Give 36,000 students access to specialist teachers

As Australia continues to grapple with teacher shortages, 148 new educators have commenced teaching in low-SES schools where teacher shortages are most concentrated, through Teach For Australia’s Leadership Development Program (LDP).  From engineers and scientists to writers and analysts, this cohort brings diverse experience and perspectives into the teaching profession – helping strengthen the teacher workforce and expand opportunity for students. 

More than half of the 2026 cohort (52%) are mid-career professionals who graduated more than five years ago, reflecting a growing pipeline of career changers Australians moving into teaching. Participants bring experience from industries including business, science, engineering, mining, health, and the creative arts.

Teach For Australia Chief Executive Officer Edwina Dohle said bringing experienced professionals into classrooms strengthens the teaching workforce and enriches learning experiences in our schools.

“Experienced career changers bring a wealth of real-life experiences and real-world applications that boosts students’ engagement and understanding of their subjects,” Ms Dohle said. “More than half of this year’s cohort are career professionals bringing much needed subject-specialist expertise from business, science, engineering and other industries directly into classrooms.”

71 STEM qualified teachers (48%) are part of Teach For Australia’s latest cohort, helping address critical workforce shortages. Like Maddy, many of this year’s TFA teachers (45%) will be teaching in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia.

“We’re seeing more and more talented Australians choose teaching through Teach For Australia’s programs – a choice they make because they are passionate about creating a brighter future for young people,” Ms Dohle said.

Founded in 2009, Teach For Australia is a pioneering charity tackling educational inequity by recruiting and developing exceptional teachers and leaders for Australia’s schools with the greatest need. Since inception, TFA has placed almost 2000 teachers into classrooms in areas experiencing disadvantage.

Teach For Australia’s employment-based model allows participants to earn a salary while completing their teaching qualification, making it possible for talented professionals to transition into teaching without stepping away from the workforce. Teach For Australia's Leadership Development Program is not only about creating wonderfully skilled classroom teachers, it also focuses on developing leaders within schools who can help create long lasting, positive change in those schools and beyond, helping heal a broken system.

Additionally, there are 35 participants enrolled across Victoria and the Northern Territory in a new innovative Undergraduate Teaching Program pilot delivered in partnership with Charles Darwin University (CDU). The program enables high-potential school-based staff, including educational support workers and teacher aides, to become teachers, supporting learning and wellbeing outcomes for students. 

With the support of people like YOU, we're able to continue to recruit, train and place incredible, high achieving change-makers into the schools which need them the most. This is where they can empower and unlock the potential in Australia's young students - no matter where they live or what their background. With the utmost sincerity, we THANK YOU for being with us on the journey to a more equitable education system in Australia!