Briar

Well PoppyandPeanut (love that name - same names as a pair of parrots owned by family friends in Kalbarri!!) I wouldn't say I was opinionated - just that although I am a Secondary English teacher, I am currently working in Teacher Recruitment in WA with a private agency. At the moment I have daily contact with private schools and with the DET staffing consultancy, so was actually just passing on their combined comments. Which by the way, seem to conflict with your opinions. But then you have only been in WA a short time I understand, are teaching in "rural WA" and probably don't have the contacts I do, so you wouldn't have any idea of the bigger picture on a statewide basis.

I agree that Maths and Science are probably always going to be an issue for DET, whether primary or secondary, as it is so hard to get decent Maths and Science teachers to go "rural WA". As an "insider" on the recruitment front though, the private schools seem to be poaching a lot of the good DET Maths and Science teachers, so I think DET will probably always have a problem in those areas.

My agency has been told not to recruit D & T, SOSE, Phys Ed secondary teachers next year for DET - so I think anyone in those learning areas must be wondering what is happening out there in DETland.

I am not sure if you are aware that DET are really promoting Early Childhood Teachers/Primary Teachers at the moment, as the baby boom in WA is beginning to hit Kindy and Pre-Primary, as well as the half-cohort moving into high school next year.

WA is a great place to live though isnt it P & P - and I hope you (and your family if you have one) are enjoying your time here.

Regards
Briar

kar-kier

That is very interesting regarding the D&T teachers, I thought they were needing lots of them, but obviously you are 'in the know', so they must have their quota now.

Briar

Hi Kar-Kier

Yes I was surprised about that too - but it seems the half-cohort passing through into secondary Y8 next year, and teachers not retiring as planned, have something to do with it. Also I am not sure if you are aware, but DET have been running a scholarship program for a few years with a slant towards getting more D & T teachers on the books. Apparently there are quite a few graduating this year who have to work for DET for a number of years as part of their scholarship agreement. But then again, I suppose if the world financial situation changes, all those baby-boomer teachers will retire and the whole picture will change again!

Briar

Evee

That is all very interesting Briar - so do I understand from your comments that if you are an Early Childhood Teacher / Primary teacher, that you have more chance of employment in WA?

I initially applied for sponsorship through the WA 457 scheme. I was interviewed in London at the end of last year, but because of the world economic situation, even though my application/ interview was successful, I didnt get offered a job as the problem suddenly ceased. I am now going through the family sponsorship route as I am the last family member outside of Australia, and it is looking like I could be in WA by the end of the year. I am a primary teacher, with specialism in early years. Do you think I would have problems finding a position in the Perth metro area?

Evee

Evee

Sorry meant PROGRAM and not PROBLEM!!!!! see above!

Gems

I agree with above, Primary and Early years is the area to be in at the moment.

Curtin University has even started and early years degree distance learning in my town.
Also does Primary.

Early Years is going to be shortage due to baby boomers, well you do get $5000 a baby Why did I not wait and have my four kids here

Other thing is they are starting to offer more Kindy places in state schools. Hubbys primary is one of the early ones to start this next year.
Aus government are rolling out more places for Kindy/Early years as long term goal. So that will also increase need for staff.

Also Australia government are changing policy, they want all early years staff in Nurserys and schools to have a degree. Better qualified staff in childcare is the aim.

We came on the scheme when it started and Primary teacher.

* However if you go rural you still see adverts in the Private sector for high school teacher( usually around October). Most schools advertise on their own website though. So look at towns your interested in. Maths, Science again prob more choice.

Gems

Gems

Ps, the early years degree is age 0-8 years here in Australia.

You have to work in a childcare centre with babies as part of your degree, then Kindy, then up to Year 3.

So you may not be able to work in some early years settings.

Some primary teachers struggled to get recognised as early years by the state boards because your qualification does not have any training with babies.

UK Primary teacher will prob stuck with Year 1 and up.

Gems
PS, All the Aussies want to be teaching in Perth, and so its still can be difficult to get a job in the city. Aussie teachers at hubby school qualify and then do 2 years country then transfer back to Perth.

Briar

Thanks Gems - good to know that your take on the situation is the same as mine. You havent been on Expats for a while Gems - really missed your words of wisdom!

Evee - good luck - hope it all works out for you, but do be prepared to work out of Perth metro area.

Briar