Over 10,000 NSW teachers quit in 2021, and everything else women are talking about today.

More than 10,000 NSW teachers left the profession last year, but the education minister rejects the assertion her department is in "crisis".

Public school teachers voted to strike last November, with the Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos saying the state was facing "a large and growing shortage of teachers".

"The teacher shortages are too large and their cause - uncompetitive salaries and unmanageable workloads - too great for teachers and principals not to proceed with this action," he said.

The new data comes as multiple teachers shared their perspectives with Mamamia, many experiencing feelings of burnout and stress while dealing with the mental load of teaching amidst a pandemic.

One wrote: “Teachers are burning out and leaving in droves. I’m only in my third year of teaching, but if I burn out it will be because of the cycle I watch repeat itself daily.”

Another shared with Mamamia: “The bedrocks of any thriving society are health and education. This might seem an outrageous notion, but surely it should follow that a thriving force of healthcare workers and educators would be a priority? It appears not.”

If you would like to hear more from teachers, you can read their accounts here:

"I am one of the public school teachers striking in NSW this week. We are not okay."

Teachers and nurses are burnt-out to breaking point. But no one's listening.

"One teacher told us that her school had no maths teachers, so a history teacher is currently teaching maths to fill in." https://t.co/hTafrwBtVc

— Mamamia (@Mamamia) December 8, 2021

- With AAP.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke has noted that Sydney is on "high alert" as the weather system moves down the coast.

“The next 24 hours are absolutely critical. While we are all hoping for the very best, we must be prepared for the worst. Sydney is copping a battering as we speak, and that will continue for some time.”

The warning comes as residents in parts of Greater Sydney are being told to evacuate or prepare for flooding, given the “rain bomb” looming over Australia’s East coast. There is an alert for those near the Nepean and Hawkesbury River catchments, along with the Georges River.

'The water has nowhere to go': Flood evacuation warnings issued in south-west Sydney https://t.co/NLbHJs1A1E

— ABC News (@abcnews) March 2, 2022

If the 2011 floods in Queensland are anything to go by, the economic impact of this month’s floods is expected to be in the billions.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said following those 2011 floods, there was $2 billion in insurance claims and more than $4 billion in economic impacts across sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism. Frydenberg noted the majority of insurance claims so far have been made in Queensland with more expected to come through from NSW soon.

Nearly 150,000 disaster support payment claims have already been requested in Queensland and northern NSW, as heavy rain heads south.

Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds said there have been 145,000 claims for government support so far, 90,000 of which were filed on Tuesday. The emergency federal support is a one-off payment of $1000 for adults and $400 for children affected by floodwaters. Reynolds said the number of claims is "of a magnitude beyond" anything the government has seen before in a flooding event.

Bianca lives in Northern NSW with her fiancé Kurt, four-year-old daughter and her newborn child. 

She and her family are one of thousands who are isolated due to the flood crisis currently occurring across South East Queensland and Northern NSW. 

“I am so scared. This flood situation is worse than even my grandmother has seen in her lifetime. I have a newborn baby and all of the roads to access our town are cut off with floodwaters still rising. I am just absolutely terrified,” Bianca noted to Mamamia.

In a bid to raise awareness and tell her story, Bianca has detailed what it's been like for her and her family over the past 48 hours. You can read about it here: 

“I am absolutely terrified”: Bianca is trapped in the floods with her newborn in Northern NSW.

"I am so scared. This flood situation is worse than even my grandmother has seen in her lifetime. I have a newborn baby and all of the roads to access our town are cut off with floodwaters still rising," Bianca said to Mamamia. https://t.co/hZno7A3JkX

— Mamamia (@Mamamia) March 2, 2022

Right now, South East Queensland and Northern NSW are enduring some of the worst floods we’ve seen in their history.

Houses are being swallowed by floodwater, families are stranded on their roofs, businesses are being destroyed and locals are rescuing strangers in boats.

Thousands have fled their homes, a dozen have died and many are still missing. 

If you're still in the dry, there’s a lot you can do to help. This incredibly informative article by Brielle lists just some of the ways you can support Aussies affected by NSW and Queensland’s floods. You can read more here:

Here's exactly how you can help victims of the NSW and QLD floods.

It's the beginning of the month, otherwise known as the time I put together a list of all the TV shows you're going to want to watch over the next few weeks. You're welcome.

The good times keep rolling in March, with plenty of highly anticipated, talked about shows on the agenda. 

From tomorrow, you'll be able to dig your teeth into The Dropout on Disney+, which tells the bonkers story of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos. Stories about con, scams and swindlers are having a real moment, and this is perfect for your post-Inventing Anna comedown.

This weekend, we'll all be reliving the mayhem that was the pandemic's Tiger King era as Joe vs Carole drops on Stan. The brilliant Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin is something we all need to see.

And yes, Bridgerton season 2 is nearly here. Shonda Rhimes' period drama is back this month and I can't wait for the return of Regency-era horniness.

For the full list, and all the info you need to mark your calendars, check out my story here: 'I watch TV for work. These are the 9 shows everyone will be watching in March.'

Yesterday, I spent the day speaking to women caught up in Queensland and NSW's devastating floods. 

Floods that drove Lismore resident, Raiha, to clamber into her attic for safety and forced Karyn and her children in Tumbulgum to jump from their balcony to reach their neighbour's boat. 

You can read more of their stories and others here: 'We had to climb into the attic.' This is the human face of what's unfolding in NSW and Queensland.

