Latest news with #CourtneyHoussos
The Age
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Plans for school in booming suburb ditched, despite $20 million already spent
The state government has ditched plans to build a second public school in a booming western Sydney suburb, despite already having spent $20 million on the project. The former Coalition government announced plans to build a second public school in Westmead in 2018. But visions for the school regularly shifted at the hands of School Infrastructure NSW, and was referred to as a 'problem site' at a recent Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry. After questions from the Herald about an additional $953,000 for 'Westmead school projects' in this year's budget, the state government this week confirmed it had abandoned trying to find a location for the school. Instead, it will spend that money upgrading and expanding existing primary schools at Westmead and nearby Rydalmere, Rydalmere East and Ermington West. The government is also investigating sites for new high schools in Westmead and Rydalmere, said Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos. 'The Minns Labor government is drawing a line under two grossly flawed proposals put forward by the former Liberal-National government that they announced without adequate planning or due diligence, with potentially disastrous results,' she said in a statement, describing the plans as 'nothing more than a media announcement' with 'no plan to ever deliver'. Loading 'We know that there will be future population growth in these areas, and we are committed to building new schools to meet the long-term needs of local families with site selection work well under way.' Numbers from this year's budget show an estimated $20,485,000 has been spent on the project since its inception, a figure which includes some land acquisition.
Sydney Morning Herald
12-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Plans for school in booming suburb ditched, despite $20 million already spent
The state government has ditched plans to build a second public school in a booming western Sydney suburb, despite already having spent $20 million on the project. The former Coalition government announced plans to build a second public school in Westmead in 2018. But visions for the school regularly shifted at the hands of School Infrastructure NSW, and was referred to as a 'problem site' at a recent Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry. After questions from the Herald about an additional $953,000 for 'Westmead school projects' in this year's budget, the state government this week confirmed it had abandoned trying to find a location for the school. Instead, it will spend that money upgrading and expanding existing primary schools at Westmead and nearby Rydalmere, Rydalmere East and Ermington West. The government is also investigating sites for new high schools in Westmead and Rydalmere, said Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos. 'The Minns Labor government is drawing a line under two grossly flawed proposals put forward by the former Liberal-National government that they announced without adequate planning or due diligence, with potentially disastrous results,' she said in a statement, describing the plans as 'nothing more than a media announcement' with 'no plan to ever deliver'. Loading 'We know that there will be future population growth in these areas, and we are committed to building new schools to meet the long-term needs of local families with site selection work well under way.' Numbers from this year's budget show an estimated $20,485,000 has been spent on the project since its inception, a figure which includes some land acquisition.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Teachers exploiting loophole to work in classrooms without minimum qualifications
'I am seeking advice from my department on options to restrict the employment of teachers in Victorian government schools that have not completed at least two years of study.' Acting NSW Education Minister Courtney Houssos said dealing with the national teacher shortage was the government's top priority, but lowering the quality of teaching standards was not the answer. Houssos said NSW would work with other states to safeguard and improve teacher training across the country in response to the wider impact of the WA decision. 'The need to get qualified teachers into classrooms should not mean cutting corners and underpreparing teachers for expert classroom practice,' Houssos said. 'Research shows the biggest factor in improving student outcomes in the classroom is the quality of the teacher in front of them.' Teaching Registration Board of WA acting chair David Bean said teaching registration authorities across the country were consulted when WA announced the recommencement of one-year teaching diplomas in late 2023, outlining that all teachers must still have appropriate qualifications, English language proficiency and demonstrate they are fit and proper to teach to gain registration. 'Graduate diplomas offer a shorter and more efficient pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees and contribute to the supply of teachers into WA classrooms,' Bean said. 'It is understood enrolments into these programs have been strong. This is understandable, given they meet the qualification requirements for teacher registration and represent a shorter pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees.' But Victorian Institute of Teaching chief executive Martin Fletcher said mutual recognition was intended 'to support quality, not just mobility'. 