AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR TEACHING AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP (AITSL)

Australians Unified – Education, Skills & Lifelong Learning Portfolio

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) strengthens the quality, capability, and professionalism of Australia’s teaching and school leadership workforce. It provides national standards, evidence‑based frameworks, professional learning tools, and leadership development programs that support excellence across early childhood, primary, and secondary education.

AITSL works with teachers, principals, school systems, universities, training providers, and communities to ensure Australia’s educators are well‑supported, well‑prepared, and future‑ready.

 

OUR ROLE

AITSL exists to:

  • Maintain and strengthen national teacher and leadership standards

  • Support high‑quality teacher preparation and accreditation

  • Provide evidence‑based professional learning tools

  • Strengthen school leadership capability

  • Improve induction, mentoring, and early‑career support

  • Deliver research and data to guide workforce policy

  • Promote excellence, professionalism, and continuous improvement

 

OUR STRENGTHS

Educational & Workforce Strengths

  • Trusted national standards for teachers and school leaders

  • Strong partnerships with school systems and universities

  • Deep expertise in professional learning and workforce development

  • High‑quality research and evidence‑based frameworks

  • National leadership in teacher quality and leadership excellence

Sovereign Strengths

  • Critical to national education outcomes

  • Essential for workforce capability and student achievement

  • Supports long‑term system improvement and equity

 

OUR WEAKNESSES

Structural Weaknesses

  • Fragmented teacher accreditation systems across jurisdictions

  • Limited national data integration on workforce capability

  • Slow modernisation of digital professional learning tools

  • Under‑resourced support for early‑career teachers

  • Inconsistent leadership development pathways

Operational Weaknesses

  • Workforce shortages across teaching and leadership roles

  • Rising complexity of student needs and classroom environments

  • Limited outreach to remote and First Nations communities

  • Increasing demand for rapid upskilling and digital pedagogy

OUR THREATS

External Threats

  • National teacher shortages and workforce burnout

  • Digital inequity affecting professional learning access

  • Rising cost‑of‑living pressures impacting teacher retention

  • Global competition for education talent

Internal Threats

  • Resource constraints

  • Outdated digital systems

  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges

  • Limited surge capacity for major reforms

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Strategic Opportunities

  • Modernise national teacher and leadership capability frameworks

  • Strengthen digital professional learning and micro‑credentialing

  • Expand early‑career teacher support and mentoring

  • Improve First Nations partnerships and culturally responsive teaching

  • Enhance international leadership in teacher quality

Operational Opportunities

  • Recruit and retain specialist educators and leadership mentors

  • Improve digital platforms and analytics

  • Strengthen partnerships with universities and training providers

  • Expand community and regional engagement

4. BETTER INTEGRATION WITH GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITIES & SCHOOLS

One national educator development ecosystem

Key Actions

  • Integrated data‑sharing platforms

  • Stronger partnerships with universities and school systems

  • National community and regional engagement

  • Shared analytics and intelligence systems

Outcome: A more coordinated, community‑connected educator network.

 

5. A MORE EQUITABLE, HIGH‑PERFORMING EDUCATION SYSTEM

Supporting teachers, leaders, students, and communities

Key Actions

  • Early‑career teacher support and mentoring

  • Leadership capability and succession planning

  • First Nations community‑led education partnerships

  • Public transparency and open data

Outcome: A more skilled, confident, and supported education workforce.

THE FUTURE‑READY AITSL

A national blueprint for teacher excellence, leadership capability, and workforce resilience

1. FASTER, MORE EFFECTIVE TEACHER & LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS

Strengthening national professional capability

Key Actions

  • Modern digital professional learning systems

  • Faster accreditation and induction pathways

  • Improved teacher and leadership capability tools

  • Strengthened coordination with states and territories

Outcome: A more agile, responsive national teaching and leadership system.

2. STRONGER SOVEREIGN EDUCATOR CAPABILITY

Building Australian capability for future‑ready teaching

Key Actions

  • Specialist teacher and leadership development teams

  • National educator data and capability platform

  • Strengthened oversight and governance

  • Expanded workforce planning and research

Outcome: A more resilient, future‑focused educator workforce.

3. A MODERN, RESILIENT AITSL WORKFORCE

Supporting the people who support Australia’s teachers

Key Actions

  • Workforce wellbeing and retention programs

  • Specialist training pathways

  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Modern digital and pedagogical tools

Outcome: A strong, supported AITSL workforce.

 

CONDENSED YEARLY COSTING MODEL — AITSL

Baseline + Uplift Investment Framework

 

BASELINE FUNDING (Already Provided)

  • Core AITSL operations: $0.08B

  • Teacher standards & accreditation: $0.03B

  • Leadership development & professional learning: $0.02B

Total Baseline Funding:

$0.13B per year

 

PHASE 1 — FOUNDATION (Years 1–2)

Annual uplift: $0.12B – $0.18B 2‑year uplift total: $0.24B – $0.36B

 

PHASE 2 — ACCELERATION (Years 2–4)

Annual uplift: $0.18B – $0.26B 3‑year uplift total: $0.54B – $0.78B

 

PHASE 3 — EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Annual uplift: $0.24B – $0.34B 2‑year uplift total: $0.48B – $0.68B

 

PHASE 4 — FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

Annual uplift: $0.32B – $0.45B 4‑year uplift total: $1.28B – $1.80B

 

TOTAL INVESTMENT SUMMARY

6‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $1.26B – $1.82B

  • Baseline: $0.78B

Total 6‑Year Investment:

$2.04B – $2.60B

10‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $2.54B – $3.62B

  • Baseline: $1.30B

Total 10‑Year Investment:

$3.84B – $4.92B