Moving over in Sept to hopefully teach...any help appreciated

[Joe2579]

I'm moving out to Sydney in Sept with my girlfriend on a 189 visa. Both of us are teachers, I am currently a HOD and she is KS4 co-ordinator for Design and Technology and English respectively.

 

I was wondering if anyone has any information with regards to looking into jobs, speaking to schools etc to get sorted for either term 4 or certainly a job come the new school year in 2015.

 

I have applied to many jobs but none have got back to me and I am presuming, albeit maybe naively, because I am not yet in the country. Is this the case and can anyone give any more help or advice.

 

Thanks

[Debbieashley]

Hello… what stream of design technology does your partner teach, just interested as we are moving – haven’t decided between NSW and Vic- ready for the new term in Feb and teach DT and have found it difficult to secure a post (thinking it was because we are still in the uk) , I have training in primary autism and may go down this teaching route instead as it is more specialised with hopefully less people chasing the posts, I will watch your post with interestJ

[Quoll]

Getting a permanent job in a NSW gov school usually requires you to have had several years in a hard to fill position so unless you are absolutely set on Sydney be prepared to move to a more rural or regional area to get points so that you may one day be considered for something permanent in Sydney. Otherwise it could be a long time on short term contracts at best (casual relief or alternate career as options). Primary positions are harder to crack than secondary - there are many Aussie trained young teachers out of work.

[Debbieashley]

maybe we shall stick to Melbourne!, we are quite flexible and fortunate to have the additional special needs training, we have our fingers crossed that it will be the special needs skills we both have masters and additional language qualifications that will make us a little more attractive than others in our area…but who knows…thanks for the advice.

[Pumpkin]

maybe we shall stick to Melbourne!, we are quite flexible and fortunate to have the additional special needs training, we have our fingers crossed that it will be the special needs skills we both have masters and additional language qualifications that will make us a little more attractive than others in our area…but who knows…thanks for the advice.

 

It will be the same in Melbourne, teaching is hard to crack and will be in any of the major cities. Languages, special needs will help.

[Debbieashley]

ahhhhh!!! we are skilled rock climbers, cake makers and paper folders.....

[Quoll]

maybe we shall stick to Melbourne!, we are quite flexible and fortunate to have the additional special needs training, we have our fingers crossed that it will be the special needs skills we both have masters and additional language qualifications that will make us a little more attractive than others in our area…but who knows…thanks for the advice.

Yup, just the same in Melbourne! Even the special needs isn't going to be anything out of the box since the Integration movement and the need for all teachers to be on top of special needs in mainstream classes - in some states it's a core subject of basic teacher training. You'd be better prepared to look at regional towns rather than nice places in the city. Permanent positions are like hens teeth especially in Primary. The Catch 22 unfortunately is that with self managing schools, the better qualified and experienced you are, the more you will cost them so they will often go with the cheaper option to make their dollar go further. I'd be looking at other career pathways if teaching was the main money earner.

[PityTheFool]

Teaching in Oz is very different to the UK.

 

It's not the well respected career you may be expecting. As people have said getting a job is a nightmare and even if you get one it'll only be a short term contract - 12 months max!

 

One year you'll teach grade 1 and the next grade 6, it's mayhem - welcome to Oz!!

 

Comments relate to state primary, the wife wanted to teach and has been study for a degree (OU) to make it happen, now we're here we realise it's not worth it, your just as well off in an admin position in the school office!!

 

Sorry.....

[Sammy1]

Teaching in Oz is very different to the UK.

 

It's not the well respected career you may be expecting. As people have said getting a job is a nightmare and even if you get one it'll only be a short term contract - 12 months max!

 

One year you'll teach grade 1 and the next grade 6, it's mayhem - welcome to Oz!!

 

Comments relate to state primary, the wife wanted to teach and has been study for a degree (OU) to make it happen, now we're here we realise it's not worth it, your just as well off in an admin position in the school office!!

 

Sorry.....

 

I disagree. Teaching in my experience is far more respected here, especially if you take up a country position. The pay is far better too.

 

It is quite common to teach different years, but I believe that keeps a teacher fresh and if education is anything, it is certainly about change..

 

Only early childhood trained teachers can teach Kindy or Pre-Primary though.

 

Competition is fierce for jobs though, that is correct.

[wolvesaussie]

Everyone is overly negative on teaching. It may not be easy to get a job but it's not impossible. My girlfriend is enjoying teaching here so far full time permanent job in a nice private school straight off the bat

[Sammy1]

Everyone is overly negative on teaching. It may not be easy to get a job but it's not impossible. My girlfriend is enjoying teaching here so far full time permanent job in a nice private school straight off the bat

 

Wolveaussie, I know you speak for your girlfriend a fair bit on here.

 

People are not overly negative about the fierce competition and unemployment in the teaching profession. The people that comment on here have a wealth of teaching experience and knowledge and really do that they are talking about.

 

From memory, your girlfriend applied for at least 70 jobs and in the end secured one. It is important for people to know the realities.

