Special Education Teachers
 

Is there a demand for special education teachers in Australia? Although I was assessed as primary, all of my teaching experience is in special education year 7 and 8. Unfortunately, special needs teachers must be sponsored in Australia. I know here in the States special education is always considered a critical area. The NSW DET website states they have an agreement with DIAC to sponsor teachers. However, when a call was placed they stated otherwise.

Re: Special Education Teachers
 

There really isnt that much of a shortage of teachers in Australia really at the moment. Many people who may have trained as teachers are now seeing it as a recession proof occupation and are returning in droves from all accounts. There are vacancies but generally in places that no one wants to live. Some states solve that problem by putting the newbies in the hard to fill places and they work their way up to applying for plum positions.

However, that said, if you have special ed qualifications especially in autism (flavour of the month here) then you would probably get a look in if you can get here somehow. The turn over in special ed is quite quick and there is quite a demand on teachers in mainstream placements to have additional qualifications in that area - in fact in some jurisdictions it is mandatory to have a sped unit in your basic training.

Re: Special Education Teachers
 

Have you checked State Sponsorship lists for each state? There was a 'sticky' on the immigration and visa section for the lists.

Cooler