Teacher Retention Network

The Teacher Retention Network (TRN) was established by researchers leading major Australian Research Council- and Australian Government-funded projects focused on some of the most pressing challenges facing Australia’s teaching workforce. Since the inaugural meeting in 2023, the TRN provided a forum for sharing insights, learning about methodological approaches, and bringing diverse findings into dialogue.

The TRN involves the following programs of research:

• Invisible labour: Principals’ emotional labour in volatile times (2023-2026, Australian Research Council Discovery Scheme)
  Investigators: Professor Jane Wilkinson, Professor Lucas Walsh, Dr Christine Grice, Dr Fiona Longmuir, Dr Philippa Chandler, Professor Amanda Keddie and Tim Delany
• Strengthening Induction through Quality Teaching Rounds (2023-2027, Australian Government)
  Investigators: Distinguished Laureate Professor Jenny Gore AM, Dr Drew Miller, Dr Sally Patfield, Dr Leanne Fray, Professor Nicole Mockler
• Still standing: A study of the impact of ‘teacher turnover’ on those teachers who remain teaching (2023-2026, Australia Research Discovery Scheme)
  Investigators: Professor Jo Lampert, Dr Amy McPherson, Professor Bruce Burnett, Dr Alonso Casanueva Baptista and Ms Amelia Hawkins
• Teacher attraction and retention in hard-to-staff schools (2023-2026, Australian Research Council)
  Investigators: Professor Martin Mills, Professor Terri Bourke, Professor Simone White, Associate Professor Reece Mills and Associate Professor Lisa van Leent
• Career change teachers: Addressing teacher shortages in Australia (2023-2026, Australian Research Council)
  Investigators: Professor Martin Mills, Professor Terri Bourke, Professor Simone White, Associate Professor Reece Mills and Dr Craig Wood
• Improving teacher induction: Supporting precariously employed early career teachers to manage student behaviour (2023-2026, Australian Research Council Discovery Scheme)
  Investigators: Professor Anna Sullivan, Professor Stuart Woodcock, Dr Neil Tippett, Professor Andrea Reupert, Professor Simone White, Professor Michele Simons
• “I left the teaching profession… and this is what I am doing now”: a national study
  Investigators: Professor Robyn Brandenburg, Dr Ellen Larsen, Professor Alyson Simpson, Associate Professor Richard Sallis

Policy briefings

In March 2026, members of the TRN published a policy briefing paper. Each program of research is summarised in two pages with a focus on key findings and policy recommendations. The TRN will host a free webinar for policymakers, education researchers, school leaders and interested stakeholders on 9 April 2026 from 4PM - 5PM (AEST).