Teaching employment
 

Hi all,
Planning on moving to Perth in October. Trying to find the best way of finding employment while still here in the UK. I am an a Primary school Assistant Head Teacher. Finding it difficult to plan my next move. Any help would e appreciated..

Lou

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi have you looked on www.seek.com.au good luck.

Re: Teaching employment
 

Oh and welcome to BE there is loads of info and friendly peeps on here who will help you out.:thumbup:

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi,

You need to decide if you want to work state or private. You will need to register with WACOT either way. Private schools pick their own teachers, just like schools in the UK. Employment in state schools is more complicated and VERY disorganised (eg I work in a very popular area and there are plenty of teachers without jobs but our school has been 'under-appointed' THREE teachers. Kids come on Monday to empty classrooms.)

G

Re: Teaching employment
 

can i register for wacot while still in the uk

Re: Teaching employment
 

[QUOTE=lou666;5874089]can i register for wacot while still in the uk[/QUOT

Have you thought about getting a state sponsorship? I was at the emigrate show last year (in Surrey again this March) and they were desperate for teachers to work in WA.
I know that you're a deputy head but have you got 4 years of tertiary education (degree level)? I have a 3 year BA (hons) in Primary Education and Teaching with QTS and am a reception teacher here in the UK but I am not qualified to teach in Aus!
Try e-mailng this lady and see if they are still running the programme if you are interested [email protected]

Re: Teaching employment
 

[QUOTE=GillyG;5874853]Hi Gilly

The "emigrate show" you refer to - do you have any more details or know ehere I can go for them. I am a teacher too, in Surrey and present and looking for work in NSW before I emigrate.

Re: Teaching employment
 

[QUOTE=Aquamarine;5874901]Yep it is at Sandown Park race course on Sat/Sun 1st/2nd March. Try this link http://www.emigrate2.co.uk/shows_and_publications.htm

Re: Teaching employment
 

I would double check but WA stopped taking primary teachers on sponsorship and concentrating on High School teachers. Thats what they said in September.

However you should be able to find your own job here.

GEMs

Re: Teaching employment
 

[QUOTE=GillyG;5874970]Gilly- Thank you so much!!! This website (and its subcribers) are fab!!

Re: Teaching employment
 

[QUOTE=GillyG;5874853]I did the 3 years BA(hons) and was short of 1 assignment for the fourth year. They are deciding at the moment if they will give me RPL but it is not looking good. I have been told I will probably have to do a years full time course which is going to cost me $12,220. Think I will stay in childcare as they are desperate for qualified staff over here.

Debs

Re: Teaching employment
 

I'm not too sure if WA is like South Australia but if it is don't think you can just apply and get a job. There's a whole list of things to do before you can even become registered to teach. :ohmy:

Applicable to Adelaide you have to (Even though you have had your skills assessed by NOOSR as part of the visa application)


register to teach - to do this you need a list of references, statement of service, certified copies of transcripts (in particular your degree/QTS transcript as this needs to meet certain requirements - e.g. has to be 4 years equivalent including degree and not the 3 year qualification that some people in the UK could do a few years back) and a certified Child protection certificate - you can only get this certificate when you have done a training session in South Australia.... so i couldn't even apply to be registered until i got here.... fortunately for us we booked a validation visit and we did the training during that time.

Apply to the department responsible for placing teacher's in jobs (DECS here in SA) which you again need a whole list of things including transcripts, statements, child protection, teacher registration and a first aid certificate from training undertaken in SA (BACS first aid course) Then they ask you to choose areas, skills you have (backed up by experience and qualifications) and then you can eventually get your authority to undertake relief teaching letter - they rarely in SA offer you a school with a permanent job (unless you fancy going to the country) You have to get good links through relief teaching and then schools can work it to offer you employment.

I've arrived 31st December in Adelaide - i did my first aid training before term 1 started and now i have just been asked by a school to do a term for a teacher. This is usually hard to come across and in Term 1 in SA you normallly only get days work until you build good realationships with schools.

