This policy brief analyses the state of teacher shortages in Australia based on data drawn from the 2024 OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS). TALIS is based on lower secondary teachers and does not include information about other teachers. The analysis shows that Australia’s education system is facing a significant staffing crisis. Since 2018, teacher shortages have soared leaving Australia among the worst-performing nations in the OECD. 

The lack of qualified educators is most acute in public schools, disadvantaged schools and schools in regional towns. There is also a large shortage of special education teachers. Among OECD countries, Australia records the largest shortage of staff in disadvantaged and regional town schools, and the second largest in public schools.

The brief concludes that learning in public schools, disadvantaged schools and regional town schools will continue to be restricted by the lack of teachers. 

Key findings

• 42% of Australian lower secondary teachers are teaching in schools with a shortage of qualified teachers.
• The percentage of lower secondary teachers teaching in schools with a shortage of qualified teaches has tripled from 14% in 2018 to 42% in 2024.
• 44% of lower secondary teachers are teaching in schools with a shortage of special education teachers.
• There is a significant gap in the shortage between public and private schools, with 25% of lower secondary teachers working in private schools with a shortage of teachers.
• 67% of lower secondary teachers working in disadvantaged schools are in schools with a shortage of qualified teachers. This is the equal highest percentage in the OECD along with New Zealand.