Early Childhood Teaching

Old Aug 20th 2013, 11:15 pm
  #16  
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Originally Posted by Manners_1983
Thought I would give those who care / are interested / accidently clicked on this thread / none of the above a quick update on my original post…..

First off….the below is not set in stone and as it was all done via email / telephone calls. I would strongly recommend that it is used purely as a guide and to get a feel for the process. If you did want further clarification it’s always best to speak to the people who make the decisions. So pick a set of initials (AEI-NOOSR/AITSL/ACECQA/QCT…) and hope for the best!

My first port of call after starting this thread was AEI-NOOSR/AITSL to see what the requirements were for this category in terms of qualifications. Most people are now familiar with the general requirements for teaching from a UK background – minimum 4 years tertiary education: either 3 years degree with an additional post grad qualification specialising in early childhood care (so in our case my wife has a history degree and Early Childhood PGCE) or 4 year degree based solely on early childhood education. See http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupati...-childhood.htm & http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected])+Teachers for more detail.

However, I was then also informed that if my wife actually wanted to work once we moved she would also have to be assessed by a further organisation…and that’s where ACECQA come in, who you need to register with if you intend to work in pre-school or day care. From what ACECQA were telling me they are relatively new to the process following the implementation of something called the National Quality Framework (NQF) back in 2011. Currently all parties are trying to bring their policies into line but there are slight differences…if anything ACECQA is more robust.

“However if a person enters Australia under this category at the moment they also need to apply to ACECQA. ACECQA currently requires all early childhood teachers to have completed birth to eight study programs or if they have completed a three to eight program they need to show significant work experience with birth to two year olds or complete what we call non-award units (units within a higher education degree to fill that gap (usually 2 units)).”

Plus there is also a requirement that if you intend to work in any pre-school age group you need a minimum of 10 days practicum with children of birth to 2 years. This is mandatory. There seems to be a lot of flux at the moment with this visa category, given the alignment of AEI-NOOSR/AITSL with ACECQA…..the above will probably be out of date by the time I get round to actually posting it.

So far, so confusing then!

I then wanted to find out what jobs are actually covered by this visa….no point heading over if the role my wife currently works is not covered by the visa. Obviously with a title Early Childhood (Pre-Primary) Teacher you would expect it to cover such things as day care/nursery and kindy but it could also potentially cover the pre-primary year and Year 1….this last part threw me given it’s at primary school not pre but that was the line from ACECQA…

“Work can certainly be gained in the first years of schooling with 241111 but your wife would also have to seek teacher registration in the state or territory in which you plan to reside before she could work in that area. ACECQA does not need to be involved if your wife plans to work in the early years of schooling”

Right….on the one hand we’re being told if you want to apply and work under this visa you need to be assessed by effectively everyone….yet ACECQA have said this visa can cover the early years of schooling and as such won’t need to involve ACECQA!

Go figure…..are all visa categories this convoluted?!

The upshot of it all is that, and even writing this I’m not entirely sure it’s right, because my wife wants to teach the pre-primary year in Australia (the UK equivalent being reception class) she will qualify under this visa category but won’t need to register with ACECQA, just QCT.

I’ve still got a couple of queries outstanding with AITSL & ACECQA and I’m also waiting for QCT to get back to me but we’re going to go ahead and get all the relevant documents certified and plough on with the qualification assessment regardless…probably an @rse-about-t!t way of doing things but hey, each to their own!

