Foreign teacher applicants get a $430 daily allowance while they wait to start work

An overseas teacher recruitment program has hit a costly snag, with overseas applicants being paid $430 a day without having to step foot into a classroom.

Foreign teachers answering the call to work in Australia will be paid a $430 daily allowance for as long as eight weeks without having to step ­inside a classroom thanks to bureaucratic red tape.

In a move that could cost taxpayers as much as $4 million, the state government is being forced to compensate overseas teachers while they wait for their mandatory working with children clearance.

The revelation is contained in a “sensitive” Education Department briefing document detailing the progress of the three-year Recruitment Beyond NSW program, which was touted by Education Minister Sarah Mitchell and is recruiting teachers from overseas and interstate to fill critical staff shortages in schools.

A Working With Children Check (WWCC) is mandatory for all teachers wanting to work in NSW, and required to obtain the necessary NSW Education Standards Authority ­accreditation to teach.

But it must be verified “in person” at a Service NSW office.

NSW Labor leaders Chris Minns said a comprehensive plan was needed to fix worsening teacher shortages. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Forcing foreign teachers to turn up in person to begin the paperwork for their clearance instead of applying remotely while still abroad means they could be waiting months before they can legally step foot in a classroom.

The document reveals that education officials agreed to adopt a daily allowance after failing to solve the issue with Service NSW, despite the move costing as much as $4 million. The “financial impact” of the decision would mean taxpayers would pay up to $1.6 million this year in allowances, another $1.6 million next year and $645,420 in 2024.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell launched the Recruitment Beyond NSW program. Picture: Tim Hunter

“It is anticipated it may take between 4-8 weeks for a WWCC to be approved and that a casual teacher will be required to deliver lessons,” the briefing note stated.

Immigration costs “will be a liability to the department if the WWCC is not approved”, an additional cost of about $9000 per teacher, the document said.

Labor leader Chris Minns said a comprehensive plan was always going to be needed to fix worsening teacher shortages.

“Instead, the Perrottet government’s plan is a dog’s breakfast which is causing more shortages, and more merged and cancelled classes,” Mr Minns said.

The documents also reveal the program is behind schedule, with the recruitment of the promised 500 teachers from outside NSW delayed by two years.

NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said action on salary increases and reduced workloads would attract and retain teachers.

“The only response from the government is to waste millions on a botched plan that hasn’t delivered a single additional teacher in almost a year,” he said.

In confirming the soon-to be implemented allowance scheme, the Education Department indicated teachers would still be able to undertake professional learning and training, as well as support the school in non-classroom teaching duties as they awaited the finalisation of their paperwork.

“The department is engaging with Service NSW and Office of the Children’s Guardian regarding WWCC processes,” a spokesman said.

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