Governments are responsible for ensuring they provide a high-quality education for all their young people. This requires a teacher workforce that is adequately prepared, through their initial teacher education programmes, early career teacher induction support and on-going professional development, to provide such an education. However, the current global teacher shortage, which is forcing governments to rethink their policies aimed at attracting and retaining teachers, is potentially damaging of that responsibility. This symposium brings together studies that have examined the policy landscape developing around this global problem and considered the consequences of these policy responses. One paper examines the expansion of who is eligible to teach and their induction (White, Sullivan, Simons, et al). In Australia, policy changes now allow pre-service teachers to be employed to work in schools, thus redefining the ‘early career teacher’ and presents issues about their induction. A second paper, also considering the Australian landscape, presents an analysis of how one government policy response (Strong Beginnings) has reshaped teacher education to address teacher shortages (Mills et al). It will be argued that in implying teacher education is a major cause of teachers’ lack of retention in education system, along with the subsequent changes that have been mandated in teacher education programmes, will undermine the provision of a high-quality education for all. A third paper (Brooks) examines the impact and “unintended” consequences of recent teacher education policy reforms in England. A spatial analysis reveals the winners and losers: increasing opportunities and influence in major urban centres, whilst rural and isolated communities lack locally-owned teacher education provision. A critical account of the reform’s evidence base underscores this lack of local accountability, and how universities are sidelined in all aspects of teacher education provision. Chair Prof Anna Sullivan; Discussant: Prof Maria Assunção Flores