As the disaster continues to unfold, lets get you across the biggest news stories women are talking about this morning. 

1. Ballina evacuating as two women confirmed dead in NSW floods.

Residents in Ballina in Northern NSW have been ordered to evacuate as the town braces for "life-threatening" flooding expected to reach 2.5 metres.

Overnight, Ballina Hospital was evacuated, with 55 patients temporarily moved to Ballina's Xavier Catholic College. 

An SMS was being sent to the local community to alert them of the evacuation and the temporary hospital closure.

The SES is warning of "life-threatening" flooding and is ordering residents of Ballina to evacuate. #9Today pic.twitter.com/hI4qjVGb74

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) March 1, 2022

Two elderly women have been confirmed dead inside their Lismore homes. 

One woman in her 80s was found inside a South Lismore house on Tuesday afternoon, NSW Police said. Another woman in her 80s was found dead in her Lismore home earlier in the day.

Another man who disappeared in floodwaters on Sunday is yet to be found and many more remain missing.

Seventeen councils in northern NSW have also been a declared disaster zone, as Sydney braces for torrential rain and flash flooding as the weather system moves south.

2. Nine dead and 1100 in evacuation centres in QLD. 

A 76-year-old man has been found dead north of Brisbane taking the death toll from Queensland's devastating floods to nine. 

More than 15,000 homes in Brisbane, 3600 in Gympie, 200 in Logan and at least 150 in Ipswich have been damaged, with 1152 people in evacuation centres and many more bunking with loved ones.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services made 16 rescues and responded to 256 calls for help into Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, residents have banded together and started a massive flood clean-up task, with a "Mud Army" of volunteers assembling across the region.

The Brisbane River has peaked again and the mud army has been deployed to help.

But after a year's rainfall in two days, it's going to take time to fix the mess. @ShannonMM9 #9News pic.twitter.com/HRVybx25hg

— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) March 1, 2022

However, the clean effort is set to be interrupted, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning more "severe weather" on its way. 

3. PM isolating after positive COVID-19 test.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has tested positive to COVID-19 but will continue to work from home while isolating.

"I am experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week," Morrison said in a statement announcing that he had tested positive on Tuesday night.

"I had tested myself daily since Sunday, including this morning, with all tests returning a negative result," he said.

"I took a further test this evening after developing a fever late today. The test was inconclusive so I took a PCR test tonight which returned a positive result late this evening."

Tonight I tested positive to COVID-19.

I am experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week.

I had tested myself daily since Sunday, including this morning, with all tests returning a negative result.

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 1, 2022

He said his wife and two children had tested negative and will isolate for seven days at home as close contacts.

4. Ukrainian soldiers from Snake Island 'alive'.

The Ukrainian soldiers from the tiny Black Sea island of Zmiinyi, also known as Snake Island, are being held in captivity by Russia, according to the Ukrainian navy.

"We are very happy to learn that our comrades-in-arms are alive and well," the navy said on Facebook. 

The Ukrainian soldiers, who were assumed dead, are reported to have surrendered after running out of ammunition, the navy said. 

Last week, Ukrainians online circulated an unverified recording of a Russian warship ordering a Ukrainian outpost on the island to surrender.

The Ukrainians reply: "Russian warship, go f*** yourself."

A group of Ukrainian border guards were stationed on Snake Island, in the Black Sea south of Odessa, when a Russian warship ordered them to surrender under threat of attack.

Their response: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."

They held their ground. All 13 were killed. pic.twitter.com/GMRsXQRSX0

— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) February 25, 2022

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Interior says at least 352 civilians, including 14 children have so far been killed.

Kyiv has been targeted in Russian strikes this morning, which has left at least five people dead. 

Earlier in the day, 10 people were killed in a ruthless attack on Ukraine's second largest city. Russia has taken out the TV tower in Kyiv allegedly in an effort to wipe-out internet and communications.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before meaningful talks on a ceasefire can start as a first round of negotiations this week had yielded scant progress.

5. Australia to provide $105m in Ukraine aid.

Australia will send a $105 million package of weapons along with humanitarian assistance to Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a $70 million defensive support package, which includes missiles and ammunition. A further $35 million would be spent on humanitarian assistance such as shelter, food and medical care.

Morrison said he would not provide specifics on what weapons, or the amount of weapons, that would be sent to Ukraine due to national security concerns.

Australia will provide millions of dollars worth of lethal aid to support Ukraine.

The Prime Minister said "we're taking missiles and ammunition" for the fight against Russia. @rachbaxter9 #9News pic.twitter.com/CgOKZWsmGf

— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) March 1, 2022

"I don't plan to give the Russian government a heads up about what is coming their way, but I can assure them it is coming your way," he told reporters in Canberra.

"We will be answering the call from (Ukrainian) President Zelenskyy. He said, 'Don't give me a ride, give me ammunition', and that is exactly what the Australian government has agreed to do."

And that's it, you're all up to speed. We'll be back to bring you more of the biggest news stories throughout the day. 

- With AAP. 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is front and centre in news headlines as his country continues its efforts to repel the Russian military following the invasion late last week, but how much do we really know about him?

You might have heard that he used to be a comic and actor, who almost lucked his way into the top job after playing the Ukrainian President on TV, but is that true? And has he really become a hero just one week into the conflict?

The Quicky speak to an expert in Ukrainian society and politics to find out who this man is, and whether he really will be able to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin and bring an end to the violence before it escalates further.

READ: 

• What women are talking about on Tuesday.

• What women were talking about on Monday.

Feature Image: Getty.