Enrolments in Australian Catholic University’s teaching courses have soared at its Brisbane campus in a positive sign for the profession, which has long struggled with educator shortages.
Figures show there has been a 41 per cent increase in teaching enrolments for Semester 1 2025, compared with the same time last year.
There has also been a 46 per cent increase in enrolments of First Nations students in education courses, along with a 16 per cent increase in aspiring teachers from low SES communities.
Almost 60 per cent of the new ACU Brisbane-based teaching students also scored an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 75 or above, including 40 per cent who achieved 90 or more.
Admissions of men into teaching degrees at the campus has also remained stable, with continued strong enrolments among students from non-metropolitan areas including regional and rural Queensland.
“Not only are we seeing more school leavers and career changers choose to study teaching, but more high-achieving and diverse students are seeing it as a viable and worthwhile profession,” the head of ACU National School of Education, Donna King, said.
“While the Brisbane intake represents a large spike, interest in ACU teaching degrees has been strong nationally in support of figures released by federal Education Minister Jason Clare showing increased applications and offers for teaching degrees across the country in 2025,” Professor King said.
“ACU is committed to being a first-choice university to study teaching for high-achieving students and aspiring educators from groups that are often underrepresented in higher education and within teaching itself.”
Head of the School of Education at ACU Brisbane, Tracey Sanders, said Brisbane staff had worked hard to raise the profile of teaching courses statewide including in regional, rural and remote locations.
“We’ve built partnerships with schools, dioceses, and government and community education bodies in metropolitan and far-flung places to drive home the message that teaching is a wonderful career path,” Associate Professor Sanders said.
“ACU has a long and proud history of training high-quality teachers, and these Brisbane figures are both a testament to that and a positive sign for the future of the profession.”
FULL STORY
Teaching enrolments rise in promising boost to the profession (ACU)
