2024 Alternative Supervision Arrangements Survey fact sheet
This fact sheet was originally published 11 November 2024.
Summary
About the survey
The department surveyed schools daily between 14 August – 30 August 2024. Each day, schools were asked to submit the number of casual teachers they required and the number of casual teachers engaged that day. Where there was a shortfall of casual teachers, schools were asked to record the alternative supervision strategies used to ensure duty of care requirements were met.
The survey provides a measure of the casual teacher shortfall across all NSW public schools. A shortfall exists where the number of casual teachers engaged is less than the total number required to cover all classes. The survey also provides insights into the alternative arrangements used by schools.
Key findings
- NSW public schools had an average casual teacher shortfall of 29% per day across the survey window. This was a decrease of 13 percentage points from 42% in 2023.
- NSW public schools were estimated to be short 1,973 casual teachers across all types of schooling per day of the survey window. The shortfall decreased by approximately 38% from 2023 where it was estimated the average gap was 3,184 casual teachers each day.
- Casual teacher shortfalls happen across NSW with 78% of schools reporting at least one day with a casual teacher shortfall. This is a decrease of 9 percentage points from 87% in 2023.
Similar to 2023, some geographical areas and individual schools were more greatly affected by casual teacher shortfalls, and experienced greater lesson disruption.