Local teachers under pressure

Originally published in The Nyngan Weekly

Teachers across the state participated in historic strike action last Thursday, June 30, calling on the state government to better address teacher shortages, low pay, and workloads.

Teachers from Nyngan’s public and catholic schools met at the Big Bogan on Thursday morning before some went to Dubbo for strike action.

Nyngan teachers’ federation president Richard Milligan said teaching is in a crisis and teachers deserve ‘More than thanks’.

“I know teachers, great passionate teachers, who made more money with far less stress as a machine operator and are sadly considering moving back to that sort of work.

“A job where you get paid better per hour, with less stress, and you get to leave it behind at the end of the day to spend time with your family is a very attractive proposition,” he said.

Addressing the group Mr Milligan said that a shortage of teachers was imminent in Nyngan, with the Nyngan High School having no success in filling positions first advertised in term one of 2022.

“Nyngan is a great place to teach, and the schools are great, but our Nyngan schools are already having a serious struggle finding staff for vacant positions, which is going to get much worse.

“This puts so much pressure on schools, with everyone filling gaps. Despite a lot of hard work from our principal, repeated advertisements, posts on social media by the school and by teachers - we have jobs that have been on show all year, but no-one interested.

“I’m certain that schools like ours in Nyngan are going to have a really tough time in the next decade and beyond because of the lack of teachers in the system.”

Ironically, the group reported that some teachers were unable to attend the strike due to exhaustion. Additionally, some chose to stay at home to catch up on work. Mr Milligan said that Nyngan is a wonderful place to live and work. However, with many jobs available in the area, if something did- n’t change he warned that teachers would look to other employment.

“We all know a mine or two nearby looking for workers. That’s where it’s got to for teachers. Another passionate teacher, one of the best I know, cannot in good conscience encourage her children to be teachers- the way the job has become. That’s terribly sad.”

Mr Milligan said up to ten staff had been lost across the region this year. He warned that teachers aren’t just leaving country areas, but moving onto new professions entirely.

“Once they move on, they won’t come back, unless they see change in the job. They want something that is a sustainable proposition for them and their family.”

NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said Thursday’s strike was the biggest

in more than 20 years. “Thousands of classes are uncovered across the state because of a lack of teachers- the Premier is failing teachers and he is failing students.

“Our students are relying on us to secure the changes needed stop the teacher shortages. We cannot let them down,” he said.

Independent Education Union NSW/ACT branch secretary Mark Northam said teachers are signalling their strong discontent to Catholic employers and the state government.

Mr Milligan said that teachers’ work conditions should be important to broader community, and not just those working in schools.

“People should be angry with a government that has had all the information at hand for years about this growing crisis but is failing to respond. Teachers shouldn’t have to strike- it’s costly and disruptive- we’ve lost three days of wages so far- but we care about our kids, our faltering col- leagues, and the future of our schools,” said Mr Milligan.

16 major rallies were held across NSW and the ACT, in the first joint action by the two unions in almost 30 years.