One in eight newly qualified teachers leaves the profession within the first few years of teaching, a statistic QUT is hoping to break by future-proofing graduating education students with a capstone conference called Stepping Out.
Stepping Out coordinator and education lecturer Dr Rebecca Spooner-Lane said research had shown a link between beginning teachers who leave the profession early and 'burnout'.
"The Stepping Out conference discusses the phenomenon of 'burnout' to help new teachers recognise the signs so they may activate personal coping strategies or seek support as soon as possible," Dr Spooner-Lane said.
She said burnout was characterised by feelings of:
- Emotional exhaustion - feeling drained both emotionally and physically;
- Depersonalisation - feeling detached from students and colleagues; and
- A reduced sense of personal accomplishment - no longer feeling competent.
"A beginning teacher is usually given the same tasks of an experienced teacher - playground supervision, curriculum and assessment planning, parent interviews, writing report cards and leading extra curricular activities," she said.
"It is not a 9am to 3pm job - they have to put in many extra hours in the evenings and weekends.
"It can be overwhelming but beginning teachers often don't want to ask for help for fear of looking incompetent - The Stepping Out Conference helps them to be prepared and know how to ask for help."
Dr Spooner-Lane said a Queensland government-backed Mentoring Beginning Teachers (MBT) program would be introduced in 2015 allowing beginning teachers to tap into the expertise of supportive experienced teachers in tasks such as curriculum planning, assessments and reports.
"We encourage our graduates to take advantage of such support and opportunities for in-service training," she said.
"We also talk to our graduates about recognising the early signs of burnout and putting into place personally effective coping strategies.
"We remind them about finding a work-life balance; that it is important to take time to eat well, exercise, maintain a sense of humour; and engage in techniques such as 'mindfulness' to keep focused and relaxed.
"Finally, keeping a journal in their first year of teaching is also helpful in helping them see how far they have travelled since stepping out of university and into the teaching profession."
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media, 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au