'We welcome collaboration across states, but consistency and commitment to high standards in teacher education is essential,' Fletcher said. NESA chief executive Paul Martin said WA regulators took the 'unusual step' of accrediting watered-down qualifications almost immediately after all states adopted the findings of the Teacher Education Expert Panel review, which sought to strengthen those national standards. 'There are no simple solutions to the teacher workforce challenge. But the answer cannot be to the lower expectations of teacher preparation,' Martin said. After the WA Teaching Registration Board announced it was lowering registration requirements, several WA universities reintroduced one-year education diplomas for 2024 that not only halve the two-year time frame, but also the $10,000 cost. The WA diplomas also reduce the 60-80 days of practical experience teaching that trainees are mandated to spend in classrooms under nationally agreed standards to just 45 days. At the completion of its first year offering the reintroduced diploma, Curtin University announced more than 300 new teachers were qualified to enter classrooms in 2025, with its course overview encouraging prospective students outside WA to 'cofirm' (sic) mutual recognition requirements in their states before signing up. Loading 'This intensive course has been created to help address the shortage of teachers in Western Australia. After completing this course, you'll be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board Western Australia. If you're outside WA, contact the teacher regulatory authority (TRA) for the relevant state or territory to cofirm (sic) eligibility requirements,' the Curtin University course materials state. While one-year education diplomas are also offered by Victorian and NSW universities, they are aimed as a stepping stone towards a two-year master's degree and not intended to immediately qualify graduates to teach. This masthead revealed that a similar loophole was being used by building surveyors, another sector affected by shortages and tougher qualifications requirements. Mutual recognition from WA made up 123 of 204 registrations with the Victorian Building Authority in the 2024-25 financial year. Publicly available data showing many of those who signed up interstate provided Victorian addresses at the time of registration. Members of the Australian Teachers group on Reddit have encouraged would-be teachers to look west to fast-track their careers, including some who claim Victoria-based friends have already done so via online degrees at Perth universities. Some Queensland-based teachers have also used Reddit to raise the possibility of using the 'legal loophole' of mutual recognition to become registered to teach via WA, while others claim state regulators are turning a blind eye in desperation to boost their workforces. 'All states recognise all other states' accreditation. It's not really a loophole, as no one cares enough to stop it happening. The teacher shortage is hitting hard,' one Reddit user wrote. Others on the teachers subreddit have been quick to warn against taking a shortcut, advising prospective students that a one-year diploma will not prepare them for the realities of the job. 'A grad dip is rough going into primary just as heads up, often leaves you unprepared. Definitely try and get as much hands on experience if you can, especially if your previous job wasn't education or child adjacent,' one user posted on Reddit.
The Age
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Teachers exploiting loophole to work in classrooms without minimum qualifications
'I am seeking advice from my department on options to restrict the employment of teachers in Victorian government schools that have not completed at least two years of study.' Acting NSW Education Minister Courtney Houssos said dealing with the national teacher shortage was the government's top priority, but lowering the quality of teaching standards was not the answer. Houssos said NSW would work with other states to safeguard and improve teacher training across the country in response to the wider impact of the WA decision. 'The need to get qualified teachers into classrooms should not mean cutting corners and underpreparing teachers for expert classroom practice,' Houssos said. 'Research shows the biggest factor in improving student outcomes in the classroom is the quality of the teacher in front of them.' Teaching Registration Board of WA acting chair David Bean said teaching registration authorities across the country were consulted when WA announced the recommencement of one-year teaching diplomas in late 2023, outlining that all teachers must still have appropriate qualifications, English language proficiency and demonstrate they are fit and proper to teach to gain registration. 'Graduate diplomas offer a shorter and more efficient pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees and contribute to the supply of teachers into WA classrooms,' Bean said. 'It is understood enrolments into these programs have been strong. This is understandable, given they meet the qualification requirements for teacher registration and represent a shorter pathway into the teaching profession for holders of non-teaching degrees.' But Victorian Institute of Teaching chief executive Martin Fletcher said mutual recognition was intended 'to support quality, not just mobility'. 