Catholic diocese plans to cut 58 teacher-librarian roles
The Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese is proposing to move 58 teacher-librarians to other roles. This will affect over 21,000 students.
The Maitland-Newcastle diocese is planning to move 58 teacher-librarians to other subject areas in 2027. Library assistants or student support officers will take over school libraries instead.
The change could affect more than 21,000 students across 45 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, and two K-12 schools. Australian students recorded their worst-ever digital literacy results in 2025.
One in ten Year 3 students needed extra help with reading. Teacher-librarians have both teaching and library science training.
They connect students with books, build research skills, and teach information literacy across all subjects. Replacing them with other staff changes what a school library can do for students.
- 58
- Teacher-librarians redeployed
- More than 21,000
- Students affected
- 10.8 per cent
- Year 3 students needing support
- Maitland-Newcastle
- Diocese region
Why it mattersSchools are cutting trained literacy support just as student reading levels are at their lowest.
AustraliaStudents in NSW Catholic schools face reduced access to qualified librarians when literacy assistance is most needed.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 5 d ago
