TeacherBen Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Hi, There seem to be a number of teachers on the forum at the moment so I thought I'd set up an area where we can all share our experiences and ideas, ways to find jobs, where we're settling and what subjects!! Who knows - maybe we can help each other out when we're there!! Any info, questions etc are welcome about teaching!! Cheers teacherben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanduex Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Boom! Subscribed! Assistant Head History Specialist 8.5 Years Experience Heading for QLD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherBen Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 I teach Biology, have a Senior Tutor role in the sixth form (mini HoY role for 60 students in sixth form of ~1000 students), and DofE Manager in our centre (directly licenced to Yorkshire & Humber DofE with 160 doing Bronze and 63 doing Gold!). Been teaching for 7 years. Heading to Sydney in Jan 2015 if all goes to plan!! Looking for a school with loads of outdoor activities if possible!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanduex Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 For jobs I currently look at: Australian TES SEEK Government pages of each state Registered wit Hays and SMART teachers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bissy Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Good job TeacherBen! I teach Business Management, Admin&IT, Accounts and Economics. Been teaching 7.5 years and I've been Head of Business for 3.5 years. Hoping to settle in Sydney Oct 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherBen Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Vanduex, when you registered with SMART teachers did you re-write your CV Australian 'style' or did you upload your normal one?? Cheers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Vanduex, when you registered with SMART teachers did you re-write your CV Australian 'style' or did you upload your normal one?? Cheers!! Keep your cv short. 2 pages or so. Add a covering letter. Answer key selection criteria with examples of how you have met each criteria in your teaching. You need detail. 7 KSC may take 3 pages or so. Doing this, I've received an interview for every job I've gone for in maths and science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherBen Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Cheers dmjg! Will get on that this weekend...not out until Jan 2015 so got a bit of time but want to get the ball rolling!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulRaynor Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I'm a British trained primary teacher, worked for 15 years in supply and contract work in both the private and public sectors in Brisbane. Happy to help with questions. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolbreeze Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Currently Head of Business and ICT and Deputy Head of Senior in International School in Thaland 5 Years experience with the 6th year being in Oz (I hope) BA Hons degree is actually in History I have my eye on SMART teachers and HAYS as well as http://www.teachers.on.net/ Looking to register with the SA TRB in the next month after medicals and PCC's are uploaded on immi. The thing I am most nervous about is that ICT has only just been introduced as a national curriculum subject and in SA, many schools are not interested in 'specialists'. Business Studies again, seems rather limited and only available to teach to grades 11/12. I think I will have to look at convincing Aussie schools I can also teach English/Maths. I am not sure just having a History degree will enable me to 'teach' History. 'dmjg' - great advice on the CV and covering letter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolbreeze Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Vanduex, when you registered with SMART teachers did you re-write your CV Australian 'style' or did you upload your normal one?? Cheers!! Quick question, Teacher Ben - what d you mean writing it 'australian' style? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherBen Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Well I've read somewhere (can't remember exactly where - maybe on here) that the Australian CV is different to ours in terms of what goes in and what doesn't! I'll try and find where and repost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milliem Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hey Science and Maths teacher in an independent school in Queensland. Happy to answer any queries about QLD. Been here for one year. Was SLT in UK so adjusting to a full teaching timetable again was a culture shock. Millie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kooky Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I have been teaching for 13 years, I am a part time teacher at the moment but have been at various levels previously (teacher of, department head, faculty head) but unfortunately my subjects are Drama and Dance and I hardly ever see any jobs here let alone there. I am teaching Art at KS3 at the moment so maybe I could convince them I can teach art!!! I think I may struggle to get a job in my area to be honest but i am very up for supply and don't even care if i end up doing something different with less pay! I am hoping my husband (also a teacher) will have better luck than me! He is Assistant Head at the moment and also SENCO, has been teaching same amount of time as me and got lots of extra strings to his bow!! We don't really have a set place in mind (going to validate in the summer if visa comes through on time. Hiring a camper so we can visit lots of places). I am between Adelaide and Brisbane at the moment but open to anywhere we can get a job. Seen lots in NSW at the moment (assistant/deputy roles). Anyone got kids in tow? We have 2 boys (4&5). They don't know about our plans yet - going to wait until visa comes and we are a little more clear on time frame of move. Well done TeacherBen for starting this thread! Good luck everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolvesaussie Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 HI, my girlfriend was a Biology teacher in the UK, 3 years experience, quit her job end of UK school year and headed over to Victoria. Applied for about 70 Science Teacher jobs (aug-Nov) and landed a full time permanent teaching role which she started this week... Shes had 6 months holiday living the dream off my salary . Quick recap of the situation of the 70 jobs she applied for, I