If/when I get any further updates from the powers that be I’ll be sure to add them to this post but just re-reading the above is boring even me to tears, so it might be a while!
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It doesn't get any easier the longer you are here...rules and goal posts constantly changing. When I first came here I ended up working as an unqualified childcare assistant after 17 years of primary school teaching..working under so called qualified childcare educators who didn't know their arse from their elbow!!!
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Old Aug 24th 2013, 8:38 pm
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Hi everyone! I am glad I am not the only one struggling on this one. So I previously lived in Australia on a working holiday visa for two years and since coming back to the UK my partner and I have dreamt of hopefully returning to Aus. My partner is a plaster and currently qualifying to NVQ 3 level and I am a deputy manager in a Nursery. I already have BTEC national diploma in early childhood studies and a montessori diploma and currently doing a foundation degree in early childhood studies. We have been looking at the 189 skilled independent visa for Australia and on the sol list is solid plaster and early childhood pre-primary teacher. My foundation degree is 2/3's of a bachelor degree and I have the option to top up for a further year of study to a BA in early childhood studies however I am just wondering is this qualification (BA in early childhood-3 years in total) sufficient to be a early childhood teacher in Australia? I would only be topping up my foundation degree for immigration purposes because as it stands my qualifications are high enough for my position as deputy.

I would be great full if anyone could help. Thank you in advance :-)
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Old Aug 26th 2013, 4:52 pm
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Alex, the way i understand it is that you need a UK Bachelors degree (3yrs) plus PGCE or a 4 yr teaching degree (Bachelor of Education or similar), plus some (not sure how many years) of post-qualification (this would be after your 4 years of university) work experience. So, unless I'm completely wrong (someone correct me please ) it looks to me like your partner's qualification will get you PR easier, not sure what the actual requirements are for plasters in terms of post-qualification work experience but i'm sure the DIAC website has info on this.

Hope this helps!
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Old Aug 28th 2013, 3:39 am
  #19  
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Yep you would need to do a pgce...3 year teaching degrees are useless here!
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Old Oct 31st 2013, 6:00 pm
  #20  
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Originally Posted by Manners_1983
Thought I would give those who care / are interested / accidently clicked on this thread / none of the above a quick update on my original post…..

First off….the below is not set in stone and as it was all done via email / telephone calls. I would strongly recommend that it is used purely as a guide and to get a feel for the process. If you did want further clarification it’s always best to speak to the people who make the decisions. So pick a set of initials (AEI-NOOSR/AITSL/ACECQA/QCT…) and hope for the best!

My first port of call after starting this thread was AEI-NOOSR/AITSL to see what the requirements were for this category in terms of qualifications. Most people are now familiar with the general requirements for teaching from a UK background – minimum 4 years tertiary education: either 3 years degree with an additional post grad qualification specialising in early childhood care (so in our case my wife has a history degree and Early Childhood PGCE) or 4 year degree based solely on early childhood education. See http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupati...-childhood.htm & http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected])+Teachers for more detail.

However, I was then also informed that if my wife actually wanted to work once we moved she would also have to be assessed by a further organisation…and that’s where ACECQA come in, who you need to register with if you intend to work in pre-school or day care. From what ACECQA were telling me they are relatively new to the process following the implementation of something called the National Quality Framework (NQF) back in 2011. Currently all parties are trying to bring their policies into line but there are slight differences…if anything ACECQA is more robust.

“However if a person enters Australia under this category at the moment they also need to apply to ACECQA. ACECQA currently requires all early childhood teachers to have completed birth to eight study programs or if they have completed a three to eight program they need to show significant work experience with birth to two year olds or complete what we call non-award units (units within a higher education degree to fill that gap (usually 2 units)).”

Plus there is also a requirement that if you intend to work in any pre-school age group you need a minimum of 10 days practicum with children of birth to 2 years. This is mandatory. There seems to be a lot of flux at the moment with this visa category, given the alignment of AEI-NOOSR/AITSL with ACECQA…..the above will probably be out of date by the time I get round to actually posting it.

So far, so confusing then!

I then wanted to find out what jobs are actually covered by this visa….no point heading over if the role my wife currently works is not covered by the visa. Obviously with a title Early Childhood (Pre-Primary) Teacher you would expect it to cover such things as day care/nursery and kindy but it could also potentially cover the pre-primary year and Year 1….this last part threw me given it’s at primary school not pre but that was the line from ACECQA…

“Work can certainly be gained in the first years of schooling with 241111 but your wife would also have to seek teacher registration in the state or territory in which you plan to reside before she could work in that area. ACECQA does not need to be involved if your wife plans to work in the early years of schooling”

Right….on the one hand we’re being told if you want to apply and work under this visa you need to be assessed by effectively everyone….yet ACECQA have said this visa can cover the early years of schooling and as such won’t need to involve ACECQA!

