- Public
school teachers and leaders to receive 12 per cent pay rise over three years,
effective from 6 December 2023 under new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement
- Teacher
workload to be addressed with additional support and classroom resources
- New
initiatives to attract and support quality teachers in regional and remote
areas
The Cook Government today
confirmed significant investment in public education under a new Enterprise
Bargaining Agreement (Agreement) that will increase wages for public school
teachers, address workload issues, enhance career pathways, and attract more
quality teachers to regional and remote areas.
Following negotiations
with the State School Teachers' Union of Western Australia (SSTUWA) and
Principals' Federation of Western Australia (PFWA), teachers and school leaders
will receive a 12 per cent pay rise over three years and improvements to a
range of conditions associated with leave, allowances and professional
learning.
Support for classroom teachers will also be strengthened
with small group tuition in 350 schools focusing on literacy and numeracy,
allowing students to develop these fundamental skills.
To help students facing unique challenges that require
extra support, 64 new complex behaviour management coordinators will also be
introduced. These experts will work alongside classroom teachers to create
tailored education programs to help students with disabilities and learning
challenges, so every child receives the attention and resources they need to
succeed.
The Agreement also
includes new district allowances to attract and retain more teachers in remote
and regional areas. This includes incentive payments to develop leaders in
regional areas and attract accomplished teachers to those schools with the
greatest need.
Through ongoing
consultation, the expertise of the SSTUWA and PFWA will help to inform the
design and implementation of new initiatives.
Summary of Benefits:
Pay increase:
- 5.0% per annum effective on and from 6 December
2023
- 4.0% per annum effective on and from 6 December
2024
- 3.0% per annum effective on and from 6 December
2025.
The Agreement will see a
graduate teacher's starting salary increase by $9,781 to $88,178 and a senior
teacher's salary increase by $14,704 to $132,557.
Experienced Level 3
teachers will earn up to $147,077 and a senior school administrator up to
$206,662.
Attraction and Retention
- Increasing the graduate allowance to give new
teachers more financial support
- Paid time for new starters to complete
professional learning
- Reclassification of several principal positions
- Improvements to long service leave, personal
leave and compassionate leave entitlements
- The introduction of a district allowance for
eligible employees
- Additional travel concessions for staff in the
Pilbara, Kimberley and Goldfields
- Continuation of the extended air conditioning
subsidy for eligible employees.
School Leader and Teacher
Supports
- A new workload taskforce to support staff with
workload management
- Resources to support students who need it the
most, including more staff to help with complex behaviour and run small group
tuition focusing on literacy and numeracy
- Helping classroom teachers meet the individual
needs of students with disabilities and learning challenges.
Improved Career Pathways
- Creation of a new Senior Teacher Level 2
classification
- Trial deployment of experienced teachers and
school leaders to regional schools
- Trial temporary deployment of exemplary teachers
to newly created Level 3.3 positions in schools of most need.
Comments attributed to Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk:
"This is a result that is good for teachers, schools and
students.
"Delivering salary increases of 12 per cent over three years
is a strong outcome, combined with measures to address workload, support
teachers in the classroom and a range of other benefits.
"It's great to see so many teachers vote and endorse the
State Government's offer - I congratulate teachers and unions on this very
positive result."
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"This is a significant investment in the future of public education in
Western Australia that will see teachers, principals and school leaders paid appropriately,
while cutting workload and boosting classroom resources.
"We value our teachers and are committed to enhancing the quality of
education, ensuring that all students succeed.
"Teachers have such an important role in shaping the futures of young
Western Australians, so it is vital that we recognise and reward this
contribution while continuing to advance the profession.
"In addition to these commitments, work continues on a range of
strategies to attract and retain quality teachers, support our workforce, and
strengthen outcomes for students across Western Australia."
