What makes people want to become VET teachers? Research findings

Daryl South, Erica Smith, Annette Foley

Research output: Other contribution to conferencePresentation only

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Abstract

This paper addresses the current public debate on a shortage of teachers in and for the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia. The Commonwealth government’s National Skills Commission (NSC) reports on a ‘tightening of the labour market’ for ‘vocational education teachers’ (NSCC, 2022, p.35). In an OECD study, several countries reported severe VET teacher shortages exacerbated by an ageing workforce (Vandeweyer, 2022). It is generally asserted in Australia that a major reason for VET workforce shortages is that pay rates for VET teachers are low compared with the salaries that people could earn in their industry or sector (Productivity Commission, 2021). However, there is currently little or no data either about VET teacher shortages, or about the comparative pay rates for VET teachers compared with the occupations from which VET teachers are typically recruited (Smith, 2023). More research has been done elsewhere; in the U.K., a major research study on recruitment of staff for further education identified ‘push and ‘pull’ factors (ICF for the Education and Training Foundation, 2022.)
This paper reports on part of a 2023 research project which set out to address the lack of Australian data. The two questions for the project were: 1. What were motivations to entry into the VET teaching profession? 2. What factors affects decisions to remain in the profession? The data were collected via an on-line survey of all current students enrolled in VET teacher-training qualifications at two universities in 2023 and those who finished their studies in 2021 and 2022. These students are already practising as VET teachers/trainers in TAFE and other registered training organisations. 146 valid responses were received.
The paper presents quantitative and qualitative data relating to the first research question: the motivations to enter the VET teaching profession. Teachers told us about why they wanted to become VET teachers, about what assisted them and what hindered them, and whether they were paid more or less than before switching careers. The results were analysed by a number of variables including their industry/discipline area, age, gender, prior jobs, employment status as a VET teacher, and length of service.
The project results are already providing data for the Commonwealth government’s VET Workforce Blueprint. The researchers will welcome feedback from audience members at the ACDEVEG conference.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 04 Dec 2023
EventAustralian Council of Deans of Education Vocational Education Group -
Shaping VET teachers for Australia's future: 9th Annual Conference on VET Teaching and VET Teacher Education
- VET Development Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 04 Dec 202304 Dec 2023
https://www.acde.edu.au/acdeveg-conference-2023/

Conference

ConferenceAustralian Council of Deans of Education Vocational Education Group -
Shaping VET teachers for Australia's future: 9th Annual Conference on VET Teaching and VET Teacher Education
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityMelbourne
Period04/12/2304/12/23
Internet address

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