Left to right: Lachlan Quarmby (career changer), Mischa Powell (high ATAR year 12 school leaver – 93.3 ATAR), and Lily McConnell (First Nations student). Image credit: ACU
Enrolments at Australia’s largest provider of initial teacher education (ITE) have soared in a promising sign that the nation’s teacher shortage may finally be easing.
Teaching course enrollments at Australian Catholic University’s Brisbane campus have experienced a 41% increase for Semester 1 2025, compared with the same time last year. Encouragingly, there has also been a 46% increase in enrolments of First Nations students in education courses, along with a 16% increase in aspiring teachers from low SES communities.
Almost 60% of the new ACU Brisbane-based teaching students also scored an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 75 or above, including 40% 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.
First Nations student Lily McConnell said she was excited to become a teacher and support Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike.
“I can’t wait to start,” she told The Educator. “I have always been very passionate about advocating for mental health and the expression of Indigenous culture.”
McConnell said her cultural heritage and personal experiences had shaped her desire to empower future generations.
“As a proud Aboriginal woman from the Iman mob in Taroom, I am especially passionate about ensuring that each young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman has the opportunity to connect with community and culture,” she said.
“Furthermore, throughout my schooling [especially over the last three years], I have been inspired by a various number of teachers who have advocated for me and provided support when needed. In choosing a teaching degree, I stive to do the same for my future students.”
Kate Mochrie, the co-ordinator of ACU Brisbane’s Indigenous Higher Education Unit Weemala, welcomed the boost in Indigenous students choosing to study teaching.
“We are thrilled to see more high-achieving Indigenous students choosing a career where they can make a real difference in the lives of young people and be role models for First Nations communities,” she said.
“Weemala is ready to welcome and support our new Indigenous teaching students to achieve their education goals.”