Speaking at an event organised for state school teachers yesterday, Mr McKim announced that his department is setting up a Tasmanian Professional Learning Institute and launching annual awards for staff.

He said recruiting, supporting, inspiring and keeping the best teachers and school leaders was at the heart of his vision.

``The research shows . . . that if you want quality education outcomes you've got to improve and support teachers, and to do that you've got to improve and support the quality of leaders in our schools,'' Mr McKim said.

``We need to make sure we attract the best possible quality people into the teaching profession, and that when they're here that we make sure we concentrate on supporting them and inspiring them on being the best possible teachers they can be every day.''

The awards will be sponsored by the Retirement Benefit Fund and open to all staff employed at the department for at least 12 months, volunteers, members of school associations and industry partners.

The learning institute will provide training for school leaders in its first 12 months, but over time will deliver professional development in a variety of ways to all 13,000 department staff.

It is being funded within the department's existing budget, which has to find $45.9 million in savings this year - acknowledged briefly by Mr McKim in his speech.

The Australian Education Union has applauded the initiatives, but state president Terry Polglase warned that the pay and conditions under which teachers laboured was just as critical.

``The vision of our union is that ever child in Tasmania should have access to high quality education in a public school that exists in their local area,'' he said.

``This announcement by the minister demonstrates an understanding that those working in education need to continue being the highest of quality.

``However, appropriate pay levels are essential and workloads are reaching unacceptable levels. Trust, acknowledgment and a sense that Tasmanians are working together with clear goals that are shared is also needed.''

Mr McKim said he also wanted to come up with more incentives to attract teachers and increase staff feedback.