February 2025 | Compass Review
Teacher-student relationships
The start of a new school year can be a time of nervous anticipation for all, as students adjust to a new teacher and classmates. The importance of student friendships and community for wellbeing and a sense of belonging is well known. However, just as crucial and not to be overlooked at this busy time is the importance of establishing positive relationships between teachers and students – also shown to have far reaching benefits for the whole school community.
The Australian Education and Research Organisation (AERO) conducted a systematic review of available research and found that students who have positive connections with their teachers are more likely to have positive attitudes towards school and feel a strong sense of belonging1. This, in turn, leads to better self-esteem, higher academic achievement, and regular attendance.
Not only that, teachers who forge positive relationships with their pupils are likely to be rewarded with smoother classroom management and easier interventions to behavioural issues. Students who feel liked by their teachers are more likely to exhibit positive behaviours, including cooperation and respect for rules.
So, what are the best ways to cultivate those teacher-student bonds to establish a strong foundation to build on for a successful year ahead?
Teacher support is key. This can be achieved by mutual respect, care, encouragement, friendliness, fairness and autonomy. Strategies include praising good behaviour and work, being available for support and scaffolding learning to help students succeed.
For more information and practical approaches to foster positive relationships and belonging both in the classroom and whole school community, visit the links below:
Teacher numbers
After several years of teacher shortages, early data for 2025 shows new teacher numbers have finally taken a turn in the right direction4. There has been a 7% increase in applications and a 14% increase in offers to study undergraduate teaching compared to 2024.
This improvement is largely attributed to The National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, which was put in place in December 2022 to address the shortage5. Additionally, teacher training scholarships, with funding of up to $40,000, have also been re-introduced6.
As part of the 2024 – 2025 budget, from 1 July 2025 a new Commonwealth Practical Payment will also be available (means tested) to student teachers undertaking placements as part of their training7. This initiative aims to further boost uptake in teacher training.
Social media ban
Just before the summer break parliament approved a social media ban for under 16’s which will be introduced later this year. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 requires a number of popular social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent under 16’s from having accounts8&9.
The bill has ensured that access will continue for apps, sites and services that are primarily used for education and health support, such as YouTube, Headspace and Google Classroom. The bill aims to ban access for under 16’s to Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
The eSafety Commissioner will provide further guidance later this year on enforcement and which services will be affected, with the ban scheduled to take effect by December.
This next step in digital policy affecting schools comes after mobile phones were banned during school hours in all states and territories, which has already shown positive impacts across school communities.
A NSW Department of Education’s Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation survey of 1,000 school principals reported reported widespread benefits of the mobile phone ban with10:
- 81% of principals said that student learning has improved.
- 87% said students are less distracted in the classroom.
- 86% said socialising has improved.
The impacts of social media use outside of school hours are still impacting young people and school communities.
An inquiry by The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), as part of the Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into the influence and impacts of social media, highlighted the ongoing challenges11. Despite the mobile phone ban, schools report that social media use still negatively affects students.
Common issues include:
- Sleep deprivation, which impacts mental health, concentration, and engagement in learning.
- Addictive behaviors, leading to reduced time and effort spent on schoolwork.
- Social media replacing real-life interactions, reducing time spent with family, friends, and sports activities that promote mental well-being.
Although most social media use occurs outside school hours, its effects are felt within school communities, placing additional demands on staff.
The hope is that the social media ban will further mitigate these risks and support the healthy development of students, benefiting teachers, leaders and school communities as a whole.
Janet Stone is the former editor of Education Matters and WhichSchool? Magazines. She has written education content for national publications, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, and The Guardian, as well as several Australian universities and organisations.
Resources
- AERO systematic review
- AERO Fostering Belonging: Student – Teacher relationships Secondary Schools Guide
- AERO Fostering Belonging: Student – Teacher relationships Primary Schools Guide
- New data shows more people applying to become school teachers
- National Teacher Workforce Action Plan
- Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships
- Commonwealth Prac Payment
- eSafety statement on the Online Safety Amendment
- Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s in Australia
- Mobile phone ban improves learning, concentration and socialisation
- AHISA – Inquiry into the influence and impacts of social media on Australian society
