
|
0.0
|
1.7
|
2.6
|
117
|
43.0
|
2.6
|
|
Engineering: Other
|
89.6
|
84.8
|
5.1
|
10.0
|
6.9
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
2.5
|
479
|
33.0
|
15.0
|
|
Surveying
|
89.4
|
89.8
|
6.3
|
3.9
|
8.5
|
0.0
|
0.7
|
1.4
|
142
|
30.0
|
11.3
|
|
Dentistry
|
90.4
|
93.2
|
4.3
|
2.5
|
2.8
|
0.0
|
2.8
|
3.9
|
178
|
40.0
|
1.7
|
|
Health: Other
|
77.7
|
88.1
|
6.7
|
5.2
|
13.8
|
0.3
|
6.1
|
2.1
|
1733
|
28.0
|
18.9
|
|
Nursing: Initial
|
83.9
|
90.6
|
7.7
|
1.7
|
2.7
|
0.4
|
10.6
|
2.5
|
3915
|
27.0
|
8.7
|
|
Nursing: Post
|
66.7
|
93.6
|
5.8
|
0.6
|
2.6
|
0.9
|
25.8
|
4.1
|
2371
|
33.6
|
45.6
|
|
Pharmacy
|
88.3
|
96.4
|
0.7
|
2.9
|
9.8
|
0.6
|
1.0
|
0.3
|
315
|
21.8
|
3.2
|
|
Medicine
|
96.3
|
99.9
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
2.2
|
0.1
|
0.5
|
0.9
|
988
|
40.0
|
1.3
|
|
Rehabilitation
|
88.4
|
91.5
|
5.4
|
3.1
|
3.1
|
0.5
|
6.2
|
1.8
|
1063
|
29.0
|
0.9
|
|
Law
|
74.0
|
91.6
|
4.1
|
4.3
|
18.9
|
0.5
|
3.0
|
3.6
|
1700
|
27.5
|
13.8
|
|
Law: Other
|
64.8
|
84.9
|
8.5
|
6.6
|
26.5
|
0.5
|
6.0
|
2.1
|
563
|
25.9
|
20.6
|
|
Computer Sciences
|
80.6
|
82.7
|
5.9
|
11.5
|
15.3
|
0.2
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
22.42
|
30.2
|
17.7
|
|
Life Sciences
|
46.0
|
61.5
|
21.3
|
17.1
|
45.2
|
0.6
|
5.1
|
3.2
|
4912
|
27.5
|
4.7
|
|
Mathematics
|
53.9
|
67.0
|
10.5
|
22.6
|
36.4
|
0.4
|
5.5
|
3.8
|
781
|
30.0
|
8.8
|
|
Chemistry
|
48.3
|
70.2
|
9.5
|
20.2
|
46.6
|
0.1
|
2.6
|
2.4
|
870
|
29.0
|
6.6
|
|
Physical Sciences
|
43.9
|
67.0
|
13.0
|
20.0
|
50.1
|
0.2
|
2.1
|
3.6
|
421
|
30.0
|
9.5
|
|
Geology
|
51.5
|
85.2
|
7.7
|
7.2
|
42.6
|
0.0
|
2.2
|
2.7
|
406
|
36.0
|
3.7
|
|
Veterinary Science
|
86.6
|
94.4
|
2.3
|
3.3
|
10.9
|
0.0
|
0.8
|
1.6
|
247
|
30.0
|
0.0
|
|
TOTAL (all ages)
|
68.8
|
80.6
|
10.8
|
8.5
|
20.0
|
0.8
|
6.8
|
3.5
|
64324
|
29.0
|
15.5
|
|
FEMALE (all ages)
|
66.4
|
80.2
|
12.2
|
7.6
|
19.4
|
1.1
|
9.2
|
4.1
|
39535
|
28.0
|
14.0
|
|
MALE (all ages)
|
72.8
|
81.3
|
8.8
|
9.9
|
21.0
|
0.5
|
3.1
|
2.7
|
24789
|
30.0
|
17.9
|
Source: Graduate Destination Survey, 1996, Table
4.1(a), p. 72
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