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A $30,000 carrot is being dangled in front of NSW residents to address teaching shortages in public high schools. People in Dubbo, Queanbeyan, the Murray region and Sydney's west and southwest are being encouraged to switch careers through cash incentives and the promise of up-front, part-time work. In return, those in the Local Teacher Pipeline program will be required to teach at their local high school for three years once qualified. It comes after the auditor-general identified attracting and retaining experienced and curriculum-qualified teachers as a major challenge for regional, rural and remote schools. The report noted major gaps in subjects including maths, languages other than English and creative arts. "This program is tailor-made to help schools where the demand for teachers is particularly high, by tapping into existing local talent within these communities," Education Minister Prue Car said on Wednesday. "Alongside our once-in-a-generation wage rise for teachers and moves to ease teacher workload, this is another step the Minns Labor Government is taking to restore teaching as a career of choice and lift student academic outcomes." The 75 successful applicants for the program can take one of three paths to the teacher's desk. Undergraduates will receive a $30,000 training allowance over four years while postgraduates will get that allowance over two years. Those with industry experience, including teaching academics and graduates of high-demand subject areas, can take a third pathway of a $30,000 training allowance and a second payment of up to $30,000 to stay in the job. While studying, participants will work a day each week in a local high school as educational paraprofessionals. Schools interested in taking part will be able to identify locals with teaching potential and will be involved in the recruitment process. An information session will be held on the education department's website on Thursday ahead of applications closing on October 31. The program follows Victoria putting aside $93.2 million in September to effectively make high school teaching degrees free, to stem workforce shortages. A 2021 review of NSW teacher incentives showed they were useful levers but wider eligibility criteria and better targeting for retention were needed. Dubbo mayor and Regional Cities NSW chair Mathew Dickerson however expressed scepticism about enticing locals to switch careers. "In regional areas such as Dubbo, we typically have unemployment one-to-three per-cent lower than the state average," he told AAP. "That screams out that we need people to come into the regions to take up work. "When you talk to the local coffee shop, the accountant, other businesses, they all say 'jeez, it's hard getting staff at the moment'." Proudly highlighting the benefits of country life, he urged city-dwellers to update their views of regional cities, noting that, yes, a great almond latte is available outside the capitals. "People are shocked when I tell them you can leave work at 5.30pm, be home by 5.35pm and be down at the oval playing sport by 5.45pm," Mr Dickerson said. Australian Associated Press

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