Any Teachers Applying Now?

[Yikes2017]

5 hours ago, sammy11480 said:

 

Hi there Yikes

I'm just wondering if you can help...I'm also a primary school teacher but didn't think I could apply to Victoria State as I don't have a specific language skill, which is stated as a necessary requirement.
Do you know if this is the case? Do you have specialist language skill? I am currently looking at SA as I didn't think Victoria was an option.
Many thanks



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Hi there,

The language I have nominated is French. I taught French weekly as part of the KS2 curriculum and also when I covered other teachers during their PPA. I liked teaching it and am quite confident but I certainly am not an expert! I think as long as you can prove that you have followed a particular scheme (LCP in my case) and have delivered sessions regularly to primary aged children then that's acceptable. I did have to write a piece explaining exactly what i'd done and my the head teacher also had to put forward a statement confirming what i'd claimed.

So i'd say if you've done something similar then go for it. But we went through an agent which I would recommend.

Hope this helps

[TeacherClem]

Any ideas how long it has taken in the past to be assigned a co? We haven't had medicals or police checks done yet because of the wait on visas so won't be a straight grant for us. Just wondering how long it might take to hear from someone.
Thanks


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[Kev147]

We lodged on 3rd May. CO contacted us for medicals and PCC on June 19th.


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[Kev147]

Noticed that there was a grant today for a secondary school teacher who lodged on May 6th.


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[sammy11480]

Hi there,
The language I have nominated is French. I taught French weekly as part of the KS2 curriculum and also when I covered other teachers during their PPA. I liked teaching it and am quite confident but I certainly am not an expert! I think as long as you can prove that you have followed a particular scheme (LCP in my case) and have delivered sessions regularly to primary aged children then that's acceptable. I did have to write a piece explaining exactly what i'd done and my the head teacher also had to put forward a statement confirming what i'd claimed.
So i'd say if you've done something similar then go for it. But we went through an agent which I would recommend.
Hope this helps

Hi Yikes

Thanks so much for your reply. I haven't taught a language but if needs must I'm sure I could take on a mantle in school, as you say teaching it at KS2.

I wonder do you have a job lined up already or are you planning on looking for one when you get to Oz?

I'm disheartened by advice such as Quoll above who say there are no jobs as primary teachers are heavily oversubscribed. What is your experience of finding work?

Thank you for any further help as I'm feeling really down and confused at present as a Primary teacher trying to get to Oz. x



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[TeacherClem]

Hi Yikes

Thanks so much for your reply. I haven't taught a language but if needs must I'm sure I could take on a mantle in school, as you say teaching it at KS2.

I wonder do you have a job lined up already or are you planning on looking for one when you get to Oz?

I'm disheartened by advice such as Quoll above who say there are no jobs as primary teachers are heavily oversubscribed. What is your experience of finding work?

Thank you for any further help as I'm feeling really down and confused at present as a Primary teacher trying to get to Oz. x



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I've read a real mix of information about the prospect of jobs for teachers out in oz. I'm a secondary teacher and my wife is primary, we have heard things like, there are no jobs for teachers out there, yet my wife was on interview in Wales a few weeks ago and spoke to someone who has just returned form two years in Brisbane and walked straight into supply teaching and worked the whole time she was there (they returned to the U.K. as primary teachers aren't on the 189 visa list). We don't really know what to believe


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[niamhmulk]

1 hour ago, sammy11480 said:

 

Hi Yikes

Thanks so much for your reply. I haven't taught a language but if needs must I'm sure I could take on a mantle in school, as you say teaching it at KS2.

I wonder do you have a job lined up already or are you planning on looking for one when you get to Oz?

I'm disheartened by advice such as Quoll above who say there are no jobs as primary teachers are heavily oversubscribed. What is your experience of finding work?

Thank you for any further help as I'm feeling really down and confused at present as a Primary teacher trying to get to Oz. x



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I can only speak for Sydney, but there is a definite over supply of primary teachers there. You have to work your way into a school through doing casual (supply), you don't really apply for a job like here, schools have their regular supply teachers who they call on when more temporary/permanent roles come up. I did a lot of supply in western Sydney as those were the only areas I'd get work from. There's lots of work for SEN teachers though. 

