Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the motion acknowledging the release of the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group report. I thank the member for Bass for raising this matter in parliament. Having well-trained and knowledgeable teachers is the foundation point for a strong, high-quality education system. Driving positive student outcomes through superior teaching can only enhance and highlight Australia's commitment to and support for our education system throughout the world. This report will go a long way in boosting teacher development to the benefit of all involved in education nationwide. Providing a starting point and the means to move forward and begin the implementation of change, this report is designed to have a positive impact on our children's education.

I acknowledge that there are outstanding teachers and support staff who will, no doubt, welcome the report's suggested recommendations, with education outcomes for students at the forefront of the report's focus. Investing in teacher development at the beginning of teacher training is an investment in our ongoing commitment to the provision of quality education in our schools. This is why the Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Christopher Pyne, has agreed to the majority of the recommendations—to improve the content and delivery of teacher education courses in Australia. Positive changes from the implementation of these recommendations will directly impact on teachers, both current and future, and our students will reap the benefits. It is important to note a success of this report was ensuring the demographics and economic circumstances of teachers, students and parents were not a negative factor.

This report is not pointing the finger at people in their role as teachers. The role of teacher is one of the most important in our community. Teachers play an instrumental role in our children's wellbeing and in shaping the future. This report is about identifying ways to make Australian teacher education a high priority focus and to assist and support improvements in teacher education in Australia. Achieving a balance between the academic and practical skills of teachers in our schools will produce an education system designed to hold a central place in Australian society. This is why, as part of the 2015-16 budget, the government is providing $16.9 million over the forward estimates to support the implementation of the report's recommendations.

Schools play a pivotal role in the developmental process of children. In my role I am privileged to visit many schools in my electorate to witness the outstanding work undertaken by dedicated teachers in Dobell. Last week I attended Brooke Avenue Public School and Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College in Tumbi Umbi to experience firsthand how the school community is working with the AVID program. The AVID program aims to instil children with the skills to enable them to achieve goals they might not have thought possible. Part of this program is ensuring teachers have the necessary skills to educate students on how to aspire and progress to attending university. It was great to be advised by the acting principal, Owen Dalkeith, and his dedicated team at Brooke Avenue Public School that already they are noticing a positive difference in the mindset and attitude to learning of students engaged in this program.

In my electorate of Dobell the youth unemployment rate sits at 16.4 per cent. We have a year 12 retention rate of only 47 per cent and this is totally unacceptable. With the recommendations of this report being implemented and with continued support by the government I am looking forward to seeing positive changes to these rates. It is important to remember that the quality of teaching starts with those who enter teaching, the training they are provided and the support they receive. It is important that we equip our next generation of teachers with the valuable tools required to achieve high-quality outcomes in both their education and the education of their future students.

We are fortunate that in Dobell we have many committed and passionate teachers who consistently strive for the best for their students. The implementation of the practical and achievable recommendations suggested in this report can only expand on the potential to make a real impact on the quality of teaching and student outcomes. The investment of training in regards to teacher development will no doubt improve the quality of teaching overall. I welcome this report and I look forward to seeing the benefits come to fruition in my electorate of Dobell. I commend this motion to the House.

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