The number of teachers quitting within their first five years of service in Tasmania has almost doubled since 2020, while those suffering psychological injuries have increased by 59% since 2021, new data has revealed.
According to the latest figures from the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP), 61 teachers resigned in 2024 during their first five years, up from 31 in 2020.
The data also shows a significant increase in Workers Compensation claims for psychological injuries among teachers, rising from 39 in 2021 to 62 in 2024.
AEU Tasmania President David Genford said the increase in psychological injuries and early career resignations is “hugely concerning”.
“Unmanageable workloads, understaffing and worsening student behaviour are particular drivers of teachers quitting and others suffering psychological injury,” he said.
“As well as addressing under-resourcing in schools, what the data shows is that government needs to be investing in more ‘backline’ support for teachers to prevent this growing prevalence of burnout and injury.”
AEU representative Mark Kingsley, who has taught for 30 years, said he is “saddened but not surprised” by the findings.
“When I first started teaching you might have a class of 30 and one or two students might have behavioural issues,” he said.
“Now in some classes it’s only one or two kids who don’t have disruptive behaviour.”
“I’ve seen two new teachers last only a couple of weeks and a third who left at the end of Term 1 and never returned.”
Kingsley said the high workload and stress can impact both new and experienced teachers.
“You never get the chance to relax, things are always on your mind. You’re checking the phone all the time out of hours to see if you need to deal with staffing issues,” he said.
“I try and switch off on Saturdays, but by Sunday afternoon I’m back thinking about work again.”
Genford said the state government needs to invest more in supporting students and teachers.
“Any cuts, dressed up as ‘efficiency dividends’, imposed on public education in the state budget would be madness and simply compound existing problems,” he said.
Tasmanian Liberal MP Felix Ellis said the government is “always looking to see what more we can do to support our teachers”.
“Noting the important work they do and sometimes in difficult circumstances as well,” he said.
