The Australian and Western Australian Governments have announced a $4.7 million pilot program aimed at reducing teacher workloads through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative, funded jointly by the Commonwealth and Cook Governments, will be implemented in eight schools across Western Australia (WA) to streamline administrative tasks and allow educators to focus more on classroom teaching.
The schools participating in the pilot program are:
- Harrisdale Primary School
- Joseph Banks Secondary College
- Lesmurdie Primary School
- School of Isolated and Distance Education
- Emmanuel Catholic College
- Ursula Frayne Catholic College
- Carey Baptist College
- St James Anglican School
According to a news release, this program will employ AI to assist with drafting lesson plans and suggesting learning activities that align with the national curriculum. By reducing the time teachers spend on administrative duties, the initiative aims to enhance their effectiveness in the classroom.
The Department of Education will oversee the pilot in collaboration with Catholic Education WA, the Association of Independent Schools WA, and the School Curriculum and Standards Authority. The funding includes contributions from the Commonwealth’s Workload Reduction Fund, which is part of the broader $30 million National Teacher Workforce Action Plan endorsed by Education Ministers in December 2022. The WA non-Government sector will also contribute $300,000 to the pilot.
The pilot program reflects a commitment to addressing feedback from teachers, principals, support staff, and educational organizations. It is aligned with the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools, which promotes the safe and effective use of AI in education.
Education Minister Jason Clare emphasized the importance of supporting teachers: “Teaching is the most important job in the world. The idea that teachers clock on at 9am and knock off at 3pm is rubbish. AI will never replace a great teacher, but it can help cut down the time they spend doing admin so they can spend more time in the classroom. That’s why the Albanese Government is investing $30 million in the Workload Reduction Fund so they can maximise their time with students.”
WA Minister for Education Tony Buti added, “We want our teachers to be teaching our kids. To do this, unnecessary administrative burdens must be reduced, and we hope this new pilot program can support our teachers and ease their workload. We are determined to create the right conditions for schools to get on with their jobs of providing a great education.”
This initiative builds on a recently signed agreement by the Australian and Western Australian Governments to fully fund all WA public schools by 2026, with an additional $777.4 million investment from 2025 to 2029 to support the most disadvantaged schools.