Queensland, Mackay schools scrambling to find teachers amid housing crisis

A Queensland school principal has put out a desperate call to families as finding a place to live becomes even harder for already stressed teachers with one region struggling to fill positions the most.

Generic school students, school kids, classroom, teacher Picture: Getty Images

A Queensland principal has taken the extraordinary step of reaching out to the school community to help house teachers on the back of a critical shortage across Queensland, with Mackay schools suffering the most.

At Mackay State High School alone there are 13 positions available for 2025, and two never filled in 2024, according to the Queensland Government jobs board.

That’s despite a 12-month accommodation package being offered, in which the department of education pays a teacher’s rent as part of their salary.

Sian Burrows, principal at Mackay Northern Beaches State High School said while her school attracted great teachers to the area, the shortage in housing often meant they had nowhere to live when they arrived.

There are still eight advertised positions for the next school year.

“Some of our regions’ existing teachers cannot find somewhere to live because their landlords have sold their home to owner occupiers,” Ms Burrows said in an email seen by this masthead which asked people to get in touch with her if they had accommodation.

“Teachers are forced to move out and then they cannot find anywhere else to live.

“If schools cannot attract and retain teachers it affects the stability and consistency of tutelage and quality of education our children receive.

“Similarly, if carers cannot attract and retain nurses and carers it affects the quality of care our elders and disabled in the community receive.

“This lack of affordable housing is having an impact on the levels of service available in our region and peoples’ willingness to live here and visit.”

From 122 vacancies in rural and regional schools in Queensland, there are 40 between Mackay, Clermont and Sarina. Picture: Getty Images

Support is currently available for teachers in 30 state schools across Queensland through the Rural and Remote Housing Incentive Scheme — which puts teachers in government-owned housing where it is available or helps them secure a rental.

Those 30 schools have 122 vacancies still open in 2025, with more than half in the Central Region.

Between Mackay State High School, Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, Clermont State School, Pioneer State School Sarina State High School, and Eimeo Road State School, there are 40 vacancies.

But even with money on the table, the rental vacancy rate sitting below 1% means that teachers have to compete in a rental market where people are offering to pay their entire lease upfront.

While teachers in rural and remote schools can also get access to housing owned by the government, that’s not the same in mid-sized coastal cities like Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, or Cairns.

If you’re moving into a town between the big stops, you get accommodation provided, while other schools with shortages have access to a concierge service in which the department of education coordinates with real estate agents to help you find a place to live.

Those lucky enough to score government-owned housing can find themselves in sub-par homes in remote towns.

Teachers are spread thinner as vacancies remain open. Picture: Getty Images

Josh Cleary, acting president Queensland Teachers Union said teachers who were allocated housing deserved a safe, maintained home in line with community expectations.

“For too long teachers have been told to make do in accommodation that is old, in disrepair and no longer fit for purpose, the government and Department of Education are well aware of these long-term issues,” he said.

“These teachers and school leaders are often moving away from their homes to take up these positions, leaving family and friends to keep free education functioning in regional and remote areas, they deserve better.”

This masthead sent a list of questions to the Queensland Department of Education including what specific efforts were being made in Mackay-Whitsundays to get teachers into housing, and whether any other schools had to reach out to the community for spare bedrooms.

A response attributed to Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek pointed to the Rural and Remote Housing Incentive Scheme.

“This scheme is about recognising their efforts and making it easier for them to live and work in communities across Queensland through regional attraction, relocation, and retention payments,” Mr Langbroek said.

“The former Labor Government had a decade to address the challenges facing teachers in rural and remote Queensland and failed to deliver any meaningful support.”

This masthead also asked if Mr Langbroek believed the Rural and Remote Housing Incentive Scheme was not “meaningful support” given it was put in place before the current government.

Greater Whitsunday Communities chief executive, Carol Norris, said the organisation is working on a Housing Alliance Project with Regional Development Australia to attract investment in affordable key worker accommodation but it would take some time.

Until then, they are trying to connect people who have spare rooms at home with teachers, nurses, and care workers out of housing.

“GWC has also called for the State Government to address the issue as a matter of urgency, and headlease accommodation for staff in the regions for 8 to 10 years, to attract private investment in new affordable housing developments,” Ms Norris said.

Greater Whitsunday Communities encouraged anyone with spare rooms or granny flats who was open to taking in a lodger to reach out via [e-mail].