WHITE PAPER - The Misalignment Between Teacher Training and Classroom Reality: Implications for Burnout

This paper examines the misalignment between teacher education and the realities of classroom practice in Australia and its contribution to teacher burnout. While initial teacher education provides essential pedagogical and theoretical foundations, it often does not adequately prepare teachers for the emotional, administrative, and systemic demands of contemporary schooling. Drawing on recent Australian research and psychological frameworks, the paper explores how this disconnect contributes to dissonance, demoralisation, emotional labour, and chronic stress among educators. The consequences of burnout extend beyond individual teachers to affect school leadership, support staff, and whole-school culture. The paper argues that addressing teacher burnout requires systemic alignment between preparation and practice, alongside organisational conditions that support psychological safety, manageable workloads, and professional agency.

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