Now that i am working if a leadership role is advertised (These are the only roles schools can choose to appoint people into themselves) then i can apply for this.... I couldn't apply for it from the UK as they have certain laws and one of them was to have undertaken a day's teaching for the department during the live application time.

I was fortunate as i learnt through friends that came to Australaia first. 1 friend had to waitress for 3 months whilst she phoned home to get all the appropriate documentation she needed to teach - so it's worth investigating whether or not they have similar requirements in Perth and get as much done before you get over here... you can access all the SA forms online through DECS website but not sure about Perth's.

And another thing if your registered to teach in one state that doesn't automatically qualify you to teach anywhere... you have to apply to transfer registration etc....


Good luck..... i have to add you'll find schools very different to the UK... and the outdoor facilities i have seen here and fantastic!!!! :) and the weather means no more wet plays (not yet anyway) although i have been told they do have hot plays!!! :cool:

Re: Teaching employment
 

HI

Another thing to consider is more paperwork...if you plan to teach in a Catholic school, then you need to get Catholic clearance which is obtained by taking your passport and police check to the Catholic office which then grants you a letter to confirm you can teach in Catholic schools.

I had a terms work during term 3 and have only had sporadic TRT since. Nothing at all since early Nov. Demoralising.

Someone else mentioned it but getting sponsored as a teacher doesn't mean a thing when it comes to getting a job. A have a few friends who came here on the sponsorship visa and they are unemployed the same as me. Some agencies can be found who can also help but ultimately if the school doesn't ask, it won't get.

Some schools find out who is next on the list to be allocated for the subject concerned. In some cases the teacher may have a reputation for being useless in which case the school will pay out for relief teachers rather than tell DECs or the equivalent that they have a vcaancy.

Libby

Re: Teaching employment
 

hey hi eveyone just a quick question im wondering if anyne can fill me in. I am a hairdressing teacher from the uk and taught at a college. I have nvq level 3 and assessors (d32/d33) and internal verifyers (d34) and cert ed in education. does anyone know if you can RPL them to australian qualifications, because if i want to teach again,which i do, in oz they reckon iv gotta go do cert 4 in assessment in oz qualies! i have found out that they dont even have anything higher than an english level 2, and i know in qualifications iv got more qualies than oz actually have on offer does anyonne have any answers for me as i was a hairdressing teacher for 7years in uk and really want to do it here but dont want to study again for the qualification i already have???? im so frustrated

Re: Teaching employment
 

You could try getting hold of the overseas qualifications unit in the nearest city to where you want to go. I had to have my childcare degree transferred across because of licensing laws.

Means I am over qualified for my job at the moment but can't do any of the lower qualifications as TAFE and ECU don't recognise them that way.

Give it a go.

Debs

Re: Teaching employment
 

[QUOTE=woody1cruiser;5875215]I also have the NNEB as well as my degree so would be more than happy to work as a childcare worker. What is the money like in that line of work? I have heard that its low but I'm a qualified teacher here in the uK and am earning just over £20,000 so used to living on a low salary! What agencies would you recommend (we're planning on going to the Gold Coast area, give or take a couple of hours drive).

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi

I'll PM you so we don't hi-jack the thread.

Debs

Re: Teaching employment
 

Re WACOT. You can register with them 2-3 months before arrival in terms of sending them all your documents and making sure things are as ready as they can be. You will still have to undergo an Aussie Criminal Records Check as soon as you enter the country (I went from airport to WACOT office!) and then you get membership 2 weeks ish later.

HTH,
Gemma

Re: Teaching employment
 

I am teaching in Victoria..Here you need to register with the VIT and apply to schools directly yourself...either primary or secondary...lots of jobs are only contract for one year unless you are willing to live in the country...good luck

Re: Teaching employment
 

Howdy,

Im in process of applying to move to Vic to teach, so any insight into Vic schools then Im all ears. cheers

tyna

Re: Teaching employment
 

My experience in WA is that most things state-run in terms of education is shambolic.

WACOT - they asked for certified copies of everything, which I supplied whilst living in the UK. When I arrived they wanted to see all of the originals also! (So why have certified copies?)/

Dept for Education - I have heard dreadful stories of teachers being treated very badly - very much a like it or lump it situation. (Teach in Port Hedland or don't teach - it doesn't matter that you are married with teenaged children)

My advice would be that unless you can get guaranteed permanent work (a feat in itself - I heard yesterday of teachers with 12 years of experience still being temporary) in a state school in a location where you want to be, I would only teach in the private sector.

I teach in the private sector and enjoy the work. If I had to teach in the state sector I would leave teaching. I'm sorry to say that it appears that the WA government treats education with contempt.

Re: Teaching employment
 

Anyone know if I can apply to register in NSW before I get my visa (doesn't look like it from website) or any suggestions for doing anything useful re. registration before visa arrives - (apart from get certs and docs needed certified and ready of course)? Any helpful hints welcome!

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi, new member here and find this disucssion very informative!

I am looking into the WA Visa sponsorship for high school teachers. I can't seem to find a definitive list of what counts as rural. Is it just anything outside the Perth metropolitan area?

Re: Teaching employment
 

That's useful information thanks Gemma.

Looking on the WACOT website I see that I can't do anything until I have that all important visa, in terms of registering but is it worthwhile putting the feelers out to schools during a recce visit in March. Skills assessment returned, PR visa application has been sent but going on holiday to Perth area.
I'm sure we're all the same but I really want to try and get something secured before we got out permanently, am I barking up the wrong tree or is it worth just seeing how I get on. Are there supply agencies there as there are in the UK?
My father in law keeps sending clippings from newspapers saying how desperate they are for teachers but the authorities don't seem to want to make it easier for well qualified overseas teachers to get employment. What is your impression?

Any advise or information would be much appreciated! ;)

Many thanks
Sam

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi Sam,
There are only two ways to secure employment before you have WACOT registration. One is get sponsored by the department of education (ie go remote/very rural) who will fast-track you, two is to get a job in a private school who will employ you 'pending' wacot registration.

You can put the feelers out if you want, but it is not the same as doing so in the UK. No, the DET do not make it easy for overseas trained teachers. I know lots of unemployed teachers in the Bunbury area, the shortage is really only in not popular areas, the media is a little misleading.

There are agencies in Perth for supply (aka 'relief') but do not know of others elsewhere. Even if a school wants to employ you, because you have 0 transfer points as a foreigner anyone with more points the gov can force the school to take, regardless of relevant skills/what principal wants.

There are ways for principals to play the game though. I have a job via merit-select. The school chose me, then the gov forced them to take someone else, then the principal 'realised' another job was needed to be filled and 'cos it was last-minute the gov took her suggestion. It's a rubbish system, us teachers in WA are striking this week!

HOpe this info helps,
Gemma

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi Gemma,
You've outlined pretty much everything I already knew about getting a job in WA. Not good! How did you apply for a job via merit select?? I really wanted to have something sorted before we go out in November, but haven't got my teacher ID number yet because I haven't done my entry and orientation program (obviously because I'm still in the UK)

Lou

Re: Teaching employment
 

Thanks for that Gemma,

Blimey, what a mess. I'm pleased for you that you obviously had the skills and experience to impress the principal of a school and she was prepared to, in a sense fight for you. I hope I'm as lucky.

I think I'll look into the private sector. State sponsorship isn't for the hubby and I. We certainly don't want to end up in the back of beyond and as we don't have any children, we'd be further back than those with children I shouldn't wonder.

I'm not surprised teachers are striking as all I've heard are negatives surrounding the state of the education system. I hope you don't mind if I ask some more questions in the future. ;)

It certainly reads like I have a fight on my hands and lots of paperwork to get through!

Thanks again Gemma!

