Lawrence Ingvarson on the situation and future of the teaching profession in Australia

This interview answers questions on the state of the teaching profession in Australia at present, and the main challenges facing the profession, and the extent to which they are being properly addressed. It responds to questions about the role of the teaching profession in guiding matters such as qualifications, curriculum. professional standards, professional learning and governance. Improving the quality and outcomes of initial teacher education is a priority, and in terms of a teacher supply problem, there is a need to address the quality of the supply problem, much more than the quantity of the supply. The interview concludes with discussion of school leadership, stating that a major need is to build a better integration between career ladders from teacher, to teacher leadership positions and on to school leadership, as defined in current EBAs across the school systems, and the career stages as defined by the current Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher stages.