The SiAS 2010 on-line survey closed in December. ACER thanks all the schools and teachers who took part for their contribution. The results will be available in 2011.
What is the Staff in Australia's Schools (SiAS) survey?
This is an Australia-wide survey to collect information from school teachers and leaders about their background and qualifications, their work, their career intentions, and school staffing issues. The survey involves:
- Primary and Secondary schools
- Government, Catholic and Independent schools
- All States and Territories
Who commissioned the survey?
The Australian Government through its Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) commissioned the survey.
SiAS is supported by government and non-government school authorities in all states and territories, teacher education institutions, principals’ associations and teacher unions. The Advisory Committee is listed below.
Who is conducting the survey?
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has been commissioned to conduct the survey.
ACER is Australia's leading educational research and development organisation. Founded in 1930, ACER is an independent body that has long worked with Australian schools and teachers to improve schooling. For further information about ACER, go to http://www.acer.edu.au.
The Australian College of Educators (ACE) supports SiAS 2010 and encourages principals and teachers who are sampled to take part. The College has long supported national surveys of the teaching profession as a vital resource for improving Australia’s schools. See: http://austcolled.com.au/
What are the purposes?
The survey is intended to provide:
- a descriptive picture of the teacher workforce, including demographic information such as gender, age, qualifications and work roles;
- information to assist in planning for the future, including data from current teachers and school leaders about their employment intentions and career plans, and staffing issues that schools are facing; and
- changes since the first SiAS survey in 2006-07.
The information will help inform important workforce issues such as teacher career and retirement intentions, and current teacher shortages.
The survey will provide critical information for governments, teacher educators, professional associations and teachers in planning the future of Australia’s schools.
Who is advising on the survey?
The Advisory Committee includes representatives from:
- Government school sector
ACT Department of Education and Training (DET)
New South Wales Department of Education and Training (DET)
Northern Territory Department of Education and Training (DET)
Queensland Department of Education and Training (DET)
South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS)
Tasmanian Department of Education (DoE)
Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
Western Australian Department of Education (DoE)
- Non-government school sector
Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA)
National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC)
- National Associations
Australian Council of Deans of Education (ACDE)
Australian Education Union (AEU)
Australian Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA)
Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA)
Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA)
Catholic Secondary Principals Australia (CaSPA)
Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA)
- Australian Government
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
What is the timeline?
The project commenced in May 2010 and will conclude in December 2010. The on-line survey will commence in August.
How will schools and teachers be selected?
Schools will be randomly selected to provide representative samples according to location, school type and level of schooling. All teachers in the sampled schools will be invited to take part.
Is participation compulsory?
No, participation by schools and teachers is voluntary. However, in order to maximise the value of the survey all invited schools and teachers are urged to take part. The survey is supported by teacher employers, principals associations and teacher unions.
How will the survey be administered?
Principals of the sampled schools will be invited by ACER to take part. Teachers in the participating schools will be provided with information about how to log-in to the secure website. The survey is available online. There is an option to complete the survey in hard copy and mail it to ACER via freepost.
How long will the survey take?
About 15-20 minutes.
Is the information confidential?
Yes. All information provided by teachers and school leaders is strictly confidential. No individual school or teacher will be identified in any data or reporting.
What feedback will schools receive?
ACER will provide participating schools with a summary of the main results. In addition there will be widespread media coverage of the full report and associated articles.
Where can I obtain the results of SiAS 2007?
The results are available from:
www.dest.gov.au/sectors/school_education/publications_resources/profiles/sias2007.htm
Need further information?
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Free call from any landline in Australia: 1800 232 040
The SiAS project team:
- Phillip McKenzie (Project Director)
- Glenn Rowley
- Paul Weldon
- Elle Morris Lenard
- Martin Murphy
- Alisdair Daws
