Student outcomes could be improved with changes to ease their workload, teachers say.
That was one finding of a national survey of parents, teachers and students which will feed into work on overhauling the school education system.
The survey of almost 25,000 people found 74 per cent of teachers said reducing workload would help lift student outcomes.
A discussion paper released alongside the survey said increasing workloads were impacting on teacher health and wellbeing and were the most significant stress factor identified by school leaders and teachers.
It is leading to many teachers leaving the professional early, putting further pressure on schools and impacting student outcomes.
On a more positive note, the survey found 87 per cent of parents and 78 per cent of students said teachers gave students the encouragement they needed.
And 69 per cent of students say their school makes them feel welcome.
As schools look to expand the range of support provided, 77 per cent of parents and 59 per cent of teachers said they backed improved access to allied health professionals, including occupational therapists and speech pathologists.
An expert panel is set to provide a final report to education ministers by the end of October, advising on the targets and reforms that should be tied to funding in the next national school reform agreement to be negotiated next year.
Education Minister Jason Clare said he was committed to working with states and territories to get every school on a path to 100 per cent of its fair funding level.
“The results of the survey underscore just how important our teachers are and the incredible job they are doing in our schools," he said.
“The survey also highlights the practical reforms that could make our education system lot better and a lot fairer."
Schools receive $61 billion in recurrent government funding each year, with more than half provided by the states and territories to cater for the nation's four million students.
Yet the Australian Education Union says 98 per cent of public schools are funded below the schooling resource standard.
It has launched a campaign to fully fund public schools across the country within five years.
The union says full funding would allow schools to reduce class sizes, increase one-on-one support for students and provide classroom assistance to teachers.
A survey commissioned by the union, of 7808 teachers and staff, found 90 per cent of principals had teacher shortages in the past year, while 70 per cent said there had been a decline in student wellbeing.
