Winning the Lottery? Beginning teachers on temporary engagement

Abstract

In Queensland, Australia, a beginning or probationary teacher can be appointed as either a permanent employee, or on a temporary engagement, or on 'contract'. Temporary engagements for beginning teachers represent an example of the trend towards the increasing casualisation of the teaching profession. There is a paucity of research on this topic. This paper reports on the results of a questionnaire administered to primary and secondary beginning teachers whose first appointment in 1997 was a temporary engagement. It reports on their feelings, opinions and perceptions towards such temporary engagements. The key finding was that the majority of beginning teachers on temporary engagement desired to be permanent employees, the main reason cited being that of job security. The majority of the participants found it extremely difficult to cope with the uncertainty surrounding the practice of temporary engagements. Identified also were a number of confusing perceptions perpetuated by a lack of understanding about obtaining a permanent position with Education Queensland. The findings suggest that lack of job security does need to be acknowledged as a critical factor for the beginning teacher, that the conflict between the need for job security and the changes in employment practices must be addressed, and that, under school-based management, the principal needs to take professional responsibility for the special needs of this beginning teacher group.