Submissions will close next month into the New South Wales Teachers’ Federation independent inquiry into the value of teachers’ work. The inquiry will be chaired by former WA premier and Professor Emeritus Dr Geoff Gallup as well as respected industrial relations expert Dr Tricia Kavanagh and Patrick Lee, the former head of the NSW Institute of Teachers.

NSWTF president Angelo Gavrielatos commented: “It’s been more than 15 years since the last investigation into the nature and value of teachers’ work."

Angelo Gavrielatos spoke to Education Review about why the independent inquiry was called and why it’s needed. Firstly, the NSWTF president said a review had taken 15 years to take place because the "government had changed the laws". He also added that an "industrial relations system exists that is quite simply contemptuous of teachers".

Gavrielatos also emphasised the seismic changes that education has gone through every five to six years in terms of curriculum, technology and pedagogy. This, of course, places a lot of pressure on teachers too, particularly when it is overlaid with ACARA's national curriculum requirements.

While the recommendations of the independent inquiry will not be binding on the government, the NSWTF president hopes the government will listen carefully to the views of a range of community members.