The Pressing Need to Raise the Status of the Teaching Profession - The Launch Story of the Teachers of Australia Social Media Campaign

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy

This paper presents the start-up methodology for a project that leverages social media to give teachers voice and agency. It responds to negative mainstream media coverage of teachers and to research showing educators’ efforts to meet students’ academic and wellbeing needs. Using assertive social media technologies, the researchers launched a campaign promoting both pre-service and in-service teachers, and argues for new opportunities in professional connection and collegial support.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction and Background

Teacher advocacy and connectivity through social media

Need to promote the teaching profession in Australia

Australian Journal of Teacher Education | Volume 46 Issue 2 | Article 2 | | --- | --- | | 2021
The Pressing Need to Raise the Status of the Teaching Profession: The Launch Story of the Teachers of Australia Social Media Campaign
Alison Willis
University of the Sunshine Coast
Catherine Thiele
University of the Sunshine Coast
Rachael Dwyer
University of the Sunshine coast
Peter Grainger
University of the Sunshine Coast
Susan Simon
University of the Sunshine Coast
Follow this and additional works at: [https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte](https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte)
Part of the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons, and the Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons | | Recommended Citation Willis, A., Thiele, C., Dwyer, R., Grainger, P., & Simon, S. (2021) . The Pressing Need to Raise the Status of the Teaching Profession: The Launch Story of the Teachers of Australia Social Media Campaign. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 46(2) . [http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2021v46n2.2](http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2021v46n2.2) [This Journal Article is posted at Research Online.](This Journal Article is posted at Research Online.)[ ](This Journal Article is posted at Research Online.)[https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol46/iss2/2](https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol46/iss2/2) The Pressing Need to Raise the Status of the Teaching Profession: The Launch Story of the Teachers of Australia Social Media Campaign Alison Willis Catherine Thiele Rachael Dwyer Peter Grainger Sue Simon University of the Sunshine Coast Abstract. This paper presents the start-up methodology for a project that leverages the opportunities that social media affords to give teachers voice and agency. In response to negative press about teachers in mainstream media, coupled with research that shows that teachers are working hard to meet student academic and wellbeing needs, the researchers employed the assertive technologies of social media and started a campaign to promote the work ofpre-service and in-service teachers. The paper presents the theorising behind the start-up methodology for the social media campaign and outlines a response to an identified opportunity. It argues that social media provides new opportunities for professional connectedness, story sharing and collegial support. Introduction and Background Social media platforms are providing new opportunities for advocacy and connectivity for teachers. In an environment of increasing academic pressures, many teachers turn to social media for support and ideas (cf. Forte, Humphreys, & Park, 2012; Ranieri, Manca & Fini, 2012). Although teacher use of social media is a relatively new research frontier, many Australian pre-service and in-service teachers have tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and Twitter, and hashtags like \#aussieed, \#aussieteachertribe, and \#teachersdownunder attract thousands of followers also. Furthermore, professional groups and associations are prolific on social media platforms. For example, Perth WA Teachers Community (over 16,500 members), QLD Teachers (over 10,700 members), Australian Early Childhood Teachers (over 8,900 members) and Teach Starter (over 365,000 likes) on Facebook (2020) . Although teacher presence is strong on social media platforms, there is an evident need to promote the value of the teaching profession in Australia. First, there is a teacher shortage across Australia. Although the shortage varies between states and sectors, both attraction and retention are challenges for recruiters (Weldon, 2015) . Second, these challenges are compounded by negative perceptions about the profession: the social status of the profession has “suffered greatly,” according to the recent parliamentary inquiry into the status of the profession (Parliament of Australia, 2019, p. 1) . Reasons behind the alleged status slump include dominant negative representations in mainstream me

FAQs

What is the focus of this paper?

The paper focuses on the start-up methodology behind a social media campaign designed to give teachers voice and agency.

Why was the Teachers of Australia social media campaign launched?

It was launched in response to negative press about teachers in mainstream media and to evidence that teachers are working hard to support students’ academic and wellbeing needs.

How does the paper argue social media benefits teachers?

It argues that social media enables new professional connectedness, supports story sharing, and provides collegial support.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy