|
A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
I know that 18months ago, when I started looking for information about teaching in OZ it was very hard to get info. Thank you though to all those who did reply to my questions. I made a promise to myself to be helpful when I actually got here and let you know my experiences with getting a job as a teacher in OZ.
My Background: I have a 4 year B'ed in English and Education and have been teaching in schools in the Midlands for 4 years. I am an English teacher but I also have big roles in B'ham LEA in the use of ICT to enhance the curriculum. In order to teach in Australia you have to register to teach in the state in which you want to live. It costs money and involves yet more form filling! Well they need to make sure you really want it don't they! I had to get transcripts (which means a written record of every module I took during the course and a detailed description of what each teaching practice entailed - that meant how many contact/non contact hours etc.) to prove to the Aussies that I had indeed got the correct qualifications. In order to get my VISA (P R) I needed to have at least 3 years teaching experience. The advantage of having a PR visa is that you don't have to change jobs as regularly as the other visa types and you have complete freedom as to where you live. I'd advise talking to a consultant for more detailed advice on this as it changes all the time. Plus, of course you don't ever have to go back to the UK! I had to provide references from every school that I had taught in. These are different to the ones you provide for the skills assessment. I think you have to just prove that you do indeed have that many years experience and that your boss would recommend you. You also need to send a copy of your disclosure/police check. They will do their own too You also need your QTS and degree certificates and some I.D. (Birth Certificate and Passport) I'm not sure if I had to wait until the visa came through and prove I had one of those too. I'll check if you like. You'll need to get all of these things copied and then each one needs to be certified by a solicitor before you send them off. Yes you HAVE to include all of this even if you did you training 30 years ago. Mad but true. You can get these transcripts and module specs from your university. I studied at Newman College, B;'ham and it cost me about 30quid. Of course when I cleared out the attic I found my originals LOL but C'est la vie! It takes about 12 weeks for your application to be processed. I have registered to work in Queensland and I set the ball rolling before I left to try and make sure I was ok to get a job when I arrived. Time it so you start it 12 weeks before you expect to settle. I managed to do so brilliantly... the only problem is I've ended up settling in Adelaide SA! LOL. So I now have to start again and get registration in this state. You have to pay for registration and once you're registered they send you a certificate to show schools. I'm in the process of re-registering with SA now. I had to let the Queensland College of teachers know my address before they could send out my stuff- which I am now waiting for. The good news is that because I am already registered in one state I don't have to go through gathering the documentation again - Really good news because all my documents are on a boat in the sea somewhere on there way to me! - Instead I just have to prove my identification and pay again. If I want my qualification listed on the certificate though I'll need to send them a copy of the transcripts and certificate again. The good news is I'll be able to work within about 1 month after I lodge my application. The bad news is I'm not allowed to work in any job in Education that involved me being paid unless I have the SA certificate of registration. There are serious fines. The department has agreed however that I can volunteer to work in schools. I like this idea as I can get to know the system and the pupils a little and maybe make some contacts which might help me to get a job further down the line. An Aussie reference, I am sure, will go a long way to securing me a job! That's as far as I have got so far. I will keep you posted as I discover new forms i need to fill in! lol. Feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best!:) |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Phew! That's a lot of information! Thank you so much for returning to fill us all in!!!!!!
I'm worried about the transcript thing as the university where I did my degree 18 years ago cannot provide me with a breakdown of my marks, only basically a letter that says I attended and got the degree I say I got. They aren't able to offer anything more and indeed never issued a transcript when I graduated either. Also, I've ordered and received my transcript from my PGCE and it also doesn't break down anything with marks or time spent on teaching practice. Looks like I won't be teaching in Oz after all...... |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Thanks thats really useful
Could you check if you need visa before registering, I have an idea that you do, but in an ideal world i wouldn't want to wait 12 weeks between visa grant and being registered as we want to leave here asap! |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Yes you do need to have your visa :)
|
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Originally Posted by Mochinbach
(Post 4376516)
I know that 18months ago, when I started looking for information about teaching in OZ it was very hard to get info. Thank you though to all those who did reply to my questions. I made a promise to myself to be helpful when I actually got here and let you know my experiences with getting a job as a teacher in OZ.
My Background: I have a 4 year B'ed in English and Education and have been teaching in schools in the Midlands for 4 years. I am an English teacher but I also have big roles in B'ham LEA in the use of ICT to enhance the curriculum. In order to teach in Australia you have to register to teach in the state in which you want to live. It costs money and involves yet more form filling! Well they need to make sure you really want it don't they! I had to get transcripts (which means a written record of every module I took during the course and a detailed description of what each teaching practice entailed - that meant how many contact/non contact hours etc.) to prove to the Aussies that I had indeed got the correct qualifications. In order to get my VISA (P R) I needed to have at least 3 years teaching experience. The advantage of having a PR visa is that you don't have to change jobs as regularly as the other visa types and you have complete freedom as to where you live. I'd advise talking to a consultant for more detailed advice on this as it changes all the time. Plus, of course you don't ever have to go back to the UK! I had to provide references from every school that I had taught in. These are different to the ones you provide for the skills assessment. I think you have to just prove that you do indeed have that many years experience and that your boss would recommend you. You also need to send a copy of your disclosure/police check. They will do their own too You also need your QTS and degree certificates and some I.D. (Birth Certificate and Passport) I'm not sure if I had to wait until the visa came through and prove I had one of those too. I'll check if you like. You'll need to get all of these things copied and then each one needs to be certified by a solicitor before you send them off. Yes you HAVE to include all of this even if you did you training 30 years ago. Mad but true. You can get these transcripts and module specs from your university. I studied at Newman College, B;'ham and it cost me about 30quid. Of course when I cleared out the attic I found my originals LOL but C'est la vie! It takes about 12 weeks for your application to be processed. I have registered to work in Queensland and I set the ball rolling before I left to try and make sure I was ok to get a job when I arrived. Time it so you start it 12 weeks before you expect to settle. I managed to do so brilliantly... the only problem is I've ended up settling in Adelaide SA! LOL. So I now have to start again and get registration in this state. You have to pay for registration and once you're registered they send you a certificate to show schools. I'm in the process of re-registering with SA now. I had to let the Queensland College of teachers know my address before they could send out my stuff- which I am now waiting for. The good news is that because I am already registered in one state I don't have to go through gathering the documentation again - Really good news because all my documents are on a boat in the sea somewhere on there way to me! - Instead I just have to prove my identification and pay again. If I want my qualification listed on the certificate though I'll need to send them a copy of the transcripts and certificate again. The good news is I'll be able to work within about 1 month after I lodge my application. The bad news is I'm not allowed to work in any job in Education that involved me being paid unless I have the SA certificate of registration. There are serious fines. The department has agreed however that I can volunteer to work in schools. I like this idea as I can get to know the system and the pupils a little and maybe make some contacts which might help me to get a job further down the line. An Aussie reference, I am sure, will go a long way to securing me a job! That's as far as I have got so far. I will keep you posted as I discover new forms i need to fill in! lol. Feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best!:) Thanks for the info - much of which I sort of new but it is good to hear of your experiences which have served to highlight one or two aspects I might have missed. Any feedback you can provide re-getting a job would be most appreciated. I have worked in Aus as a teacher and have written a thesis regarding DT and ICT but neither are, I would guess, as valuable as that Oz refrence! Perhpas I should chase my former head? At the start of the migration process ourselves and to some extent have decided upon the Victoria STNI route given limited choices at my mature age. However I am tempted by the opportunities currently being offered by WA and NT - even though I have been there!!! The words relocation expenses and sponsorhsip are very appealing but I do know the harsh realities of remote postings! Views? How are you getting on with applying for metropolitan posts? Have you begun applying to private schools? Want to live the dream but the harsh realities of needingt o feed four of us have to be bourn in mind! Bezza n Bob |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Bezza I reckon it would be great to teach in the NT I'm not sure it would be so great to live there though! So hot and lonely... That's going on my experience on an outback adventure where there were generally more flies than humans but I guess you know all of that. With the four of you you might end up doubling the population! lol.
