About
Consortium
The Out-of-field teaching consortium is an advocacy group comprising: Actuaries Institute, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, the Australian Mathematical Society, the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australia (MERGA) , Science and Technology Australia, The Computing Research and Education Association of Australasia (CORE) and the Statistical Society of Australia.
Purpose
Australia faces a significant and widening equity gap in school mathematics performance and a decline in mathematics literacy, particularly in low SES, First Nations and regional/remote segments.
A significant factor in this decline is an ongoing long-term shortage of mathematics teachers, resulting in high levels of out-of-field (OOF) teaching of mathematics in Australia. Two in every five secondary school mathematics teachers are not mathematics trained, meaning up to 75% of Australian Year 7-10 students are likely to be taught by an out-of-field mathematics teacher during their first four years of secondary schooling.
The consortium is committed to raising awareness of the scale and implications of out-of-field teaching of mathematics and to promoting solutions to this longstanding national problem.
Consortium Lead
Merrilyn Goos is a mathematics educator and Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Queensland. Professor Goos is also President of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (2025-2028). She is a former Professor of STEM Education at the University of Limerick and Course Director for the Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching, Ireland’s national up-skilling program for out-of-field teachers of mathematics..
Professor Merrilyn Goos interviewed by Rick Hind on ABC Radio Darwin, Mornings on April 3 2024, as one of the authors of “Relieving Out of Field Teaching in Australian Secondary Mathematics”. Listen to a recording here
Consortium Documents
Relieving Out of Field Teaching in Australian Secondary Mathematics
Analysis of out-of-field secondary mathematics teacher upskilling initiatives in Australia
This study identifies and describes the key features of out-of-field (OOF) secondary mathematics teacher upskilling initiatives throughout Australia, as well as selected international cases, to assist in understanding how to address findings that 40% of those teaching secondary school mathematics in Australia are out-of-field (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL], 2021).
Publication Date: March 25, 2024
Publisher: AMSI, AustMS, MERGA, SSA, Actuaries Institute
Pdf: Download
Position Paper – Relieving out-of-field teaching in Australian secondary mathematics
A Position Paper from the Actuaries Institute, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, the Australian Mathematical Society, the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia and the Statistical Society of Australia
Publication Date: March 25, 2024
Publisher: From the Actuaries Institute, AMSI, AustMS, MERGA and SSA
Pdf: Download
Upskilling Program Design Elements
This scoping statement describes a national upskilling program that would better equip out-of-field (OOF) mathematics teachers to undertake their substantive role. It outlines the Program Justification, Description, Scope and Indicative Costs.
Publication Date: January, 2025
Authors: Merrilyn Goos and Tim Marchant
Publisher: AMSI, AustMS, MERGA, SSA, Actuaries Institute
Pdf: Download
Out-of-Field Teaching Consortium submission to the Economic Reform Round table
Publication Date: July 2025
Pdf: Download
A national strategy to arrest Australia’s acute maths teacher shortage and build the highly skilled workforce Australia needs – 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission
Australia faces a critical skills pipeline issue that threatens our future workforce and economic competitiveness: two in five secondary maths teachers are ‘out-of-field’ teachers. This is resulting in 75% of high school students being taught by a teacher who lacks maths qualifications, in both maths content and maths pedagogy. This lack of formal training compromises their ability to support, build confidence and inspire the next generation of maths thinkers. This directly undermines our future workforce’s mathematical literacy.
Publication Date: February 9, 2026
Publisher: AMSI, Science & Technology Australia (STA)
Pdf: Download
Related Documents
AMSI Occasional Paper 1 – Crunching the numbers on out-of-field teaching in maths
Authors: Professor Geoff Prince and Michael O’Connor
Publication Date: November 26, 2018
Publisher: AMSI
Pdf: Download
AMSI Occasional Paper 2 – Australian Secondary Mathematics Teacher Shortfalls: A Deepening Crisis
Authors: Michael O’Connor & Jan Thomas OAM
Publication Date: May 10, 2019
Publisher: AMSI
Pdf: Download
Article in The Conversation
Authors: Ian Gordon, Mary P. Coupland, Merrilyn Goos
Date: April 2, 2024
Contact
Consortium facilitator
For any enquiries regarding the consortium’s activities contact Professor Geoff Prince, La Trobe University g.prince@latrobe.edu.au
Endorsements
Endorsement Letters
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Council of Deans of Science
Australian Industry Group
Australian Institute of Physics
Engineers Australia
Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Pdf: Download
Consortium Members
