SA teachers out of pocket $1000 per year to run classes, Education Union survey finds

South Australian teachers are shelling out $1000 from their own pockets a year to keep their classes running, a survey shows, and it’s coming at more than just the monetary cost.

Performing arts teacher Nartarsha Ikiua is regularly out of pocket more than $1000 every year, just to make sure her students can pass her class.

The teacher of more than 16 years, now at Port Augusta High School, shells out her own money to provide costumes, dance shoes and resources for her students.

“Most of these students are borderline what’s classified as the poverty line,” Ms Ikiua, 38, said.

“If I don’t do it, these guys get nothing and they won’t have the opportunities.”

She is not alone as South Australian teachers are spending almost $1000 per year out of their own pocket to make sure their classes have resources such as textbooks and stationery, a new survey has revealed.

Port Augusta High School performing arts teacher Nartarsha Ikiua has to spend out of pocket to make sure her students can participate in class. Picture: Supplied.

The national survey for the Australian Education Union, conducted by Insync Research, asked more than 15,000 teachers, principals and support staff about funding at school.

It involved about 1800 South Australian school staff.

The average out of pocket spend for SA school staff was $939, up $170 on the same figures from 2023, equal with their counterparts in NSW and a higher figure than in the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania.

The vast majority of school staff said they shelled out their own money to buy classroom equipment (83 per cent) and stationery (79 per cent).

Just 25 per cent of SA respondents felt their school was adequately resourced and 84 per cent said they used their own money to purchase supplies or equipment for classes.

Ms Ikiua spends between $2000 and $4000 per year, but will only receive half of that back from the school.

She said “without doubt” the money spent on students is making budget decisions at home more difficult.

“My kids have sometimes made the mention that my classroom is more important than my family, that has been said a couple of times in previous years,” Ms Ikiua said.

It has also meant that she has had to forgo trips with her family.

“Do I really want to live the next 15 years like that? Do I want to miss out on life just so my class can function?” she said.

Ms Ikiua said she would not have to make these decisions “if classrooms were fully funded”.

Education Department chief executive Professor Martin Westwell said “each site manages their own budget” and “it is not our expectation that teachers spend their own money”.

“That is also why earlier this year, the State Government made an announcement about teachers having up-to-date, portable, personal digital devices for teaching and student administration,” Prof Westwell said.