I say go with what your heart tells you. Are you an Australian? How come you've taught here before then?? Tell me more! Pm me if you like! PS// impressed with the welsh ;) |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
UPDATE
2nd March 07 Well It took 3 further weeks from QLD getting my address for them to even send me a bit of paper which said that I could teach there and I still haven't received the actual certificate. On teaching in SA I have discovered the following:
1. A first aid course ( $70.00 regularly - they have just changed these requirements and are currently running pilot schemes of the new training) and 2. A Mandated Notification Training Course ($45 course seems to be repeated once a month) This is focused on what we would called Child Protection Training. Both of these courses do have to be completed before you can teach. I am booked onto both and will, of course, let you know how it goes. I have also spent the afternoon at DECs (The department o Education) where I spoke to some people about the curriculum and ICT in English - which is what I specialise in. This was great because one of them kindly went through the curriculum with me. Needless to say it seems to be much more relaxed there is a reccomended curriculum but no national curriculum and the people in the department seem to be teachers not just public servants which is great:) Now, this is my understanding thus far and if there are any SA teachers who spot mistakes please let me know as I am still learning. Year 11 + 12 study the SACE course (These would, i think, be the equivalent of our A levels although they are very different) Click the link to find the curriculum documentation. If you want to know more then PM me - it could take a while :) Years R- 10 follow the SACSA framework. As an English teacher there are some notable differences between the approaches in SA and in England. It's Listening and Speaking rather than the other way around for starters! Much better! lol. The state seem to have essential learnings which would normally fall under our PSHE. These seem to create the foudation of the whole curriculum. They are: Futures, Identity, inderdependance, thinking and communication. I like this approach. The guy I spoke to (whose name was actually Guy!) had been on an exchange teacher program and said he was shocked at how grade driven teaching was in England. This curriculum seems more skills based and is consistantly related to every day life. Now he told me that there is no actual rule which says you HAVE to stick to this but in the U.K> there is no actual rule that we have to do SATS - you get the point? Now, as of yet I haven't seen any of this being taught I am going on the paper work that I have been given by DECs after my meeting with them. It is all very much worth a read/flick through. this may also be useful; it contains their ideas about how planning should work and how assessment should inform planning. It's all very familiar and thus reassuring. I have a good paper version but I can't find a PDF of it sorry. I have had one brief encounter with a local school. I was invited along for a brief chat which resulted in the HOD getting stressed as she obviously wasn't even told I was coming and me leaving after 10 mins! I have been offered some work training others for the guy from the department though so that's a start. if I think of anything else I'll let you know. Be prepared for it to take a while when you get here. Oh and there are no supply agencies per sa. Instead you write to the schools locally and ask them to place you on their temporary relief teacher list. I have found one agency which deals with the catholic schools however, but until I have completed all of those course and a police check for them as well as the one I have to have done to register I can't work for them. It all takes time. There's an awful lot of paper work. If you're not thinking of living in SA then this may all be irrelevant as it is all slightly different depending on the state in Australia you are working. Hope this is still helpful :) |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Originally Posted by Mochinbach
(Post 4473303)
UPDATE
2nd March 07 Well It took 3 further weeks from QLD getting my address for them to even send me a bit of paper which said that I could teach there and I still haven't received the actual certificate. On teaching in SA I have discovered the following:
1. A first aid course ( $70.00 regularly - they have just changed these requirements and are currently running pilot schemes of the new training) and 2. A Mandated Notification Training Course ($45 course seems to be repeated once a month) This is focused on what we would called Child Protection Training. Both of these courses do have to be completed before you can teach. I am booked onto both and will, of course, let you know how it goes. I have also spent the afternoon at DECs (The department o Education) where I spoke to some people about the curriculum and ICT in English - which is what I specialise in. This was great because one of them kindly went through the curriculum with me. Needless to say it seems to be much more relaxed there is a reccomended curriculum but no national curriculum and the people in the department seem to be teachers not just public servants which is great:) Now, this is my understanding thus far and if there are any SA teachers who spot mistakes please let me know as I am still learning. Year 11 + 12 study the SACE course (These would, i think, be the equivalent of our A levels although they are very different) Click the link to find the curriculum documentation. If you want to know more then PM me - it could take a while :) Years R- 10 follow the SACSA framework. As an English teacher there are some notable differences between the approaches in SA and in England. It's Listening and Speaking rather than the other way around for starters! Much better! lol. The state seem to have essential learnings which would normally fall under our PSHE. These seem to create the foudation of the whole curriculum. They are: Futures, Identity, inderdependance, thinking and communication. I like this approach. The guy I spoke to (whose name was actually Guy!) had been on an exchange teacher program and said he was shocked at how grade driven teaching was in England. This curriculum seems more skills based and is consistantly related to every day life. Now he told me that there is no actual rule which says you HAVE to stick to this but in the U.K> there is no actual rule that we have to do SATS - you get the point? Now, as of yet I haven't seen any of this being taught I am going on the paper work that I have been given by DECs after my meeting with them. It is all very much worth a read/flick through. this may also be useful; it contains their ideas about how planning should work and how assessment should inform planning. It's all very familiar and thus reassuring. I have a good paper version but I can't find a PDF of it sorry. I have had one brief encounter with a local school. I was invited along for a brief chat which resulted in the HOD getting stressed as she obviously wasn't even told I was coming and me leaving after 10 mins! I have been offered some work training others for the guy from the department though so that's a start. if I think of anything else I'll let you know. Be prepared for it to take a while when you get here. Oh and there are no supply agencies per sa. Instead you write to the schools locally and ask them to place you on their temporary relief teacher list. I have found one agency which deals with the catholic schools however, but until I have completed all of those course and a police check for them as well as the one I have to have done to register I can't work for them. It all takes time. There's an awful lot of paper work. If you're not thinking of living in SA then this may all be irrelevant as it is all slightly different depending on the state in Australia you are working. Hope this is still helpful :) |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Just thought I'd mention: have noticed (I'm in NT) that there are quite strong links between NT curriculum and SA curriculum. For instance, (and I'm not teaching seniors so only picking this up through eavesdropping!) it appears NT teachers are following SABSA/SACSA? courses as well as NT ones. This might be useful info for teachers looking in both locations.