Go figure…..are all visa categories this convoluted?!

The upshot of it all is that, and even writing this I’m not entirely sure it’s right, because my wife wants to teach the pre-primary year in Australia (the UK equivalent being reception class) she will qualify under this visa category but won’t need to register with ACECQA, just QCT.

I’ve still got a couple of queries outstanding with AITSL & ACECQA and I’m also waiting for QCT to get back to me but we’re going to go ahead and get all the relevant documents certified and plough on with the qualification assessment regardless…probably an @rse-about-t!t way of doing things but hey, each to their own!

If/when I get any further updates from the powers that be I’ll be sure to add them to this post but just re-reading the above is boring even me to tears, so it might be a while!
Hi Manners_1983,
I'd be really interested to know if you've got any further with the above conundrum!
I have just sent off my application for NSW 190 state sponsorship. I hold a BA in Early Childhood Education and a PGCE (Early Years), and got a positive assessment by AITSL. Like you, I also couldn't get a definitive answer as to whether an assessment by ACEQCA was required at any step in the process. Apparently those going for SS in Victoria are asked to get an ACEQCA assessment AFTER they apply, however this doesn't seem to be the case everywhere. I don't have a problem with applying for it, it'd just be good to know as it will take another 8 weeks processing time.
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Old Feb 3rd 2014, 7:01 am
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

It is just crazy. My wife has a bachelors of science in mathematics and primary teaching with QTS. Also teaching experiences for 10 years in both UK and Canada> But cannot be a Early Years Teacher in Australia.
Also we live in QLD and they have recognised list of qualifications they recognise on the list is a bachelors of Art sand primary teaching with QTS, that is ok. But bachelors of science in mathematics and primary teaching with QTS is not.
You would have thought Maths may be something they want.
We are over it. we have tried everything but ACEQCA (the governing body) does not see it as a problem.
They said just go and do a diploma. Obviously not seen the cost for international students.
So they want teachers to teach a school environment to ready the children for Primary. But because Primary teachers do not study 0 to 2 years they do not qualify....
Wait a minute... don't they want the teachers to do the 3 to 4 years children....
So re train, spend more money to work in s system that pays 30 percent less and the hours are worse about 30 percent more.
Maybe why the country shows so low on the international ladder of education levels for children...

Sorry rant over....
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Old Feb 4th 2014, 12:18 am
  #22  
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Originally Posted by weezypenguin
It is just crazy. My wife has a bachelors of science in mathematics and primary teaching with QTS. Also teaching experiences for 10 years in both UK and Canada> But cannot be a Early Years Teacher in Australia.
Also we live in QLD and they have recognised list of qualifications they recognise on the list is a bachelors of Art sand primary teaching with QTS, that is ok. But bachelors of science in mathematics and primary teaching with QTS is not.
You would have thought Maths may be something they want.
We are over it. we have tried everything but ACEQCA (the governing body) does not see it as a problem.
They said just go and do a diploma. Obviously not seen the cost for international students.
So they want teachers to teach a school environment to ready the children for Primary. But because Primary teachers do not study 0 to 2 years they do not qualify....
Wait a minute... don't they want the teachers to do the 3 to 4 years children....
So re train, spend more money to work in s system that pays 30 percent less and the hours are worse about 30 percent more.
Maybe why the country shows so low on the international ladder of education levels for children...

