Full list of Queensland schools crying out for teachers

The full extent of Queensland’s teacher shortage has been laid bare, with more than 400 state school positions still unfulfilled for terms three and four. See how your region fares.

The full extent of Queensland’s teacher shortage has been laid bare with more than 400 state school positions yet to be filled for terms three and four.

It comes on the back of a damning national report which revealed not enough is being done to address mounting concerns into teacher shortages across the state.

According to the state government’s Smart Jobs, there were at least 17 state schools each advertising more than three teaching positions including principal and head of department roles.

The listed vacancies were made up with metropolitan positions and in regional, remote and rural areas where recruitment is traditionally difficult.

Caboolture’s Tullawong State High School had 12 positions advertised, seven at Narangba Valley State High, four at Woodridge State High and five at Shailer Park state and high schools.

Recruitment at Victoria Point State High School is also under way for a deputy principal, head of English and teaching positions in English, music and HPE.

In Townsville, Pimlico State High School has four teaching positions and three heads of department positions advertised while Sarina State High School has seven positions advertised.

At the start of the year, Dysart State High School had six vacancies and remains on the hunt for four teaching positions.

Mackay and Sarina high schools have several positions advertised each.

Queensland Department of Education data has revealed there are 409 vacancies in state schools for terms three and four this year including 121 metropolitan positions and 87 in north coast positions.

The data showed Central Queensland was short 53 teachers, Darling Downs (30), Far North (36) North Queensland (48) and South East (34).

In May, there had been 1050 vacancies across the state.

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge said while the teacher shortages had improved it remained a challenge.

“The situation is improving but it’s not where it needs to be,” Mr Breckenridge said.

“It’s still a challenge in specific areas and in specialist teaching roles.

“Staffing in those rural and remote areas are always more difficult to attract staff.”

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge. Picture: Josh Woning

A Department of Education spokesman said the teaching vacancies made up of one per cent of the total number of 54,000 teachers.

The spokesman said there were 409 current vacancies which change day-to-day due to circumstances like planned leave, promotions, transfers and retirement.

He said the department offers several incentives for state school teachers including pay increases and enhanced benefits in the new enterprise bargaining offer.

He said the 11.4 per cent increase offer over the next three years would make Queensland teachers the highest paid in the country.

“In addition, the Government is offering an attraction and retention package for regional, rural, and remote teachers, which improves existing policies and entitlements as well as introducing new ones,” he said.