Massive $50k sign-on bonus for common job
One state has made a bold new move to lure workers across the border — with a massive upfront sign-on bonus now up for grabs.
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In a desperate bid to entice teachers from across Australia to work in Victoria, the state has announced a massive $50,000 sign-on bonus for those who relocate — but not everyone is happy about it.
It’s all part of a major campaign to lure teachers into the state with promises of a better work-life balance, paid relocation costs and annual retention payments.
The sign-on offer of up to $50,000 is open to any teacher in Australia outside of Victoria, but the main focus is on poaching recruits from neighbouring South Australia.
The state government says the move is designed to “support eligible Victorian government schools to attract suitably qualified teachers to take up hard-to-staff positions”.
“I know it’s a competitive market, so come and work in the education state,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said.
But South Australian Education Minister Blair Boyer said he doesn’t believe states should be raiding each others workforces.
“It’s really cheeky from Victoria and just because you have ‘the education state’ on your licence plates doesn’t mean it’s true,” Boyer told 7NEWS.
South Australia is making its own moves to retain teachers, including a $20,000 one-off cash bonus for regional teachers.
“It made me laugh a bit when I heard what Dan Andrews said,” he said.
“It will be interesting seeing just how far that $50,000 sign-on bonus actually goes once you move to Victoria.”
Cash incentives for select teachers
Australia’s official agency for education quality has called for big changes as the nation faces a countrywide teacher shortage.
The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership announced in August it will begin recruiting university-educated workers to earn while they learn on the job.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the number of teachers currently in training had dropped 16 per cent since 2012.
“There are more kids going to school now than ever before … but there are fewer people going on to university to study teaching,” he said.
“More and more teachers are leaving the profession early, either because they feel burnt out, worn out, or for other reasons.”
Mr Clare said the federal government was offering up incentives as high as $40,000 for the “best and brightest” university graduates to become teachers.
The High Achievers Teachers program also aims to encourage more professionals than ever to jump ship and join the education system.
The AITSL proposal said it aims to make a career in teaching “attractive”, insisting high rewards for the “best performing” teachers.
“There is evidence that increasing the level of pay for high-level positions would make the profession more attractive than more expensive generalised pay rises,’’ the submission states.
“Australia is facing a critical shortage of teachers due to a number of factors including growing school enrolments, a drop in the number of individuals enrolled in teaching degrees, an ageing workforce and a percentage of teachers leaving the profession to embark on different careers each year.
“Clear action is needed to ensure that a career in teaching is an attractive one.’’
Originally published as Massive $50k sign-on bonus for common job
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