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Teaching numbers up in boost to profession

Enrolments in Australian Catholic University’s teaching courses have soared at its Brisbane campus in a positive sign for the profession, which has long struggled with educator shortages.

Figures show there has been a 41 per cent increase in teaching enrolments for Semester 1 2025, compared with the same time last year.

There has also been a 46 per cent increase in enrolments of First Nations students in education courses, along with a 16 per cent increase in aspiring teachers from low SES communities.

Almost 60 per cent of the new ACU Brisbane-based teaching students also scored an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 75 or above, including 40 per cent who achieved 90 or more.

Admissions of men into teaching degrees at the campus has also remained stable, with continued strong enrolments among students from non-metropolitan areas including regional and rural Queensland.

“Not only are we seeing more school leavers and career changers choose to study teaching, but more high-achieving and diverse students are seeing it as a viable and worthwhile profession,” ACU National School of Education Head Professor Donna King said.

“While the Brisbane intake represents a large spike, interest in ACU teaching degrees has been strong nationally in support of figures released by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare showing increased applications and offers for teaching degrees across the country in 2025.

“ACU is committed to being a first-choice university to study teaching for high-achieving students and aspiring educators from groups that are often underrepresented in higher education and within teaching itself.

“In addition to streamlining our entry processes for education degrees to remove barriers that won’t impact on the quality of our graduates, ACU offers flexible learning options including employment-based pathways, accelerated courses, and fully funded scholarships to help students become the teachers of today and tomorrow.”

ACU Queensland Head of the School of Education Associate Professor Tracey Sanders said Brisbane staff had worked hard to raise the profile of teaching courses statewide including in regional, rural and remote locations.

“We’ve built partnerships with schools, dioceses, and government and community education bodies in metropolitan and far-flung places to drive home the message that teaching is a wonderful career path,” she said.

“ACU has a long and proud history of training high-quality teachers, and these Brisbane figures are both a testament to that and a positive sign for the future of the profession.

“Efforts at a local, state and national level to promote teaching as a noble and rewarding career path are working and our early learning, primary, and secondary school students are set to benefit from this.”

Kate Mochrie, the co-ordinator of ACU Brisbane’s Indigenous Higher Education Unit Weemala, welcomed the boost in Indigenous students choosing to study teaching.

“We are thrilled to see more high-achieving Indigenous students choosing a career where they can make a real difference in the lives of young people and be role models for First Nations communities,” she said.

“Weemala is ready to welcome and support our new Indigenous teaching students to achieve their education goals.”

First Nations student Lily McConnell said she was excited to become a teacher and support Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike.

“I can’t wait to start. So much of our learning content touches on Indigenous culture and having that personal connection can make that learning even stronger,” she said.

“I have been inspired by a number of teachers who have advocated for me and provided support when needed. In choosing a teaching degree, I strive to do the same for my future students.”

Mischa Powell, 18, who achieved an ATAR of 93.3, said studying teaching was a dream come true.

“It's so exciting to see an influx in people’s desire to teach and that it is becoming more accessible for lots of different people,” she said.

“I’ve always grown up around kids, including my four brothers and heaps of cousins. I help at my church also with the kid's church there, so I've always had a passion for this age group. I'll be studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education and I'm so excited to learn more to be more equipped to change the lives of young people in our state.”

Career-changer Lachlan Quarmby, 27, is adding to his degree in exercise and sports science with a Master of Teaching (Secondary) to become a science, and health and physical education teacher.

“I enrolled into teaching as I have always had a passion in assisting the development of young people and believe the best way possible would be through teaching,” he said.

“I had some amazing teachers that assisted me with my studies as well as creating a fun, safe and positive environment for everyone and I want to give kids the same experience that I had.”