Needtoknow

You are fine as you have done 4 years of university education. Your 3 yr degree in law and a PGCE amounts to 4 years, as long as you have done at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice you should be ok.

Thanks. Sadly, that is what I thought so may have to wait a while.

I think I'll do that, although I don't know where I'll get the fees from. I would probably get some sort of help in UK (student loan or something), but I won't be able to do that in Australia will I?

It's on the CSOL list, but early childhood teacher is on the SOL list. However, a MA told me that northern territory is the only state sponsoring primary teachers at the moment.

That sounds good and maybe I could do something with early years as that is the only teaching position that seems to be in demand. Although I teach infants, I haven't been involved with 0-3 years which I have been told you must have. I think I'll wait until I get there and look into things more thoroughly. Do you know if studying online will incur the same fees as a university based course and will these courses be accepted by BOSTES?

Hi Sammy. Thanks for that. 5 years! I wonder why the UK and Australia have such different requirements. I just wish I had known before I chose this degree as it has caused so many problems for me. It looks like I may have to pay international student fees too which are very high as we may be coming to Oz on a 457 through my partner if we get approved!

Thanks for your input everyone. It looks like I have no choice but to study again then, so either that, or I will go into a different job. The thought of not having to think about work every waking hour sounds quite attractive, ha ha. I'm trying to be upbeat about a frustrating situation

Hi I'm hoping someone can help me to understand if I am now likely to achieve a positive outcome for the skills assessment for 'primary school teacher ANZSCO 241213'. I have tried and tried for years to get them to understand my 3 year BA (hons) in Education with QTS is equivalent, but to no avail. However, it now appears on their website that changes have been made to the criteria from December 2015, so I am hopeful that this may be a breakthrough for me. I would appreciate any opinions on this and here are the details: Three years ago I asked for a skills assessment with the AITSL assessment body and they rejected me stating that... 'while your application had been assessed as meeting the professional and English language proficiency criteria, it had been assessed as not meeting the educational criterion of completion of at least 4 years of higher education study comparable to the level of an Australian Bachelor degree. They continued to say that ... 'The Bachelor of Arts in Education is a three year honours degree program and was assessed as comparable to 3 years of full time study at Australian Bachelor degree level.' I looked at the AITSL website today and it says that changes came into effect in December 2015. Here they are copied and pasted onto here: AITSL will now consider educational qualification/s comparable to the educational level of an Associate Degree or Advanced Diploma (Australian Qualifications Framework Level 6). Please note, the Professional Criterion remains unchanged in that an applicant’s Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualification/s must be comparable to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor degree (AQF7) or higher. The amendment is consistent with nationally consistent registration for teachers in Australia. I have looked at associate degrees or advanced diplomas in Australia and these are 1.5 to 2 years in duration and are Level 6, whilst a Bachelor degree is level 7 and a bachelor honours degree is level 8. As they stated in my assessment outcome letter that I had met the professional and English language proficiency criteria, does this now mean that I have met the educational criteria? Although it still says: New criteria: “Study assessed by AITSL as comparable to at least four years full-time (or part-timeequivalent) higher education (university) level study in Australia that results in a qualification/s.”This amendment sees the deletion of: “comparable to the educational level of an Australianbachelor degree (AQF7) or higher”. Does this mean that my 3 year bachelor honours degree might be equivalent to 4 years worth of Australian associate degrees or advanced diplomas. Essay over I look forward to anyone who may try to unravel this for me please, as I find it extremely confusing. Thank you

Yes but you did a 3 year degree then a PGCE. I only did a 3 year BA in education with QTS. You are fine.

Hi I am in the same predicament as I have a 3 and not 4 year degree. However, how can you only have done 28 days? A full year PGCE is at least 12 weeks of teaching practise isn't it (this is 60 days - 12 days of PPA time etc)? This would be 48 days. I did at least 50 days and was still rejected as they simply looked at the number of years of my BA (Hons) degree! Have you managed to get sorted?

Thanks. I'll print some photos off and send them too. Who do I send cover letter to? The employer, or when we have to do our part of the visa? Which visa are you waiting for?

