Tillybud,

Look at the Live in Victoria website. The site has lots of good info but the key is to have a job on their 'wanted' or in demand list. At the moment the list states :

2413–11 Secondary School Teacher Must have at least one of the following specialisations:
• Mathematics
• Technology (Metal, Wood or Automotive)
• LOTE (Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, German or French)

The website address for this document is http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au...6-15052009.pdf

Just delete everything after au/ to get the home page.

The application form etc is all there. Unlike some other states they nominate you based on your registatregistrationT not your Teach Australia skill accreditation -which is our next step.

The subclass you apply for 176 which in effect is no different to a 175 except you have a lower pass mark, priority processing but an obligation to live in Vic for two years

Payment for your visa is in two stages. The first stage needs skill accrediaaccreditationyou apply so don't ignore the hidden costs. No obvious money back scenario as far as I know but others may well help there.

Thanks for the kind words. We have lived and worked there (Gold Coast) and know its isn't utopia.

As my late uncle said, whilst basking in the Newcastle (NSW) sun - this is the difference. Same bucket but a tad shinier!

Bezza

Tillybud, the issue will be how your PGCE is assessed, I think Teaching Australia would say you are a Primary school teacher. However, with Vic, you don't need assessing first (bezzanbob) so that may help. I have read that on BE that Vic can be fickle, as in all other states just say yes if you fulfill criteria but they can say no. There is a post from software guy on the immi section with 20 yrs exp who was declined even though he passed everything. This can be helpful to you if they don't get many applicants.

Very best of luck and keep us all updated,
Cooler

Thanks so much for your advice - I looked at the website and on their skilled sponsored 176 list it didn't include primary teachers - I guess I wouldn't be able to get there that way then? Though I could be a pre-primary teacher - I currently teach 4-5 year olds (trained in 3 to 7 at PGCE, though qualified to teach any age) and have extensive knowledge and training in the birth to five years old document. It's also encouraging to know that languages are in demand in secondary - could help my position too!

I was assessed as pre primary and primary but because I hadn't taught children from birth up, I was told tough! Part of their teacher training in Oz involves a component of their degree covering from 0 up, the lowest age I've taught in the uk has been Nursery!

That's mad! So you're meant to have taught babies?!

I can understand what they mean - I've had training in the new birth to five document as I teach reception and we assess now according to these criteria. I would have presumed this would be enough to teach pre-primary. I see myself as very much an early-years practitioner (although I have taught Year 2 as well) and it would be great shame not to be able to. I wonder if I volunteered at a private nursery over the Summer, this may help my claim?!

I was told that unless I'd had long day care experience, at least a years experience of, then sorry... I actually rang and spoke to a girl who told me that, I tried to argue my point but she was having none of it!

Ive 9 years experience from 3 right up to 8 year olds, though predominantly, over the past few years my experience lies in Upper Key Stage 1. During my 4 year BEd training most of the focus was on the early years with a major part of my degree then homing in on under fives. When I phoned one of the states who were sponsoring Pre-Primary Teachers as I said previous (I was typing it from my iphone, thus it being short and sweet) I was told that that was all well and good, but unless I'd had a substantial part of my recent experience (as in the required 12 out of the last 24 months) working with children aged 0 up, then I was not what they were looking for, even if I had been assessed by Teaching Australia as a Pre-Primary and Primary teacher. Also because my 'under fives' training and my Nursery experience was so many years ago, it didn't count for anything, it has to be recent. I know this is not what you want to hear, but I'm just being honest Tillybud...

Folks,

Coming over for a while in August.

Not a validation trip - yet!

We have some contacts in schools already but does anybody have any other advice on what we could/should do to enhance our prospects of employment?

Bezza

From what I've been told, unless you have PR (ie your visa) you won't be taken seriously when job hunting...the person who told me that may well be wrong but I thought I'd let you know regardless!

my wife and i are both teachers and will be arriving in 2 weeks..soooo excited... we are not looking to start work straight away but I have started to look at temp / perm teaching jobs and have come across 2 agency...Sanza and ANZUK....anyone know anything about them or can recommend which one is best ?

cheers

See you soon

You could also try www.smartteachers.com.au Ive had a telephone interview with them already and completed forms and they have references on file for when (if) I get a visa!

On our rekkie travels - currently in Dubai on WiFi.

Hoping to develop the contact network when in Melbourne.

Perhaps this will be as succesful.

Bezza

Never heard of either of those agencies... when looking for supply by far the best way is to go into a school or send them your cv. Most schools here seem to prefer to employ casual relief teachers directly not through an agency.

Keep your eyes on www.seek.com.au for private school jobs and the department of education jobs website for government school jobs and apply directly rather than through agencies would be my advice.