Primary Teacher needing work!

[Livy Jarvis]

I was just wondering if anyone knew how easy it is to teach in Australia on a UK teaching qualification. Do I need to retrain for the Australian system?
Any advice is gratefully accepted!
Livy

[Quoll]

Basic qualification is 4 year training so if you have a degree + PGCE or a 4 year bachelors you will be OK. I know this can be a stumbling block for many UK teachers who only have a BEd of 3 years. You can get some initial information here Government Education Portal - Teaching in Australia which might get you on the right track.

Primary positions are a bit hard to find if you want to live in a nice popular place - they are easy to come by if you are OK with living in rural or remote areas. Some states have a policy whereby you have to do your time in a hard to fill position for a few years before you will be considered for "plum" position. This is true for pretty much every state apparently. It is marginally easier to get a job if you are a new graduate because you cost the system less than an old chook with 20 years under their belts and there is a tendency to try and give contracts rather than permanency so they have flexibility with what they offer you.

Otherwise you wont need any special training but it always helps if you have a specialist string to your bow - special ed, behaviour management etc are two popular ones at the moment.

Good luck.

[The Broughtons]

I am one of those teachers who hit the stumbling block that Quoll mentioned but I have been in Melbourne for nearly 10 months and have a full time post.

If you give us few more details about yourself and askany questions you have then we should be able to help you out,

Felicity

[Livy Jarvis]

Thanks so much for the quick reply and advice!
I have done my NQT year and passed and then moved to the French Alps where I did some private tutoring and became a manager of a restaurant as there were no jobs at the international school. I have been looking to work (via internet) in Melbourne since I visited last October and fell in love with Australia!
My boyfriend is Australian and wants to return home, do you know how this would affect my chances to get residency or a working visa? I am 28 and not sure how my age affects my chances of a long term/working visa.
The only thing stopping me moving over and looking for work is lack of money to start up. I am desperate to get back into teaching and will work in any state. I hear there are lots of schools in WA looking for teachers.
Many thanks for your time and your advice.

[Quoll]

I am assuming you are 4 year trained then - that is really the most crucial point - not 3 year + NQT. Where will your boyfriend be? Will he have a job somewhere? As I said, there are vacancies for teachers but in places like Norseman or Wee Waa (just names randomly picked from my brain but giving you a clue about the sort of places that you may find yourself). If you are prepared to go to some really out of the way place or to a school with a really hard core clientele then you are more likely to get an offer.

I dont think having a boyfriend is going to affect your chances of getting a visa (not negatively anyway unless they dont want him back) although they do expect working holiday visa holders to leave at the end of their time here. I dont think you would get a teaching job on a WHV either. The money thing could be an issue if you just want to hang around and wait for some teaching to come up but if you are prepared to do anything in the beginning there are loads of jobs in hospitality and retail for the short term, mainly in the bigger cities anyway.

[Livy Jarvis]

I did a PGCE to gain my Primary degree so haven't spent the 4 years doing a BEd qualification. Prior to my teacher training I did a sociology degree, therefore my experience is significantly reduced. I have been offered an interview for a school in New Zealand just on the basis of my cv. Despite wanting to set up a home in Australia I am still considering other international posts hoping they will give me more experience.
I would be happy to move to Australia and find alternative work with maybe some supply teaching?
Why is it so hard!?
Thanks so much for all your useful advice it has really answered lots of questions!

[Livy Jarvis]

Do you think it would be worth coming to Australia and doing supply work?
The visas are so expensive, I am looking to set up a home and family there so it is a major move and really want to know that the chances of me returning to teaching are high! I have completed an NQT year and then had 3 years out working in the French Alps. I am only 28, still ambitious and looking for a fulfilling lifetime career in teaching!
I am willing to work in rural school and complete any further training required.
Any ideas?!

[Quoll]

Originally Posted by Livy Jarvis

Do you think it would be worth coming to Australia and doing supply work?
The visas are so expensive, I am looking to set up a home and family there so it is a major move and really want to know that the chances of me returning to teaching are high! I have completed an NQT year and then had 3 years out working in the French Alps. I am only 28, still ambitious and looking for a fulfilling lifetime career in teaching!
I am willing to work in rural school and complete any further training required.
Any ideas?!

If you are prepared to go anywhere then you should find a position so basically pick your state. I am not sure if any are actively recruiting at the moment (WA just finished). If you dont mind doing relief work then you shouldnt have too much of a problem anywhere but you do need to register with each state separately to get on their books.

You will need to get your qualifications verified by Teaching Australia Skills Assessment first, but your degree plus PGCE will be fine - just get transcripts of everything if you dont already have them.

Good luck!