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Teacher shortage in Australia
A shortage of teachers in Australia means that there are plenty of jobs in areas around the country for teachers at all levels, writes Hanna Lindon.
Pre-school, primary and secondary teachers are all included on Australia's Skilled Occupations List (SOL), so if you have the equivalent of three or four years of tertiary training, including a qualification recognised by the regulatory body in the state or territory you plan to work in, you're likely to have no problem obtaining a visa and finding a job.
If you're interested in teaching in Australia then the first step is to understand the education system. Schooling in Australia begins with a preparatory year, followed by 12 years of primary and secondary school. In the final year of secondary school, students have the option of studying for a government-endorsed certificate that is recognised for further study by all Australian universities, vocation education and training institutions. All Australian schools provide education in the eight Key Learning Areas: English, Mathematics, Studies of Society and the Environment, Science, Arts, Languages, Technology and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. Most secondary schools also offer a diverse range of subjects which are taught by specialist teachers, and around nine out of ten secondary schools offer vocational education programmes in addition to the standard school curriculum.
The academic year is divided into four terms and runs from late January until December. As in Britain, there is a short holiday between terms and a long summer holiday in December and January, and school hours are generally from 9am to 3.30pm each day. Teaching positions in Australia are available across metropolitan, rural and coastal areas, but teachers are particularly in demand in remote locations. A number of state and territory governments have an agreement with the Commonwealth Government of Australia to sponsor overseas-trained students for permanent teaching positions in areas where teaching staff are especially needed – to find out if you would qualify for sponsorship, check with the education department within the state or territory you would like to work in.
Although rates of pay for teachers tend to be lower in Australia than in the UK, this is balanced by lower costs of living. Your salary is likely to depend on a number of factors, including your level of teaching experience, the type of position and which state or territory the position is held in. As a rough approximation, a casual teacher with three to four years experience could expect to earn between AUS$220 and AUS$290 per day, while casual teachers with less experience might earn between AUS$95 and AUS$120. Salaries for permanent teachers may be around AUS$33,000 and AUS$45,000 per year for those with a few years experience, and can rise to between AUS$55,000 and AUS$70,000 for teachers who hold more senior positions. As in Britain, salaries in private schools are generally higher than in public schools run by the government.
The opportunities
Although there are teacher shortages in Australia, potential emigrants should bear in mind that they are specific to certain areas and positions. In New South Wales and Queensland, for example, teaching jobs are so scarce that some Australian teachers are having to join a waiting list of up to five years for full-time employment. If your heart is set on an area where there are fewer teaching positions available, then you should consider seeking employment initially as a causal teacher. Pay is not as high and the position not as secure, but casual teachers are in constant demand across New South Wales and Queensland.
The other option is to consider teaching in a private school. Jobs in private schools can often be found through contacting the school direct, or by visiting a jobs website such as Australia Teachers.
For those prepared to work in more remote areas, the Northern Territory is keen to recruit skilled teachers. So keen, in fact, that they are currently promoting a special offer to help overseas teachers decide whether they want to live and work in the territory – they are offering free airfares there and back from any area of Australia to those who are prepared to sign up for just one term of teaching in the territory. They will also assist overseas teachers with the visa application process. For information on the Northern Territory special offer and to find out more about teaching in remote schools, click here.
The process
If you are a teacher emigrating to Australia under the General Skilled Migration Programme for pre-primary, primary and secondary school teaching then you will need to have your skills assessed by Teaching Australia. You should apply to Teaching Australia for a skills assessment if:
You intend to apply for permanent residency through the General Skilled Migration Programme; and
You want to nominate yourself as a pre-primary teacher, a primary school teacher or a secondary school teacher in your migration application; or
You have pre-service teacher education qualifications which prepare you to teach in the classroom at pre-primary, primary or secondary schools.
To find out more about assessment and registration or to download an application form, visit Education Australia.
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