Curriclum is similar - outcomes and airy fairy stuff but nothing particular on paper - had to read through the whole NT curriculum folder before I started and came away with nothing new. Had expected them to have specific course outlines etc (teaching Hist/English) but instead it was more along the lines of "when students leave school we want them to be able to read so please ensure you find an efficient way to do this..." It's not the NC but it might be a bit of a relief for teachers coming from England. Queensland was the same when I was there - recommend courses but left to teachers to actually decide. Scotland seemed similar as well when I was teaching there. So that might give ppl some more ideas. Alright, off to watch The Bill...:o |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
It's so good to hear all this information. Thanks for sharing it with us all.
Can I ask something about the process that I haven't heard anyone mention yet? Is it right that I have to have my qualifications assessed BEFORE applying for the visa? I've noticed teachingaustralia being mentioned for this. Also, is it right that once this is done, I have to include a complete second set of all the paperwork I sent to teachingaustralia in my visa application with the official document (also officially copied) saying I'm qualified? Is it me or do the solicitors etc seem to get a hefty cut of the migration business.....? I haven't even had the guts yet to ring around and find out how much all these copies are going to put me back!!! |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Originally Posted by chequer
(Post 4479771)
It's so good to hear all this information. Thanks for sharing it with us all.
Can I ask something about the process that I haven't heard anyone mention yet? Is it right that I have to have my qualifications assessed BEFORE applying for the visa? I've noticed teachingaustralia being mentioned for this. Also, is it right that once this is done, I have to include a complete second set of all the paperwork I sent to teachingaustralia in my visa application with the official document (also officially copied) saying I'm qualified? Is it me or do the solicitors etc seem to get a hefty cut of the migration business.....? I haven't even had the guts yet to ring around and find out how much all these copies are going to put me back!!! We looked into solicitors and notaries and round our area it was going to cost about £200 for certifying everything. However If you can get a JP/magistrate to do it it's usually free or a small amount (I think you can just go to your local magistrate court and ask). |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Thanks for that information. We're not planning on putting our visa application in until mid-December when my wife has 12 months of sufficient experience to be the main applicant (she's a nurse with the extra 15 MODL points to get us above the pass mark) so I've got plenty of time to get my paperwork sorted.
|
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Good luck chequer! :)
|
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
O.K. well I did the first aid course.
Mostly what you'd expect with CPR, how to do basic first aid and use a defibrillator. As a brit I was slightly ammused/scared of the section about what to do if you gotten by a snake or a poisonous spider. It did put mind at rest though, at least i know what to do if one does decide to take a nibble. The course was for a whole day and they do assessment throughout (nothing to worry about - they mostly involve you working in pairs whilst the instructor walks around the room) You do a test on CPR, One on the epi-pen and one on a scenario they give you where one of you pretend to be injured and the other two have to work out what to do using all the training that you have had through the day. Disappointingly (unlike in the U.k.) lunch wasn't provided! I used to joke back home that you only go for the lunch. There are shops near by though and subway so I was sorted! ;) I just have to do the Mandated Notification Training now. Have that booked third week this month. In the meantime my experience with ICT in English is proving invaluable and I have started my own business training teachers on how to use their whiteboards. I've also joined a teaching agency called Switch education who deal with catholic schools. (Although before I can work I have to wait for all this paper work :0( ) The pay for supply (or relief teachers ) is a lot less here though than the U.K. I used to get 120 quid back there and it works out at about 60 quid here. To work for the Catholic sector you have to get another police check done by your local police station, send that off to the catholic association and then wait for them to send you a clearance letter. If you thought the U.K. was bad for paper work then you ain't seen nothing yet lol! In the meantime I am enjoying the sunshine, although it has rained a bit over the last week :( LOL I'll keep you updated! |
Re: A teacher new to OZ - My experience so far
Update: 02 May 2008
Right! It's all done and i start working with a supply agency next week (they call us relief teachers out here) Pay is about half of what I used to get when I supplied in the U.K. but by now I don't care!!! I completed the Manidated Notification course 2 weeks ago, then I had to get the certificate copied and certified for the agency - They're very nice people who are going to be great to work for. They only work with Catholic schools but that's ok! ;) The only good ting about all this time I have on my hands is that I've had lots of time to work on CPD and my own IWB training business. having said that I can't wait to see what it's like to teach! It feels like sooo long since I was last in a classroom. I'll let you know how I go! |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 6:23 pm. |
Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.