'We welcome collaboration across states, but consistency and commitment to high standards in teacher education is essential,' Fletcher said. NESA chief executive Paul Martin said WA regulators took the 'unusual step' of accrediting watered-down qualifications almost immediately after all states adopted the findings of the Teacher Education Expert Panel review, which sought to strengthen those national standards. 'There are no simple solutions to the teacher workforce challenge. But the answer cannot be to the lower expectations of teacher preparation,' Martin said. After the WA Teaching Registration Board announced it was lowering registration requirements, several WA universities reintroduced one-year education diplomas for 2024 that not only halve the two-year time frame, but also the $10,000 cost. The WA diplomas also reduce the 60-80 days of practical experience teaching that trainees are mandated to spend in classrooms under nationally agreed standards to just 45 days. At the completion of its first year offering the reintroduced diploma, Curtin University announced more than 300 new teachers were qualified to enter classrooms in 2025, with its course overview encouraging prospective students outside WA to 'cofirm' (sic) mutual recognition requirements in their states before signing up. Loading 'This intensive course has been created to help address the shortage of teachers in Western Australia. After completing this course, you'll be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board Western Australia. If you're outside WA, contact the teacher regulatory authority (TRA) for the relevant state or territory to cofirm (sic) eligibility requirements,' the Curtin University course materials state. While one-year education diplomas are also offered by Victorian and NSW universities, they are aimed as a stepping stone towards a two-year master's degree and not intended to immediately qualify graduates to teach. This masthead revealed that a similar loophole was being used by building surveyors, another sector affected by shortages and tougher qualifications requirements. Mutual recognition from WA made up 123 of 204 registrations with the Victorian Building Authority in the 2024-25 financial year. Publicly available data showing many of those who signed up interstate provided Victorian addresses at the time of registration. Members of the Australian Teachers group on Reddit have encouraged would-be teachers to look west to fast-track their careers, including some who claim Victoria-based friends have already done so via online degrees at Perth universities. Some Queensland-based teachers have also used Reddit to raise the possibility of using the 'legal loophole' of mutual recognition to become registered to teach via WA, while others claim state regulators are turning a blind eye in desperation to boost their workforces. 'All states recognise all other states' accreditation. It's not really a loophole, as no one cares enough to stop it happening. The teacher shortage is hitting hard,' one Reddit user wrote. Others on the teachers subreddit have been quick to warn against taking a shortcut, advising prospective students that a one-year diploma will not prepare them for the realities of the job. 'A grad dip is rough going into primary just as heads up, often leaves you unprepared. Definitely try and get as much hands on experience if you can, especially if your previous job wasn't education or child adjacent,' one user posted on Reddit.
News.com.au
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘Fairness': Major change outlaws ticketless parking fines in NSW
The NSW government has taken steps to bring back 'fairness and transparency' to its parking fine system, five years after a controversial change. The Minns Labor government has announced a return to ticketed parking fines, ending what it refers to as 'years of an unfair system', where drivers could be issued a parking fine but not be notified until weeks after the offence. The ticketless system was implemented by the Coalition in 2020, and quickly saw a significant rise in the number of fines issued. The reforms will reinstate the old-school on-the-spot ticketing system which will require parking officers to physically attach a parking fine or notification to the vehicle. There will also be a requirement for the driver of the vehicle to be notified of the fine no longer than seven days after the offence takes place. NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said the new system would ensure people would no longer be 'caught by a surprise parking ticket weeks later'. 'Our commonsense changes bring fairness and transparency back to the system' she said. 'Motorists will once again benefit from on-the-spot notifications. New requirements that motorists are provided with photos of the offence will assist them if they wish to object to a fine.' NRMA Spokesperson Peter Khoury said the organisation welcomed the removal of ticketless parking fines in NSW, and commended the state government 'for listening to motorists and making this commonsense reform'. 'Transparency matters. People deserve to know when and why they're being fined – and to have a fair chance to challenge if needed,' he said. 'The Government has worked through the issues, consulted widely, and come to an appropriate solution. Today is a great day for NSW motorists.'