Hi everyone. I wonder if you can help. We are in the UK and have recently had a job offer from an Australian company. We are so happy and they want to start the nomination process. They have asked us to send them copies of birth certs and passport ID, qualification certs, references from existing employer and evidence of our relationship. We have been together for 2 years and have been engaged for 8 months. We live together, but it is my house and he moved in, so everything is in my name. We have no bills in his name even though we do share the costs (didn't think it mattered as when we are married we will get a place of our own). We booked the wedding (which will be in Oz as family are there) last August 2015. We have the date set with the hotel and emails off the marriage celebrant confirming the wedding date etc. We paid the deposit to hotel for the wedding and I have a receipt for dress deposit etc. We also have flight tickets and holiday invoices for 2 holidays we have had together over the past year. We don't have joint account, but his wages are paid into my account. Will we have enough evidence? Your help will be appreciated. Thank you

Thanks. What makes a person exempt? He is a maintenance manager with mechanical engineering experience of 20+ years. They don't call them engineers in Oz without degree though, so with trade certificates and not a degree it is classed as a fitter position in Oz I think. Would you know if this would work?

I can see how it may look, but it would simply be for peace of mind. However, it would obviously be financially difficult and also double the work so, on reflection, it's not an option. We will just have to hope we get PR asap.

I am 47 so it's too late and my OH is approaching the limit too

Thanks NickyNook

Yes I realise what the 457 is and the possible route to PR (thanks to you all on here), but it looks like there's a possibility of a better visa ie: 186 permanent? When I looked at immi website it said 'direct entry' and looked like you can get PR without skills assessments, etc. Am I reading it wrong or missing something?

Hi I wonder if anyone can help please? Is it possible to find an employer to sponsor us on a 457 visa, but at the same time, have skills assessments, English tests etc. then apply for a skilled independent 189 or skilled nominated 489 when and if we can get enough evidence ready?

Yes it does sound highly unlikely doesn't it! Really worrying about this but all we can do is try. Thanks

Thank you, but does that mean we have to do the same skills assessment we would have been asked to do for a 489 visa?

Hi everyone. We were thinking about applying for 457 visa (after getting a job offer) then came across this visa. What is the 186? It says there are 3 paths.One is for the 457 holder to become permanent after 2 years and the other says 'direct entry scheme'. What does this mean? We are wondering if we would be eligible? A little background might help....The reason we are going for 457 rather than 489 (or other more permanent visas) is because we haven't got time due to approaching 45 and because we would struggle to get enough primary or secondary evidence for a job my partner did, as the company went bust. So if this visa requires the same skills assessment that the 489 visa then we will revert back to the 457 idea. The DIBP website has a visa section and it says briefly what the requirements are. For the 457 it says you have to be sponsored by a business and have the skills required...and for the 186 it says to be under 50, be sponsored and meet the skills, quals and English requirements (but there is no mention of a skills test) so advice on this would be really helpful. Thank you.

I wish we could but he only has 18mths/2yrs experience recently then it was five years ago, but that company went bust so we cant get enough evidence even with stat dec/tax docs etc. And even if we could, time isn't on our side as he is 43 now and the process is so long.

I am in similar boat and I understand how you are feeling. Mine are both at uni and must complete this, but we want to go to Oz. I wouldn't allow them to stop their courses, but I'm praying they will follow us if we go or it will break my heart and I'd probably have to return to the UK. We have the age restriction thing which means if we don't go now we may never be able to go. I hope things work out for you.

Thanks Paul. The kids will get through their education in the UK, then we will support them to apply for their own visas probably. We have to try and what will be will be. It would be a dream come true to teach as this is my passion, but I'll spend the first year working part time (either as a casual teacher or anything that I can find) and at the same time study for the extra year degree level study they have asked for. Maybe Perth has more opportunities then?

But is that down to the employer full stop, or do we have a 457 application form to fill in that will include having to prove a certain number of years? He is a maintenance manager, but his skills are the fitter (general) which is on the SOL list.