Sam

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi Sam,
I'm a bit further on than you as I've got my Visa already and it was based on my skills in teaching. My skills were assessed by AEI NOOSR and they requested everything, University stuff to look at what modules I'd done each year at Uni and they also wanted evidence of my teaching practices that I'd completed whilst at Uni, even though I had evidence that I had been teaching for 9 years in the UK as a qualified teacher- My certificate stating that I had a BEd (Hons) wasn't enough. It's a bit scary really because WACOT have asked for the same stuff as NOOSR did. You'll have to provide all this info to WACOT too and it has to all be certified. If you need any help with any of it then just give me a shout. I can't understand why they make things so difficult.

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi Lou,

Well done on getting the visa, that's half the battle. We've been teaching about the same length of time from the looks of things. I did a BA followed by PGCE which Teaching Australia were fine with, I hope this is going to be ok with WACOT (this again is a little frustrating because although your skills have been assessed by Teaching Australia, you then have to go through it all again by each of the states - oh well, ours is not to reason why :confused:).

Who/What is AEI NOOSR, please pardon my ignorance as I'm sure I should know what this is but haven't the faintest idea.

What do you intend on doing - try to get things sorted or wait until you're out there? I've got all my docs still - well the agent still has everything (do you know if can he countersign them or do I need to get a solicitor to do it for WACOT?). I'd love to say that I have a job for when we go there as I am a worry wart but it looks as if there are just too many barriers :( Is that how you feel?

What are others experiences of the education systems in Aus?

Sam

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi

AEI/NOOSR were the skills assessing body for teachers. I think they have been replaced with Teaching Australia.

You will need certified copies of all your documentation for the teacher registration process in your state plus all the same documents for your registration into the state system - or at least that is how it works here in SA.

If you go to a private school, as there is no central assessing body, the head of payroll does it so you need all your documents for them to have a look at every time you change job - although in fairness they do give them back.

In SA you can see the justice of the peace and get your documents done for free (within reason) which is handy, done there and then. Of course when you walk in with 3 copies of everything to be signed:blink:, best do it in smaller visits!!!!

Teaching in SA is frustrating. There is no shortage that I can detect in metro areas i.e. closer to the city. However as migrants we cannot afford to go off into more regional areas to teach, or the vast majority, as we stay nearer to civilisation for the sake of our kids. I am generalising here so please don't attack me! I know teachers working as carers, nurses, and one was offered work as an unqualified childcare assistant!!!!!! $12 an hour for a teacher with about 20 years experience, shocking...

Permanent work is hard to come by and with so many teachers coming in off the boat so to speak, there are plenty to choose from. I tried to get work for when I got here from the UK but at each school, I was told to wait until I got here and then apply. They would not consider me as a candidate until I was in Australia.

Libby

Re: Teaching employment
 

Hi,

Merit-select jobs can be found at
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/jobs.asp#2

Most schools in popular areas are opting for merit-select now, just 'cos it gives them a smidgen more power in regards to having a say in their staff. It is a frustrating system though!

Good luck,
Gemma

Re: Teaching employment
 

One wonders if part of the "merit" is the fact that they can also choose teachers which are going to cost them less out of their budget - I know of several teachers in country Vic who have been absolute stars with a swag of specializations who have been unable to get jobs because they are at the top of the pay scale compared with a newbie who is at the bottom of it. It's a real catch 22 and I dont know of any state that has got it really right!

Re: Teaching employment
 

Same as in UK there then - I heard the same complaints from some excellent 'mature' colleagues there. Suits me though, as a relative youngster! Hope I'm still in NSW when they change all the rules!

Re: Teaching employment
 

Thanks for that Libby, any information will be gratefully received. Hubby thinks that I should stop obsessing and what will be will be! I guess he is right but can't help worrying.

esperanza - I think you're right about the system in the UK being about saving pay, but I do think from the sounds of it you have a better chance of securing full time permanent employment in the UK than in Aus.

I think I'll just ride the wave and see what course it takes me - This is what I'm telling myself but in reality this is not going to happen. I'm still going to check out the website that Gemma has put on the thread. ;)