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DECD Aboriginal Teacher Workforce: Key Directions and Doorways to Success

MATSITI 2012 NationalConference, July 9 – 11, 2012

Phil O’LoughlinExecutive DirectorHuman Resources and Workforce ManagementDECD, South Australia

Key Directions and Doorways to Success

• ‘No wrong door’ Approach• Key Directions• Secure Doors• Revolving Doors• Aboriginal Teacher

Workforce Data• Opening Doors• Doorways to Success• Open Door Policy

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‘No wrong door’ Approach

‘No wrong door’ approach to service delivery is embedded in the Directions for the new Department

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Key Directions• effective workforce planning• strong Aboriginal voice in policy development and

implementation• pathways into teaching programs including targeted

scholarships and permanent employment• leadership and up skilling opportunities• Career Intention Survey for Aboriginal employees

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Secure Doors• proof of identity/Aboriginality• legislative and policy requirements • trial of Assessment Centre model to identify Aboriginal people with high potential to

teach

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Revolving DoorsRetaining our existing Aboriginal teacher workforce in the school

and preschool sector

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Aboriginal Teacher Workforce Profile (school and preschool

sectors)Age: Average is 43 years (46 years for entire teaching

workforce)

Gender: 77% Females and 23% Males

Location: 60% in Metropolitan Schools9% in Aboriginal/Anangu Schools

Classroom experience: 43% are early career teachers(Between 0-4 year experience)

Length of Service: 10 years average (17 years for entire teaching workforce)

13.64% are retained beyond 20 years service(41.03% for entire teaching workforce)

Permanent Employee: 89.4%Strengths: Increased numbers through targeted

scholarships and a high number in early childhood leadership positions

Source: VALEO, DPC Workforce Information Collection, June, 2011Note: FamiliesSA were not transitioned to DECD at this time.Classroom experience was based on 2010 data

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Opening Doors Providing exciting opportunities for the attraction of

high quality Aboriginal teachers• Aboriginal Teaching Scholarships of $10,000 & $20,000 (26)• Aboriginal Pathways into Teaching Pilot Program (10)• Aboriginal Recruitment Guarantee (29)

Doorways to SuccessEffective career development and leadership opportunities

Celebrating the careers of Aboriginal teachers and leaders

• Aboriginal Leadership Scholarship Pilot Program co- funded by MATSITI (2)

• Aboriginal Leadership Register (launched in 2013)• Workforce Development - school leadership

development programs (11) and career profiles of Aboriginal school leaders

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Open Door Policy

Listening and being open to new opportunities

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