Investigating the Experiences of Beginning Teachers Employed Casually So as to Match Supply to Demand

Abstract

Many challenges exist for teachers trying to secure employment in schools, particularly for those beginning their teaching career. Expectations are high from teacher education graduates that they will make an immediate transition to their 'own' classroom, as a permanent full-time teacher, once graduated. The reality is, however, that most beginning teachers in New South Wales enter the teaching profession initially on a Casual basis. This paper highlights a number of issues that contribute to the difficulties casual beginning teachers experience by exploring the supply and demand of school teachers, the increasing casualisation of the teaching workforce, and other issues compounding on casual beginning teachers. The paper concludes with the recommendation that, inter alia, different stakeholders should share information, which will result in better supply and demand relationships within the teaching profession.