16 News

New, higher paid roles for outstanding teachers could be introduced in NSW under ground-breaking plans being driven by leading educational expert Professor John Hattie. 

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said creating a stronger career path for classroom teachers which better rewards excellence in teaching is key to modernising our education system.  

“NSW has some of the best teachers in the world, but they often leave the classroom and move into management roles to secure higher pay and career progression,” Ms Mitchell said.  

“The structure of our teaching profession should reflect our teachers, by being innovative, ambitious and modern, keeping more of our best teachers in the classroom.  

“This model is not ‘performance pay,’ this is about expanding the career options for teachers and keeping our best in the classroom.”  

Newly graduated teachers in NSW start on a competitive annual salary of $73,737, which sees them out-earn graduates entering many other professions. A classroom teacher’s pay reaches a maximum of $117,060 if they gain accreditation as Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher, or $126,528 if they take on additional responsibilities as an Assistant Principal.  

A better system for rewarding and retaining excellent teachers could also help attract more people to teaching profession. 

The Department of Education will produce a policy paper on the issue with initial recommendations later this year.  

Professor John Hattie, a world-leading expert on education outcomes and student learning, is providing independent expert advice on the reform.  

“The rewarding of excellence and expertise is the right topic to realise high standards and maximise positive impacts on students,” Professor Hattie said.  

“It is exciting to be part of these NSW discussions and I look forward to hearing the views of the profession.”  

The paper will also draw on input from some of the most experienced educators in our public education system. 

The Government will carry out extensive public consultation, including with teachers, parents and other stakeholders, before implementing any changes.  

Nine schools across NSW are trialling the benefits of extending the school day as part of a research pilot, with initial reports indicating positive experiences for schools, students and their families.
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell was at Kings Langley Public School today, where students are taking part in the flexible school hours trial with Cricket NSW.
 
Students at the school in North West Sydney can now access a range of extracurricular activities including fitness and breakfast programs before school, as well afternoon sessions of coding, dancing and Mandarin language lessons.
 
Ms Mitchell said the NSW Government is committed to providing parents with flexibility and delivering quality activities for kids at school outside the standard 9am to 3pm school day.
 
“The trial is now in its second week and already has seen more than 450 students take part in high quality extracurricular activities,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Principals, teachers and parents are telling us that children are excited about the new experiences available, while parents are also enjoying more flexibility balancing work and family life while knowing their children are positively engaged in a safe environment.
 
“Over the next two terms, this research pilot and insights from wider parental consultation will help inform how this flexible approach could be introduced across NSW schools.”
 
“More than 27 organisations such as Cricket NSW, NRL League Stars, Code Camp and PCYC have signed up to partner with us in this flexible school hours trial,
“It’s great to see so many providers on board, creating exciting opportunities for students that previously they may not have been able to access.
“The trial has also provided parents with more options and greater flexibility when choosing the most suitable after school activity for their child.”
The other schools involved in the trial are:
 
Cawdor Public School
Hanwood Public School
Hastings Secondary College (Westport Campus and Port Macquarie Campus)
Kentlyn Public School
Matraville Soldier’s Settlement Public School
Orange High School
Ruse Public School
Spring Hill Public School
 
Schools involved in the trial, taking place in Terms 3 and 4 of this school year, worked closely with their local communities to develop unique programs tailored to the needs of their families.

Hundreds of local organisations in West and South West Sydney are now competing for a share of $1.6 billion under the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round.

Treasurer Matt Kean said organisations from Burwood to the Blue Mountains, and Wollondilly to the Hawkesbury stepped up in numbers with ideas for city-shaping infrastructure projects.

“We’ve received an overwhelming response with almost 680 projects worth $7.8 billion submitted for assessment,” Mr Kean said.

“The majority of projects sought funding to make local communities in West and South West Sydney even better places to live with open and green spaces.”

WestInvest funding was available to Aboriginal groups, sporting groups, multicultural groups, volunteer groups and many more based in 15 eligible local council areas.

A breakdown of the applications in the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round shows:

• Almost 680 projects have been submitted for assessment
• 325 applications related to green and open space projects
• 270 applications related to community infrastructure projects
• 180 groups applied for projects worth $1 million and under
• 296 groups applied for projects worth over $1 million and under $10 million
• 201 groups applied for projects worth over $10 million

The 15 eligible local councils also submitted 71 projects under the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Local Government Allocation, which awarded each council a share of $400 million in funding, based on population size.

Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said councils are at the heart of every community.

“WestInvest is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will celebrate and improve local communities for generations to come,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“The 15 local councils of Western Sydney have submitted some fantastic ideas for consideration, and I’m really looking forward to seeing some of these projects come to life, to invigorate their local precincts and facilities for their residents.”

All applications will now go through a comprehensive assessment process, with the successful projects expected to be announced in the Local Government Allocation from September and the Competitive Round later this year.