Sorry rant over....
I'd rant too- I am a BA plus PGCE primary trained teacher with 13 years in primary education, plus another 8 in Early Years including 5 as special needs co-ordinator. When I came to Aus I couldn't get my qualifications recognised, and would have had to do another year's training. I did get work as an unqualified childcare assistant, being paid less than the cleaners. Then the new rules came in and I would have had to have done a year's training at my own expense to get a level 3, but that would have made only a difference of one dollar per hour. I gave up work after 2 years, and now have no intention of going back to the red tape, constant changes to curriculum, stress and form filling that are apparent.
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Old Jun 7th 2014, 12:55 pm
  #23  
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Hi all, I have just been reading up on this thread as I am trying to catch up in the world of Early Childhood teaching. I have a 3 year BA teaching degree and have always had issues with finding a teaching job over here in Oz since we arrived 7 years ago. I found a job as a group leader in a childcare centre back in 2009 and I absolutely loved my job and have to say I was very happy. That was until they decided to change the rules and brought Qualified teachers into childcare. Again I was classed as unqualified and my job was on the line. I looked into my options and was granted a scholarship from the government to study an extra year of teaching to top up my qualifications. However during my study I became pregnant with our daughter and dropped the study as I knew I would be taking time out of the work force to look after our daughter. Now 3 years down the line I am looking into returning to work and have just been reading up on the ACEQCA assessment for equivalent qualifications. If this assessment looks into prior experience may I be eligible to finally teach? Also will my past qualifications of my BTEC diploma in Childhood studies cover the area of children from 0-2 years? Any help in this area would be good.
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Old Aug 14th 2014, 3:05 pm
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Default Re: Early Childhood Teaching

Sorry for the length of time it has taken me to update this thread. I very much wanted to keep it going as I know how frustrating it can be following/replying to a thread only for it to die a slow death! But life (in this case quite literally) has a way of interrupting you!

Personally I blame work and the arrival of mini-Manners 2!!

Good news….we had a positive assessment from AITSL re my wife’s teaching qualifications – which did actually catch me a bit by surprise. So now, EOI submitted and invitation to apply received shortly thereafter….now we’re enjoying filling out our visa application and sweating on getting the girls passports back in time before the 60 day application deadline!

Registration with QCT is also under way. Although mandatory, this does seem more of a formality (I hope), from what I can see and after emailing QCT this is purely a registration process. There is some qualification assessment re overseas teachers but not to the extent we had for AITSL & ACECQA and I am confident, or about as confident as you can be in these circumstances, that we’ll be ok.

Now onto ACECQA, somewhat more problematic...one of their requirements is that for anyone to have a successful skills/qualification assessment they must have a minimum of 10 days professional practicum with children between the ages of birth to 2 years old. Luckily my wife’s school has a nursery attached to it, so throughout the course of her autumn term she is going to help out there to get the hours experience – with a letter from her head teacher backing it all up!

Overall we’ve found teacher recognition in Oz is tough, and from what I can see it is only going to get tougher – a good and bad thing I guess, but from Oz’s perspective it can only be good for raising/standardising teaching practices (even if they are becoming somewhat overzealous with their requirements imo).

In a nutshell you need to speak to the following people for the following aspects of moving:

AITSL – skill assessment re the visa itself

QCT – register with them to be able to teach in Queensland (obviously go to the relevant state body if not Queensland) – although I’m sure I read somewhere that private schools don’t require QCT registration???

ACECQA – register and have skills assessment if you wish to teach pre-primary years in any state (i.e. anything before Year 1 Primary School…nursery/kindy)

We’re basically going to hit everything, our thought is that we might as well and best to do it now while we’re in the ‘form filling’ mode and getting docs certified and reference letters produced etc. It’s best to be as prepared as you can be and not to limit yourself in terms of what jobs you can apply for once on the ground.

We’re both acutely aware of how difficult it may prove to secure a job, especially as our registration with QCT will only be provisional (you need 1 years teaching experience in Oz to get full registration)…but we’re not giving in just yet. I have always been a big believer that with enough application and belief one will always find work – regardless of the field…if we can keep up with this mentality then the work will come (eventually)!

Right, that’s about it on the teaching front for now and I will try to be less tardy with my response re the outcome from QCT and ACECQA!
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