This episode explores how the Independent Education Union of Australia is tackling out-of-field teaching as both a professional and workload issue. Assistant Federal Secretary Veronica Yewdall shares how shortages are forcing teachers to step outside their subject or age-group expertise—sometimes with surprising consequences, like one teacherpassing her school ‘stimetabling person in the corridor saying ‘Bonjour, ca va’, then being asked to teach French. The discussion covers the toll on teacher wellbeing, the need for mentoring and ongoing support, and how compliance reforms are cutting through red tape. With insights from across Catholic and independent schools, the union highlights what’s driving the problem—and what needs to change to keep teachers in the profession.

 Links:

Independent Education Union

https://www.ieu.org.au/

Australian Teachers' Performance and Development Framework

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/tools-resources/resource/australian-teacher-performance-and-development-framework

Shifting the balance: Increasing the focus on teaching andlearning by reducing the burden ofcompliance and administrationReview to reduce red tape for teachersand school leaders [2020]

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/red-tape/review-to-reduce-red-tape-for-teachers-and-school-leaders.pdf?sfvrsn=7cb3d93c%7B%5C_%7D2