[Quoll]

1 hour ago, TeacherClem said:

I've read a real mix of information about the prospect of jobs for teachers out in oz. I'm a secondary teacher and my wife is primary, we have heard things like, there are no jobs for teachers out there, yet my wife was on interview in Wales a few weeks ago and spoke to someone who has just returned form two years in Brisbane and walked straight into supply teaching and worked the whole time she was there (they returned to the U.K. as primary teachers aren't on the 189 visa list). We don't really know what to believe


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Don't believe me, try it from people on the ground http://www.theteachersareblowingtheirwhistles.com/therearenojobs.htm

CRT isn't a good long term option for most people. I really would recommend a change of career if you are a primary teacher, especially an experienced one because you are more expensive than a new graduate. Most teachers have a wealth of other skills which are relatively more marketable. I'd actually be doing a cert iv in training and assessment (and you get RPL for qualifications) and looking at adult training. 

 

[TeacherClem]

Don't believe me, try it from people on the ground http://www.theteachersareblowingtheirwhistles.com/therearenojobs.htm
CRT isn't a good long term option for most people. I really would recommend a change of career if you are a primary teacher, especially an experienced one because you are more expensive than a new graduate. Most teachers have a wealth of other skills which are relatively more marketable. I'd actually be doing a cert iv in training and assessment (and you get RPL for qualifications) and looking at adult training. 
 

Certainly not saying I don't believe you, just saying how difficult it is to find out as I'm not over there yet. There's a lot of talk about teachers desperately needed in the uk and I think a lot of teaching graduates would also disagree with that


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[Guest]

1 hour ago, TeacherClem said:

Certainly not saying I don't believe you, just saying how difficult it is to find out as I'm not over there yet. There's a lot of talk about teachers desperately needed in the uk and I think a lot of teaching graduates would also disagree with that

 

I tend to agree with Quoll. Primary teachers are often over subscribed in built up areas and cities. Supply work is far from ideal (especially if you want to stay long term and things like buying a house will be on the to do list) and much depends on what area you are in, the school/s and if you can get a foot in the door. My local primary school has a stack (kid you not, its a very big pile) of supply teaching applications at the start of each school year. Teachers will sift out and find one or two they like to use (or have used in the past and got on well) with for their class and those will be the go to first and others probably won't get much of a look in. And that will be the case all year then most likely. I know someone who submitted their CV and has years of experience teaching and has other strings to their bow, they sent their CV to just about every school in a 20km radius. Only got phone calls from a handful of schools and actual work at 2 or 3 of them. Luckily they became one of those 'go to' teachers and had steady work after the first term and they got known at the school but it wasn't easy and they often didn't know till the morning if they would be working and often it was only 1 or 2 days a week or some such. 

There are so many home grown graduate teachers now and they tend to focus on the cities which of course leads to a big oversupply. And not as many teachers retiring and even if they do, their once permanent jobs are changed to 1 year contracts more often than not as the quota for permanent staff is reduced. So every year you could find yourself having to reapply for the following year (and perhaps not being considered, it does happen) or finding the job no longer exists anyways if the class numbers are down for that year group. Permanent posts are hard to come by and much sought after. People put in years on temp contracts and get no further. The uncertainty of supply work and short term temp isn't good for the mind in the long term I don't think. 

Working in remote or rural areas you can usually secure a job pretty quickly. I was talking to someone the other day who was complaining her son could not get a job locally but if he went and applied for a job in a rural town (hours and hours from anywhere the town is. I'd not do more than drive through it or stop for gas) there were 3 vacancies they could not fill plus a principal post that was still vacant. So few want to go work rural as they know what it entails and are put off. But apparently some of those schools can be rewarding but also hard work and living rural isn't for everyone. I'd not do it that's for sure. Even 3-4 hours from our city is too far for me. Its a whole lot of nothing in between. 

Also if you are prepared to consider the indexed lower ranked schools then that might be worth exploring. By ranked I mean this sort of thing linked to below. Not sure if all states have this or anything equating to it? Anyways, its a scale from 1-7. If you look at the 1, 2 or 3 bracket which are the more challenging schools then you may find possibilities. On this list please know that some will be rural/remote as it is state wide. However, there are plenty on the list that are showing 1, 2 and 3 on the scale that are in and around the city or outer lying suburbs of it. 

You can read about it here first https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/educational_disadvantage_index_explanation.pdf

Then see the list here https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/index_of_educational_disadvantage_by_school_2012.pdf

 

 

[mistryh]

Hi, Just looking to submit my EOI having completed my NQT year! And finally passed the IELTS on my 3rd attempt..Wahoo! (Phew!)

Ermm, as I only have officially one year teaching experience, do I select "Yes" for "Related Employement" even though I will not get points for this. For the rest of the jobs I have done prior I selected no. By selecting yes, on the final summary screen it highlights, English Language, Education and Employment as the categories which will award me points.

