The idea is for anyone and everyone to grab your hats and snap a selfie to share on your social media – to make sure our teachers know how much we value them and their work.
Whether it’s an akubra, a fascinator, a hard hat, a baseball cap, a beret, a Balmoral Bonnet, a beanie, bucket or bowler, this is an opportunity to acknowledge and thank the many wonderful educators who play a pivotal role in shaping the future by nurturing students, building knowledge and driving educational progress.
AITSL is one of the main drivers behind the campaign, and as its newly appointed CEO Tim Bullard tells EducationHQ, the day is a special opportunity to pause and reflect on all of the amazing teachers who are making a difference every day in Australian classrooms.
“I know that our teachers really work tirelessly every day to make a difference,” Bullard, who started in the role this week on a five-year contract, says.
“I am yet to meet a teacher who is not absolutely committed to lifting learner outcomes, but I also know that in a really busy world, sometimes it’s easy to take those teachers and the work that they do, for granted.
“World Teachers' Day is just that opportunity to acknowledge and show gratitude for the teachers in our lives, and that’s what I would be asking everyone to do.”
With only 45 per cent of Australian teachers in lower secondary schools believing that the teaching profession is valued by society, World Teachers’ Day aims to recognise the tireless efforts of our educators who work to inspire and guide young minds.
“It’s actually interesting, isn’t it, because the data shows that Australians on the whole do value teachers and they see them as having high worth and high integrity,” Bullard says.
“But that’s actually not translating to the way that teachers feel.
“I think we’ve got to make sure that we’re really explicit in acknowledging and celebrating the work that teachers do, and not just take it for granted that they’re going to know that they are valued."
This is why World Teachers’ Day is so important, he says.
“It would be great to get the community coming out in force and saying, 'we value you, we acknowledge the work that you do is really important, and we’re showing gratitude for that'.”
Asked what he would like to personally say to the nation’s educators, Bullard is resolute.
“I would like to say to teachers that they are absolutely important to the positive futures and the bright lives of children and young people.
“We know the evidence shows that they are the second biggest impact on life outcomes for individuals after parents and carers.
“I’d like to thank them for their dedication their passion and the work that they do every day across Australia.”
For more information on World Teachers’ Day, click here.
Click here for a ‘celebration kit’ containing a range of resources for you to celebrate teachers.
