“Bringing together Australia’s education ministers was an important first step to get to the bottom of how we attract and retain the nation’s teachers,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.

“It is good to see concrete actions from today’s meeting, including an action plan to be formulated by the Secretary of the Federal Department of Education this December.

“It has also been very pleasing to see national discussion this week around intelligent, practical solutions to teachers’ shortages.

“Teachers have the vital job of educating our kids, they deserve more respect.

“We welcome the positive response from ministers who have today discussed and will consider our proposal to create a degree apprenticeship system designed to offer student teachers more time in schools with a job at the end of it.

“The conversation around fast-tracking visa processing for people seeking to teach in high-demand subjects is also welcome as we approach the upcoming jobs and skills summit.

“We look forward to working with University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott on reforms to initial teacher education.

“Universities can help deliver a range of other practical solutions – from expanding programs to get student teachers into classrooms sooner and for longer, to creating recruitment portals that link new graduates to open vacancies in our schools.

“Working closely with governments, schools and unions, universities look forward to supporting the development of the action plan and driving long-term, meaningful change.”

Universities Australia’s policy resource on practical pathways to help fix the national teachers’ shortage can be viewed here.