Question: Does that mean I should select No for related employment for my most recent/current employment this past year from sept16 - now?

Thanks! H

[Quoll]

7 hours ago, TeacherClem said:

Certainly not saying I don't believe you, just saying how difficult it is to find out as I'm not over there yet. There's a lot of talk about teachers desperately needed in the uk and I think a lot of teaching graduates would also disagree with that


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General rule of thumb, as Snifter has alluded, if you want a chance at something permanent as a primary teacher especially, go remote because no Aussie teachers want to go there and probably for good reason. Such towns would be the absolute antithesis of a Pom's "dream" of Australia- but they would be the "real" Australia, doing it tough not the glitzy bits of the GC or SC where all Poms want to go (they're a very very long way from the beach!). Schools in the outback can be very tough (which is why they struggle for staff), foreign staff will probably cop a bit more flak than locals but the state departments do give you credit for having done the hard yards down the track when the plum jobs come up for picking. Doing it as a singleton would be easier than doing it with a family as options for other family members in such places can be less than desirable. 

Id always recommend that if you have a permanent teaching role in UK that you quite enjoy, that you don't quit your job when the time comes to leave but take a career break and don't sell your house but rent it out then you have a belt and braces approach!

[Toots]

7 minutes ago, Quoll said:

General rule of thumb, as Snifter has alluded, if you want a chance at something permanent as a primary teacher especially, go remote because no Aussie teachers want to go there and probably for good reason. Such towns would be the absolute antithesis of a Pom's "dream" of Australia- but they would be the "real" Australia, doing it tough not the glitzy bits of the GC or SC where all Poms want to go (they're a very very long way from the beach!). Schools in the outback can be very tough (which is why they struggle for staff), foreign staff will probably cop a bit more flak than locals but the state departments do give you credit for having done the hard yards down the track when the plum jobs come up for picking. Doing it as a singleton would be easier than doing it with a family as options for other family members in such places can be less than desirable. 

Id always recommend that if you have a permanent teaching role in UK that you quite enjoy, that you don't quit your job when the time comes to leave but take a career break and don't sell your house but rent it out then you have a belt and braces approach!

I know 2 teachers and their young families who moved to Australia in the last couple of years.  The teaching jobs are in Iron Knob, South Australia - population close to 200 and the other family are in a very small town close to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.  The family in Iron Knob can't wait to get out but the family in Cradle Mountain love it even though they are fairly isolated.

[starlight7]

I do wonder why they ask for teachers when young ones here are pouring out of the unis and can't get a permanent job unless they are high school maths and science teachers. They also want teachers with Chinese language skills at all levels but that is about it really. Round Melbourne there would be at least a dozen locals going for every advertised job and you have to get way out into the bush to find anything better.


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[Quoll]

51 minutes ago, Toots said:

I know 2 teachers and their young families who moved to Australia in the last couple of years.  The teaching jobs are in Iron Knob, South Australia - population close to 200 and the other family are in a very small town close to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.  The family in Iron Knob can't wait to get out but the family in Cradle Mountain love it even though they are fairly isolated.

LOL yeah, I'd be gone from Iron Knob too!!!! 

[TeacherClem]

I tend to agree with Quoll. Primary teachers are often over subscribed in built up areas and cities. Supply work is far from ideal (especially if you want to stay long term and things like buying a house will be on the to do list) and much depends on what area you are in, the school/s and if you can get a foot in the door. My local primary school has a stack (kid you not, its a very big pile) of supply teaching applications at the start of each school year. Teachers will sift out and find one or two they like to use (or have used in the past and got on well) with for their class and those will be the go to first and others probably won't get much of a look in. And that will be the case all year then most likely. I know someone who submitted their CV and has years of experience teaching and has other strings to their bow, they sent their CV to just about every school in a 20km radius. Only got phone calls from a handful of schools and actual work at 2 or 3 of them. Luckily they became one of those 'go to' teachers and had steady work after the first term and they got known at the school but it wasn't easy and they often didn't know till the morning if they would be working and often it was only 1 or 2 days a week or some such. 
There are so many home grown graduate teachers now and they tend to focus on the cities which of course leads to a big oversupply. And not as many teachers retiring and even if they do, their once permanent jobs are changed to 1 year contracts more often than not as the quota for permanent staff is reduced. So every year you could find yourself having to reapply for the following year (and perhaps not being considered, it does happen) or finding the job no longer exists anyways if the class numbers are down for that year group. Permanent posts are hard to come by and much sought after. People put in years on temp contracts and get no further. The uncertainty of supply work and short term temp isn't good for the mind in the long term I don't think. 
Working in remote or rural areas you can usually secure a job pretty quickly. I was talking to someone the other day who was complaining her son could not get a job locally but if he went and applied for a job in a rural town (hours and hours from anywhere the town is. I'd not do more than drive through it or stop for gas) there were 3 vacancies they could not fill plus a principal post that was still vacant. So few want to go work rural as they know what it entails and are put off. But apparently some of those schools can be rewarding but also hard work and living rural isn't for everyone. I'd not do it that's for sure. Even 3-4 hours from our city is too far for me. Its a whole lot of nothing in between. 
Also if you are prepared to consider the indexed lower ranked schools then that might be worth exploring. By ranked I mean this sort of thing linked to below. Not sure if all states have this or anything equating to it? Anyways, its a scale from 1-7. If you look at the 1, 2 or 3 bracket which are the more challenging schools then you may find possibilities. On this list please know that some will be rural/remote as it is state wide. However, there are plenty on the list that are showing 1, 2 and 3 on the scale that are in and around the city or outer lying suburbs of it. 

