New job portal helps private schools recruit qualified teachers

A new online jobs portal is helping private schools in New South Wales recruit qualified teachers and address staff shortages in the sector.

Created by the state’s leading independent school authority, The Association of Independent Schools NSW, recruitED allows jobseekers to search by location, job title, keywords and category and apply directly to an independent school advertising a vacancy.

AISNSW acting chief executive David Buley said the service comes at a time when all education sectors are competing for skilled staff in a tight labour market.

“In 2024, as is the case across all education sectors, independent schools in NSW continue to struggle to provide staff, partly due to increased competition for qualified teachers and the need to replace experienced teachers approaching retirement,” Buley told The Educator.

“Independent schools are rising to the challenge of meeting these challenges with resilience and innovation as enrolments continue to grow. They are attracting professionals and leaders who can contribute to their success. By adopting solutions like our new AISNSW recruitED service, schools are providing themselves with a platform designed to support their recruitment needs and strengthen their workforce.”

Buley says recruitED will stand out as a “go-to platform” for independent schools in New South Wales, offering a tailored recruitment experience that reflects the unique needs of the sector.

“Unlike general job boards, recruitED is designed specifically for independent schools and provides direct access to qualified candidates who are familiar with the ethos and culture of these schools,” he said.

“With a user-friendly interface, schools can easily create, edit and manage job postings, making the entire process more efficient and effective.”

Buley added that the service also promotes employment opportunities among a targeted talent pool, ensuring schools connect with highly qualified candidates.

“A key benefit of AISNSW membership is that the recruitED service is offered at no additional cost, further enhancing its value as a recruitment tool that meets the needs and objectives of the sector,” he said.

“For candidates, recruitED is the only place where they can find a full range of independent school jobs in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.”

To further strengthen the teaching workforce beyond the recruitED service, independent schools in New South Wales have adopted an approach focused on teacher retention, Buley said.

“They emphasize well-being, workload balance and career development for current staff. Building on these strengths, expanding mentoring and master’s programs for early-career teachers will also help attract new talent, while strong professional learning initiatives will foster long-term engagement,” he said.

“With AISNSW’s Workforce Lifecycle resources in development and partnerships with universities to develop teacher delivery channels, schools are actively promoting teaching as a rewarding career choice, helping to ensure a sustainable workforce for 2025 and beyond.”