hilasbat

Hi,

We're thinking of making the leap to Oz, Melbourne specifically, but I've gone through the visa points thing, and can't see how a teacher (or anyone really over the age of 29) can secure a visa - I can only get a maximum of 115 points, and that's if I do the English exams to get another 10 points (why someone that has lived 30 years in the UK, gone through the UK education system with good grades and has two degrees has to do further exams to prove they are fluent in English I don't really understand, but there you go - unless I'm reading that all wrong). Without taking those exams I can only get 105 points, which obviously is very short of the required 120.

Am I filling in the points completely wrong - by my calculations you simply CANNOT get the 120 points unless you are 29 or younger, unless you have already lived and worked in Oz for a couple of years - which you can only have done if you are under 30 any way for the WHV...Or do me and my husband add our points together (he is not a teacher, but another shortage 60 points profession).

Am very confused, a bit frustrated and seemingly will never get to Oz

Many thanks if anyone can assist.
H

apobateman

Hello,

I'll need to check my forms for my exact points but I applied as a teacher last april and I got 120 points - and I am aged 38 and haven't taught for several years so had a different occupation for work experience. I think you may have added the points up incorrectly, unless things have changed on the scale since last year? Not that it makes a difference, but I am married with 2 kids (my wife didn't get any extra points)

I didn't use an agency and had my visa granted within 6 months.

Edit... I just looked at my application and I completely forgot that I did mine as a family sponsored visa which reduced the points threshold to 110 I believe, otherwise I wouldn't have made the 120 without doing the ielts to get the full points for the english language, and possibly getting my partner skills assessed to get the extra 5 points.

nbn8

Hi

I applied last March secondary teacher and Im 35. I did have to do the IELTS test to get the extra points needed to make 120 so it is possible. I will have a look to see how I got the points and get back to you. Nicky

hilasbat

Many thanks for the replies guys - how hard is the IELTS exam nbn8? Sounds stupid I know, I'm reasonably intelligent, have a couple of degrees under my belt etc, but haven't sat an exam for quite a few years now so...

How easy it is really to get a teaching job out there would you say guys? I keep hearing different things (obviously it will vary with subject/age range etc but wondered generally...).

Many thanks again - thought it was over before we had really even begun

coolerkingcooler

They are very concerned about the ageing population here in Australia. Hence they seem to want people with ten years experience but really be 25 The language part will be explained in terms of people being able to communicate efficiently.

Plenty of post in the teaching section about job prospects. Secondary seems easier (in general) than primary for gaining employment.

Are you primary or secondary?

Cooler

nbn8

Hi

The IELTS general is the test which you need to sit to get the extra points and to be honest it is okay. I did buy an IELTS book which helped to prepare for the format of the sections of the test and this certainly helped to prepare. Speaking you will score top marks, listening you just need to concentrate and writing and reading no problem (in my opinion). Good luck and I will try and look at my points tonight.

hilasbat

Cheers guys - I've done a couple of practise things for the English test thing online, but you never know how realistic those are - they didn't seem overly hard, so hopefully won't be too bad to get the pass mark required

I'm a bit of a funny one Cooler - I was secondary, but moved over to primary, and find myself in the UK now stuck between a rock and a hard place - I loved my subject specialism in secondary but really don't think anyone should have to put up with being sworn at habitually and violence being an almost daily occurrence (have you seen the press about UK teachers getting violence training recently? arrggh) that is secondary teaching in the UK now, really love primary, but not very employable because I used to be a secondary teacher (had a year's maternity cover and done supply in primary). I rather feel I am doing what the job market dictates rather than what I actually want, but that's the realities of life I guess (there are *no* jobs in primary in the UK now it seems). Hence one of the major reasons for wanting to emigrate - I want to get my love of teaching back, not my dread of being abused and the red tape (and yes I know, kids are kids where-ever you are in the world, and there's always red tape, but my aussie colleagues cite far far less than here so much so two of them are cutting their OS experience very short and returning home (from a very very nice school here!) and the fact that we will never ever be able to get on the property ladder in this country and general gloominess all adds up).

Oh sorry, what a depressing post - didn't mean to come across so negative, I'm usually a very up person - just the teaching situation here I guess, and reinforces/justifies the 'move away' urge lol.

Thanks again for your advice guys
H

coolerkingcooler

I worked for eleven years secondary inner city so I understand the demands you cite. I was lucky as although it was a pretty tough intake, the school was well run and the pupils did have good/high expectations. I will not comment here, but I can assure you that in SA at least, you can easily come across the same and worse in some schools. There appears to be a very big divide between the good and bad.

I work in a small, low fee pay school and the kids are pussy cats compared to what I am used to.

I'd check to see if primary is on the CSL as it wasn't before but secondary was. OH has told me that there is new information regarding processing/policy so have a look.

Good luck,
Cooler

chequer

I'm afraid I think it would be very unlikely you would get a permanent 175 visa as a teacher. I ran your details through the visa checker and couldn't get anywhere near 120.

Might it be worth trying to get an employer sponsored visa which may then be able to be turned into a permanent one? At the time we applied for our visa, I know that some people we spoke to were using the 457 visa to get here (not all teachers though). I'm guessing that sponsored teaching visas would probably only get you into regional areas further away from the cities though. It's worth checking with some of the different education departments, for example, I know that Darwin was offering 2 year visas for teachers about 2 years ago. Not sure if that's still the case now.

I couldn't apply for the permanent visa off my own back as I was 39 and a primary school teacher. My wife got the extra points available at the time as she is 6 years younger than me and a qualified nurse. She also had to sit the IELTS exam and ended up 5 points over the 120 threshold. It was tight.

sunnydreams

Hi,

I'm under 30 so in some ways have it a little easier, however, we also struggled to get the 120 points. In fact every agent we spoke to said that they would not take on our case as it would be impossible to get my fiance's qualifications recognised (he works in tv post production and none of the lists recognised this...Oz seems a bit backward in terms of recognising media jobs and only seemed to have job descriptions of a newspaper editor). We refused the only other option of a state sponsored visa as we desire the freedom that the PR visa allows. Anyways, this made us feel as downhearted as you until we found a fab agent. I swear to God i'm not advertising her and won't even mention the company unless you want further info but she has been brilliant. My partners skills assessment was passed in a matter of weeks and now we just need to do the rest of the application which is much more straightforward as getting those extra 5 points, dependent on OH passing, was essential. Now as long as i pass my IELTS, medicals etc..everything should be straight forward and our dream is still a reality. Fingers crossed! Therefore, I would encourage you to contact an agent and get them to assess you for free to see if there is a way around it. Be careful though as you can stumble across some dodgy agents that tell you anything...check recommendations from people who actually have their visas! If you already have 115 points then hopefully you could make up the other 5 with your partners skills being assessed like we have done. Best of luck xx

sniffydog

Just a quick word...

We were in a similar position - couldn't get enough points for the general migration. Stumbled across state sponsorship which had a much lower threshold for points - basically getting it guaranteed us the premanent visa. It was a 176 (state sponsored migration) which is a variation of the 175 general skilled migration. Ours came through in August 2008 and there have been a few changes since then - not even sure if Victoria still sponsors teachers.... try looking at www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au ...

Could be your permanent route in...

bezzanbob

Most certainly have a look at Victoria State Sponsored - depends on your subject specialization but this really is the best route in these days given processing times etc.

I know it seems that you are tied to an area but in fact it will be an area where there is some shortage for your skills which is never a bad thing!

Here's the link:http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au...ity_July09.pdf

Bezza