In this episode of our Research Files podcast series, editor Jo Earp talks to ACER’s Dr Tim Friedman about the latest Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS). We’ll be focusing on the theme of staff wellbeing and looking at some of the protective factors when it comes to levels of teacher job satisfaction and stress.

Australia’s results from the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) have just been released. The survey captures the firsthand knowledge and experiences of school educators. Here we explore some of the key findings on staff wellbeing, collegiality, mentoring support, and use of AI.

R U OK? Day is a national day of action that reminds Australians to check in with others and ask ‘are you OK?’ In this special episode, Teacher editor Jo Earp is joined by Dr Hannah Brown to talk about some of the signs that it might be time to have the conversation, how to prepare and the 4 simple steps of ask, listen, encourage action and check in. They also discuss some of the support services and resources available.

Many female teachers are reporting increased challenges to their authority and expertise with students echoing language from online influencers. It's linked to a growing online movement known as the Manosphere. Here we unpack what the Manosphere is, why it’s seeping into classrooms, and what schools can do in response. 

School can be a safe space for children and families affected by domestic and family violence. While the signs aren’t always obvious, being able to recognise when something might be wrong, and knowing how to respond in a calm, safe, and supportive way, can make a real difference.

As a teacher, you’ll likely remember your first few years in the profession and the support that made a difference to you. But what does the research say about how schools can best support early career teachers? Ebony Malzek from Monash University joins Dominique Russell in this podcast to discuss new research in this area. 

For more than 20 years, ReachOut Australia has been helping young people access support as they experience mental health challenges. Free, anonymous and confidential, ReachOut is a safe place where young people can express themselves, get a deeper understanding of what's happening in their lives, connect with judgment-free support, and build resilience to manage their challenges now and in the future.

Childhood is a foundational period for the development of body image. The Butterfly Body Bright program provides a framework to help primary schools take significant steps toward achieving both staff and student self-compassion and body appreciation. 

The Song Room’s Social and Emotional Learning through the Arts program is a place-based, trauma-informed, and strengths-based program that uses the arts to explicitly teach social and emotional skills. At Wantirna Primary School in Melbourne’s east, this arts-based social and emotional learning has become a key part of the school’s wellbeing strategy.

Research shows that higher wellbeing in young people is linked to strong connections with others and well-developed social-emotional skills. The Social-Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) survey is a valuable resource for schools aiming to understand and support the wellbeing of students. Find out more in this article.