You can read about it here first https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/educational_disadvantage_index_explanation.pdf
Then see the list here https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/index_of_educational_disadvantage_by_school_2012.pdf
 
 

Thanks so much for your input. It's all really appreciated and most I've ever read on teaching so really helpful. We've decided to test the waters for a year when we go out, Im taking a sabbatical and my wife doesn't have a contract at the moment as she's growing kids [emoji23] (she's primary though and what you've described above is pretty much exactly what she's going through here at the moment). Got to be honest though, the way education is going here, I don't think this will put many teachers off giving oz a try at least. Like I said, thanks a lot for the heads up, really appreciated


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[Guest]

12 minutes ago, TeacherClem said:

Thanks so much for your input. It's all really appreciated and most I've ever read on teaching so really helpful. We've decided to test the waters for a year when we go out, Im taking a sabbatical and my wife doesn't have a contract at the moment as she's growing kids (she's primary though and what you've described above is pretty much exactly what she's going through here at the moment). Got to be honest though, the way education is going here, I don't think this will put many teachers off giving oz a try at least. Like I said, thanks a lot for the heads up, really appreciated


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If you are heading to SA then the links I gave may prove useful. If you want to be in and around Adelaide and its greater metropolitan area then you can look at the school index and see where the schools are and research areas. You could work wise look as far south as Aldinga and beyond to Myponga, then east over towards Murray Bridge, Mannum and even further down south to Victor Harbor and still be able to live somewhere closer to Adelaide. Just commuting to the schools and towns for work. I'd personally not want to live in any of those towns apart from maybe Victor Harbor. Its much more town like and being on the coast means it gets plenty of tourists and has a busy feel to it and quite a lot of events. Going north you could go as far as Gawler perhaps? 

If you are a high school teacher and can teach either maths or science it would be a big help in terms of high school posts. They seem to have a bit of a shortage of those posts, even in the city area. Although this can of course change it seems to have been an issue for a few years now and I'm not hearing its improved massively. 

There is also a huge raft of private schools that if you have a great CV, experience and skills to bring to the table, could be worth applying to. 

Feel free to drop me a PM if you are heading to South Australia as am happy to chat about it and life here

[Kev147]

For myself I'm hoping that 15 years of experience (7 of those as faculty head) and a Catholic RE certificate might help with employment. That said, I'm hoping to go back to classroom teaching. Management ain't my bag! Too stressful and it takes me away from doing what I enjoy i.e. actually teaching kids history and politics.


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[TeacherClem]

If you are heading to SA then the links I gave may prove useful. If you want to be in and around Adelaide and its greater metropolitan area then you can look at the school index and see where the schools are and research areas. You could work wise look as far south as Aldinga and beyond to Myponga, then east over towards Murray Bridge, Mannum and even further down south to Victor Harbor and still be able to live somewhere closer to Adelaide. Just commuting to the schools and towns for work. I'd personally not want to live in any of those towns apart from maybe Victor Harbor. Its much more town like and being on the coast means it gets plenty of tourists and has a busy feel to it and quite a lot of events. Going north you could go as far as Gawler perhaps? 
If you are a high school teacher and can teach either maths or science it would be a big help in terms of high school posts. They seem to have a bit of a shortage of those posts, even in the city area. Although this can of course change it seems to have been an issue for a few years now and I'm not hearing its improved massively. 
There is also a huge raft of private schools that if you have a great CV, experience and skills to bring to the table, could be worth applying to. 
Feel free to drop me a PM if you are heading to South Australia as am happy to chat about it and life here [emoji4]

May well do! Thanks a lot


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[mistryh]

On 7/6/2017 at 19:32, joeh99 said:

Hi - I am a secondary school teacher also who teaches history. I applied for my 189 visa on 20/03 and still waiting for a grant! I'm heading to WA.