think she got about 5/6 interviews... of the 70, maybe 15-20 were straight science the other ones were Maths/Science or Science / some other combination... Hopefully she will be happy everyone says its a great school with good kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanduex Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 There is a really good deputy role in NSW at the moment if you look at TES Australia. I have sent a CV to SMART teachers. They send me a template. Has a page of information for education and experience etc. This it has a section for a statement and a piece of writing about my skills etc. I assume I will then write an additional letter to respond to the KSC. Spent some time on the ACARA website. Worth a read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milliem Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 There is a really good deputy role in NSW at the moment if you look at TES Australia. I have sent a CV to SMART teachers. They send me a template. Has a page of information for education and experience etc. This it has a section for a statement and a piece of writing about my skills etc. I assume I will then write an additional letter to respond to the KSC. Spent some time on the ACARA website. Worth a read. Thanks for the info. My visa is for regional QLD so not very flexible with work areas until I complete the two year regional working and living commitment. Looking forward to being able to browse other options. Teachers on Net often has jobs for independent schools. Also Catholic Jobs online for jobs in catholic schools. Millie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerstripes Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Lots of great info on this thread already. I wonder if anyone can put my mind at rest about something: my degree is in a different subject to my PGCE (journalism and then English and drama). Has anyone else who has been accepted by AITSL got different subjects like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy1 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) Lots of great info on this thread already. I wonder if anyone can put my mind at rest about something: my degree is in a different subject to my PGCE (journalism and then English and drama). Has anyone else who has been accepted by AITSL got different subjects like this? That's fine,however, it is down to the varying teacher registration boards as to whether they will register someone as a teacher. NSW and Victoria are very stringent about content and number of units taken in chosen teaching area. For example if your PGCE was in primary teaching then it would be more difficult as your first degree would be unlikely to have the required maths units required by NSW etc. For secondary teaching it should be fine. Edited February 1, 2014 by Sammy1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordielass44 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hi I'm a secondary history teacher originally but i have mainly spent my career working as a SENCo at a secondary school (5years) and then as a Behaviour Support Teacher (nearly 9 years) In my role at present i work with schools from Nursery to Secondary advising and supporting staff around EBSD. Really not sure what I will look for in Australia job wise. I have a lot of experience working with children on the autistic spectrum so that may be the ideal next step. I did see jobs for Behaviour Support Teachers advertised in Brisbane when i was there last year too. Any other SEN teachers out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolbreeze Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Lots of great info on this thread already. I wonder if anyone can put my mind at rest about something: my degree is in a different subject to my PGCE (journalism and then English and drama). Has anyone else who has been accepted by AITSL got different subjects like this? My degree is in History and PGCE in ICT. AITSL just want to know if you have 4 years worth of higher education with at least X amount days worked, in schools, under supervision. A BA Hons and PGCE will meet this criteria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickystar Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I just got back my IELTS scores and got 9's in reading, speaking and listening, but sadly, got only a 7.5 in writing. I needed at least 8 in all 4. I'm resitting and asking for a remark but wondered whether I can start the skills assessment process going by putting an application into AITSL with these IELTS results and then at the EOI stage submit my new IELTS score (hopefully improved to an 8). I ran out of time in the writing test so didn't get a chance to check over my work for mistakes - think this may have been due to taking a toilet break at the start - oops! Is this possible or is the IELTS score you submit to AITSL the one you have to submit with your visa application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerstripes Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I just got back my IELTS scores and got 9's in reading, speaking and listening, but sadly, got only a 7.5 in writing. I needed at least 8 in all 4. I'm resitting and asking for a remark but wondered whether I can start the skills assessment process going by putting an application into AITSL with these IELTS results and then at the EOI stage submit my new IELTS score (hopefully improved to an 8). I ran out of time in the writing test so didn't get a chance to check over my work for mistakes - think this may have been due to taking a toilet break at the start - oops!Is this possible or is the IELTS score you submit to AITSL the one you have to submit with your visa application? You don't need to submit IELTS to AITSL at all if your degree was completed in an a English speaking country, e.g UK, USA etc. was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerstripes Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Thanks coolbreeze and Sammy. That's really reassuring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickystar Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hi tiger stripes, thanks for replying. My degree was completed in an English speaking country but I need the extra 20 points I can get if I get a level 8 for IELTS but not sure if it has to be assessed by AITSL for me to get the points or whether I can submit my IELTS score at the point of applying for my visa. In which case I can go ahead with my skills assessment now and won't be delayed any...anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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