Get a teaching job in Australia

A shortage of teachers in Australia means that there are jobs for overseas-trained teachers at all levels and in all different environments across the country – from teaching in rural Australia in a small primary school, a secondary school in a coastal town, or a primary and secondary college in a major city. Schools vary in size from large city comprehensive schools to very small one-teacher rural schools and, unlike the UK, most non-government schools are run by, or linked to, religious organisations, currently providing education to around 30 per cent of children in Australia. Most permanent jobs teaching in Australia are full-time. You could also get short-term teaching contracts lasting from as short as a week to a full school teaching term. Some teaching jobs require you to teach across a broad range of subjects, while some teaching positions require you to specialise in one particular area. There are schools for academically gifted students and other specialist schools such as performing arts and sports high schools.Teachers are generally required across all subject areas and specialities in all of Australia’s states and territories.

WHERE ARE TEACHERS NEEDED?

Currently, the areas of greatest need in Australian schools are for teachers of mathematics, science, technological and applied studies and the specialist teacher area of special education. Each state and territory in Australia governs its own education system. To work in Australia as a teacher you must meet the requirements of the education department within the state or territory you would like to work and be registered as a teacher with the relevant regulatory body. You will generally be required to have the equivalent of three or four years of tertiary training, including a teaching qualification recognised by a regulatory body in the state or territory you will be working in. You may also need to undergo a criminal record check, and if necessary, an assessment of your English language skills.Teaching positions are available across metropolitan, rural, remote and coastal areas in Australia. Australian schools vary in sizes, from just a few students to hundreds of students.

RATE OF PAY

The rate of pay for teachers depends on the level of teaching experience and the position, and also which state or territory the position is held within. A casual teacher with three to four years experience could earn from A$220 (£138) to A$290 (£182) per day. Casual teachers with less experience could earn from A$95 (£59) to A$120 (£75) per day. Salaries for permanent teachers may be between A$33,000 (£20,764) and A$45,000 (£28,315) per year for teachers with a few years experience and can go up to A$70,000 (£44,046) for teachers holding more senior positions. Teacher salaries in private schools may be higher than in public schools.The Australian school year usually has four terms, with the first term beginning in late January and early February (in the middle of the Australian summer) and term four finishing in December. Schools terms usually last from eight to 12 weeks with holidays at the end of term and a six-week break over the summer holidays. The best times for applying for teaching positions will be from early September for the start of the next teaching year. Many teaching positions, however (term, semester, full year and permanent) become available throughout the year.

QUALIFICATIONS

Your qualification will be assessed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), which was formerly known as Teaching Australia. There are three assessment criterias required by AITSL, which are as follows...

1. Educational
Completion of study assessed by AITSL as comparable to at least four years full-time higher education* level study (or part-time equivalent) in Australia, which results in a qualification comparable to an Australian bachelor degree or higher.

2. Professional
Completion of an initial teacher education qualification of at least one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) study at the higher education* level that includes at least 45 working days of supervised teaching practice in your nominated occupation.
*Education offered by a university or other recognised higher education institution, leading to the award of a degree or higher level qualification.

3. English language proficiency

REGISTRATION RULES

The recognition and recruitment of teachers is done by the state and territory education authorities. Each has its own requirements and procedures for the recognition of professional teaching qualifications and recruitment of teachers. With the exception of the Australian Capital Territory, all the states require anyone who wants to teach to be registered before applying for recruitment, although that registration does not guarantee employment. Mutual recognition provisions between states will assist with registration to teach in other states and territories of Australia.

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