The funding will assist with the establishment of the Early Career Academy for Teachers, which will serve as a centre of excellence for new and future teachers, with expanded support, enhanced development opportunities and stronger partnerships with universities and across schools.

Aimed at attracting and supporting new teachers, the academy will feature a digital hub, new scholarships, tailored learning and resources, and embedded department support with a dedicated employee stationed at key universities.

“The Early Career Academy will be a game-changer for new and prospective teachers. [It will] provide co-ordinated, multi-faceted support, ensuring we have highly skilled, classroom-ready teachers getting jobs in NSW public schools,” Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said in a statement.

“With the NSW Department of Education being the largest employer of teachers in Australia (with 96,000 educators employed in government schools), it is crucial that universities understand the needs of our public schools, and the Academy will play an important role in ensuring partner universities offer the right courses for our future teachers.”

Positioning teaching degrees as the first preference for more students will be high on the academy’s priority list, as will be improving the classroom readiness of beginning teachers and retaining more early career teachers in NSW public schools.

University Admissions Centre data shows growing interest in applications and offers for students studying education degrees, following several years of decline and applications by school leavers for education degrees have risen by 500 or 23 per cent compared to the same time last year, while offers have risen by 642 or 36 per cent compared to 2024.

“Our government has delivered nation-leading pay rises for teachers and reduced teacher vacancies by 40 per cent,” Car said.

 “And we are building on this work to attract more of our best and brightest to teaching careers in our schools – while ensuring they are supported and valued to stay.

“The Academy is not just about getting more people to choose a career in teaching or ensuring they are prepared for the classroom from day one, it is about letting our early career teachers know that the Department and the Government is backing you to succeed.”

Over time the Government said the Early Career Academy for Teachers will look to develop a range of programs and opportunities including:

  • An enhanced scholarship program including early offers to future teachers in high priority regions and specialist areas
  • Revamped professional experience placements to facilitate consistent and high quality experiences for pre-service teachers before they enter the classroom
  • Greater system-led support for pre-service and beginning teachers, including enhanced resources and collaboration opportunities, to enhance the quality of assistance available to early career teachers
  • Stronger strategic partnerships with universities, including Department of Education University Partnership Leads to provide tailored support with those seeking employment opportunities in NSW public schools
  • Department-led professional learning to support classroom readiness, curriculum expertise and teaching practices
  • A Digital Hub with personalised content to support new and future teachers throughout their educational and professional pathway

Following co-design and engagement with the profession, union and key stakeholders, the academy will formally commence in Term 1, 2026 and is expected to expand existing successful programs such as the school-based Future Teachers Club and rural and remote Beyond the Line study tours.