Tuesday, 4th August 2026
More than six in ten Tasmanian public school principals who responded to an Australian Education Union survey have started Term 3 without enough teachers, exposing the ongoing staffing crisis in Tasmania’s public schools.
The survey found 66 per cent of responding principals were missing at least one teacher at the start of the term, with schools reporting an average vacancy rate of 1.86 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
Principals say senior staff (including principals and assistant principals) are being pulled away from leading their schools and forced back into classrooms just to keep learning going this week after being unable to find relief teachers. Several also reported increased reliance on teaching students working under Limited Authority to Teach in order to cover staffing vacancies.
AEU Tasmania President David Genford said the figures showed schools were being forced to operate under constant strain.
“When principals are forced back to the classroom to cover vacancies, that means less time supporting staff, working with students and families, and dealing with increasingly complex issues.”
“Teachers are already carrying enormous workloads. Teaching vacancies mean larger classes, lost planning time and more pressure on the staff who remain. It’s no wonder we’re seeing more educators burning out.”
“The Premier cannot continue talking about improving education while planning cuts that would only deepen the workforce crisis. You don’t solve a teacher shortage by making the job harder and reducing investment in public schools.”
“The Government has promised action on school violence and support for increasingly complex classrooms. Those promises must now be delivered as a matter of urgency because they are critical to retaining the teachers we already have and attracting the teachers we desperately need.”
“Teachers want to teach, but every day they’re being asked to do more with less. Unless the Government acts now, staff shortages will continue to worsen and students will continue to miss out.”
