"Thought the holidays and workload would be good...": Motivations of Australian ITE students in a time of crisis

Media scrutiny of initial teacher education (ITE) programs in Australia has been intense in recent years, with particular attention being drawn to ITE graduate preparedness to teach. Simultaneously there is a worldwide shortage of graduate teachers to fill gaping holes in teacher workforces, and a decline in community perceptions of the role teachers play in our society. In such a crisis the motivations of those entering the profession become critical. In this article motivations of ITE students enrolled in arts education subjects are explored between September and December 2023 (N=120). Findings suggest that whilst the motivations of students have not shifted away from altruistic and intrinsic reasons, a greater focus on the values that ITE students bring to their studies is increasingly important.