Hi Joe, from your signature, is it true that your 189 process was that quick! I'm looking to submit my EOI now for 2ndary (Maths) teacher.

[mistryh]

On 7/6/2017 at 08:58, Beaty said:

Just applied for a 190 VIC Nominated Visa under Primary Teaching.

B

 

On 7/6/2017 at 19:32, joeh99 said:

Hi - I am a secondary school teacher also who teaches history. I applied for my 189 visa on 20/03 and still waiting for a grant! I'm heading to WA.

Hi Beaty and Joey, (as you have both submitted your EOI's,

I have noticed that on the final submit page of the EOI  it accumulates the same number of points "The EOI for this subclass is able to be completed. The client's claims equal 65 points" - regardless of if I select yes or no for the one year relevant teaching experience I have.

Which makes me think, would my EOI stand out more as I would be selecting that I  have some sort of relevant experience?
If my points total 65: age 30, degree 15, ielts 20, then I would not be claiming points for experience. I that makes sense.
I would ofcourse be able to provide evidence for the one year relevant experience I have. But i would not be required to satisfy the points for the employment as the final points total of 65 does not include this? It looks like I wouldn't be claiming unecessary points for employment if i select yes for that one year?
What do you think? Thanks!

[sammy11480]

Certainly not saying I don't believe you, just saying how difficult it is to find out as I'm not over there yet. There's a lot of talk about teachers desperately needed in the uk and I think a lot of teaching graduates would also disagree with that


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Hi TeacherClem

Thanks for response. I completely agree. It's so hard to know what to expect and very difficult to get to hear from teachers who have actually successfully made the move.
I don't doubt that it is challenging to find work as many claim, however to be told it is pretty impossible is very demoralising and I'm feeling pretty stuck about how to proceed.
I struggled to find my first teaching post in U.K, seven years ago and it was desperately competitive, but once in a school everything slotted into place. It's just the worry of arriving and struggling to find a job.
I would have thought that an international applicant would bring different skills that employers would find attractive and thus we would have some advantage in the job market?
All the best with your move.



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[sammy11480]

I can only speak for Sydney, but there is a definite over supply of primary teachers there. You have to work your way into a school through doing casual (supply), you don't really apply for a job like here, schools have their regular supply teachers who they call on when more temporary/permanent roles come up. I did a lot of supply in western Sydney as those were the only areas I'd get work from. There's lots of work for SEN teachers though. 

Hi, Thanks for the info. So I take it that you are or were a UK teacher in Sydney? Do you mind me asking which Visa route you took and whether you ever managed to get permanent work? Many thanks.


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[TeacherClem]

Hi TeacherClem

Thanks for response. I completely agree. It's so hard to know what to expect and very difficult to get to hear from teachers who have actually successfully made the move.
I don't doubt that it is challenging to find work as many claim, however to be told it is pretty impossible is very demoralising and I'm feeling pretty stuck about how to proceed.
I struggled to find my first teaching post in U.K, seven years ago and it was desperately competitive, but once in a school everything slotted into place. It's just the worry of arriving and struggling to find a job.
I would have thought that an international applicant would bring different skills that employers would find attractive and thus we would have some advantage in the job market?
All the best with your move.



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We're hoping so, I think a 'test the waters' approach is a good one if you can do that. We hope it's successful and if not we'll just have to treat it as a working holiday (an expensive one [emoji38]) Good luck to you too! Keep in touch and let us know how you get on


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[sammy11480]

Yes, you need one of the nominated languages http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/visas-and-immigrating/visa-nomination-occupation-lists/visa-nomination-occupation-list-for-victoria#.WY1HvNHTWf0
Even if you got a visa without one of those languages your chances of getting a job in a place that people actually want to live are extraordinarily remote. Australia is well oversupplied with teachers so I'm surprised that it's still on any state list tbh.

Hi Quoll

Thanks for all of your input - it's much appreciated. I wonder do you work in education yourself as you seem to know a lot about the climate in schools. I wonder do you know of any UK teachers who have successfully made the move and secured a job?
Best wishes


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