[Joe2579]

Hello… what stream of design technology does your partner teach, just interested as we are moving – haven’t decided between NSW and Vic- ready for the new term in Feb and teach DT and have found it difficult to secure a post (thinking it was because we are still in the uk) , I have training in primary autism and may go down this teaching route instead as it is more specialised with hopefully less people chasing the posts, I will watch your post with interestJ

 

 

Hi Debbieashley, sorry for the late reply. It is me who is the DT teacher and I teach Graphic Products, Product Design and Resistant Materials. I decided on NSW for family amongst other regions but am using it as a starting point and going from there.

I've heard mixed reviews about coming out to teach but on the whole good comments and positive ones at that.

I'll turn my hand to most things though if I can't teach so there is no real problem as long as you have a good outlook I suppose.

[wolvesaussie]

Yes it was around 70 but u guys were always saying many where not real jobs anyway as people in post. So she wasn't down hearted at an point in the search and it took less than 3 months to get a job. We know someone else we met on here who moved few weeks before us. He really helped with advice when we first moved over. He is happily employed also tho it did take him a bit longer. Telling people they will have to give up on being a teacher if moving to Australia is just over the top...

[Sammy1]

Hi Debbieashley, sorry for the late reply. It is me who is the DT teacher and I teach Graphic Products, Product Design and Resistant Materials. I decided on NSW for family amongst other regions but am using it as a starting point and going from there.

I've heard mixed reviews about coming out to teach but on the whole good comments and positive ones at that.

I'll turn my hand to most things though if I can't teach so there is no real problem as long as you have a good outlook I suppose.

 

There is a demand in WA for Design and Technology teachers as our year 7's go to high school for the very first time in 2015 (currently year 7's study at primary school only).

 

If you have not decided on a location, then I would recommend having a look at the JobsWa website. Recruitment for next year has alsready started and by September/October it will be finished.

[PityTheFool]

Are all teaching jobs placed through recruitment agencies?

 

That's how my industry works and it's a pain in the arse! I can quite confidently say that over half of the jobs advertised on Seek are not actual jobs, just recruiters trying to get you on their books for when I position does open up - doesn't paint a very realistic picture for people moving over!

 

Can the OP approach schools directly??

[Hockayak]

Hi,

 

I can't speak for everyone on here, clearly my experiences are vastly different from some of the people posting on here. My wife and I are both teachers, both primary, and both pretty much walked into jobs. That's not us floating our own boat, it was lots of work and we had to send a lot of CVs out and network quite a bit. We arrived in January, my wife had 3 job offers before the terms started in February, she had an 'interview' in a florist/coffee shop/fashion shop - thingy. Stupidly casual! As for the others,one was just offered and one she met with the principal first. My experiences were that I did relief (supply) teaching for the first term, then was locked into a contract for terms 2,3,4. And then was picked up again for the following year. Again, much less 'interview' more like "which class would you prefer?"

 

The only things that are different for us, are that we are in Tasmania and that we were going for primary/SEN positions. Don't get me wrong, you take what you can get, but if you take your CV to the schools close, ask to see the person in charge of relief teacher appointments etc. FYI, by doing relief teaching, I had employment almost every single day and ended up being asked to take a contract. Once you get in, you're in. Its way less what you know, more who you (maybe that's Tassie specific).

 

I think we got pretty lucky, and we do appreciate that, but don't lose hope. Keep going! Do some research and be willing to email 50 schools, take CVs in person etc, 5 or 6 interested replies then generates job opportunities. I even got a call from a school offering a job (that I didn't take), that I didn't send my CV etc to, the principals passed my details along. If you want to PM me then give me a shout, there are a few things to know if you want to do relief/get contracts.

 

Hope you work everything out,

 

Hockayak - www.abritintas.blogspot.com

[PityTheFool]

Its way less what you know, more who you (maybe that's Tassie specific)

 

My experience of Melbourne too (not in teaching though)

[Quoll]

Are all teaching jobs placed through recruitment agencies?

 

That's how my industry works and it's a pain in the arse! I can quite confidently say that over half of the jobs advertised on Seek are not actual jobs, just recruiters trying to get you on their books for when I position does open up - doesn't paint a very realistic picture for people moving over!

 

Can the OP approach schools directly??

 

Government schools generally go through the state Education Department and some states (NSW being one) are very tight about where jobs are offered especially permanent positions and to whom. Casual relief is reasonably available.

 

Private schools usually advertise on their own websites in the first instance you can rock up to them any time you choose.

 

It's the big states and nice places in the big states which are over supplied with teachers - of course there are positions but usually in places that people don't particularly want to live (hence the "bonus" if you actually fill those hard to fill places). Some subject areas have more of a chance than others - Maths and Science are usually better bets but be prepared to demonstrate qualifications in two subject areas (most Math/Science graduates find they can earn more outside teaching I guess!).

 

However, the old "who you know" is definitely alive and well in education!