The project proposals include:

• Transforming city centres and precincts to celebrate community, food and culture;
• Creating safer cycling paths, pedestrian links and walking tracks to promote healthier lifestyles and allow more families to walk to school;
• Upgrading and modernising community facilities and libraries; and
• Building new pools, sports fields, playgrounds, youth centers, multicultural centres and leisure and fitness centres.

The $5 billion WestInvest program also includes $3 billion to deliver transformational projects that will benefit local communities, led by NSW Government agencies.

The Budget committed $478.2 million from the $3 billion fund to modernise and upgrade nine public schools. Further projects funded under the WestInvest NSW Government allocation will be announced later this year.

To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest

The NSW Government will trial new technology to reduce the risk of level crossing collisions between trains and vehicles in the bush.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the government will fund trials of innovative signs with LED flashing lights at level crossings in Narromine and Bribbaree, to improve awareness and safety.
 
“There are more than 2700 road level crossings on the NSW rail network and we want to improve safety in country areas where there is less visibility,” Mr Dominello said. 
 
“Contracts have been signed with ARCGS at Bribbaree and Sage Automation at Narromine to install new level crossing signs and the detailed design work is underway.
 
“Level crossing crashes devastate families and communities which is why we want to use innovation and technology to help save lives.”
 
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the government had listened to concerns raised through the community petition led by Maddie Bott.
 
“Sixty-eight per cent of public road crossings use only stop and give way signs to warn about the presence of a level crossing and the need to stop to look for trains,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“Transport for NSW has developed a new strategic direction to help fast track improvements at level crossings which will involve trialling the use of new technology.
 
“On top of this we have reduced speed limits to 80km per hour at more than 50 level crossings across regional NSW as part of the Level Crossing Speed Zone Reduction Program.
 
“We know a lot of crashes at level crossings occur where the road speed limit is 100km an hour or greater, so reducing the speed limit gives drivers more time to see the level crossing ahead and stop for oncoming trains.”
 
TrackSAFE Foundation’s Executive Director Heather Neil said TrackSAFE welcomed today’s announcement from the NSW Government.
“NSW has thousands of level crossings and new technology will play an important part in improving safety,” Ms Neil said.
“This week is Rail Safety Week, and we remind travellers, pedestrians, commuters and rail workers that they can all play an active role in rail safety. And we urge the Australian community to Stay Rail Safe.”
ARCS Commercial Director Phil Lock said they are very excited to be partnering with the NSW Government and delivering innovative technology to improve safety for regional communities. 
 
“I’m looking forward to working with government to develop technology that could potentially save more lives in country communities,” Mr Lock said.
 
SAGE Automation Smart Cities Lead Ashby Martin echoed these sentiments.
 
“SAGE is passionate about developing new systems to improve road safety in partnership with Transport for NSW and the NSW Government,” Mr Martin said.
 
The trial is funded through the Digital Restart Fund and will commence later this year and the data collected will be used to determine the effectiveness of the new technology.
 
The trial will commence later this year and the data collected will be used to determine the effectiveness of the new technology.
 
The trial in Narromine will evaluate the effectiveness of a stop sign with LED warning lighting. The Bribbaree trial will also monitor the effectiveness of stop signs with LED warning lights and LED streetlights.
 
For more information on safety at level crossings, visit:
https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/level-crossings/index.html  

Young people will be supported and encouraged to study at university, upskill and pursue entrepreneurship through innovative new projects that aim to enhance educational outcomes and break down barriers to university study.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said four projects will receive a share of the $1.75 million NSW Government Collaboration and Innovation Fund, which focuses on supporting innovation and addressing challenges to partnerships within the university sector.
 
“These grants will help break down barriers that prevent people who want to study at our world class universities and will drive innovative new projects in collaboration with the university sector,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“Projects funded through this round of the program include workshops to encourage high school students to explore technology entrepreneurships and toolkits to help regional and culturally and linguistically diverse students bridge the skills gap between school and university.”
 
Projects funded through the Collaboration and Innovation Fund, include:
 

• Startup @ Schools (University of Technology Sydney and the University of Newcastle) with workshops to encourage Year 9 and 10 students to pursue technology-enabled entrepreneurship as a career;
• Teachers Aide Pathway (Charles Sturt University, TAFE NSW and Regional Development Australia Orana)  to upskill teachers’ aides currently employed in NSW schools to become qualified teachers in regional communities;
• Start @ Uni (UNSW Sydney and The University of Sydney) for first-year regional and culturally and linguistically diverse students transitioning to university, which aims to address academic skills gaps between high school and university; and
• The Academy (University of New England and the Dhiiyaan Centre) preparing Aboriginal students for higher education from Year 8 through to tertiary enrolment via a curriculum that merges Aboriginal knowledge with science.

 
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund provides grants to support university projects that address education goals included in the NSW Higher Education Strategy.