Myself, hubby and 2 kids really want to go and live in Oz asap (as do most people on here) but we keep coming up against brick walls. At the minute I am a supply teacher and not getting much work at all We have looked into getting sponsorship to work in WA and it all sounds great but will I come up against another barrier because of my lack of hours re recent experience.

From what I can work out the WA sponsorship is with a 457 visa....do they not do it at all through a RSMS visa which doesn't require recent experience or points??

Hubby is a foreman on a very busy shipping port in England but I don't suppose he could apply for sponsorship to the Port of Brisbane because a)his skills are not in demand and b)457 is not valid to work in Brisbane.

Please help if you can, any advice would be appreciated

Claire x

Hi Claire
For WA 457 sponsorship, you don't need experience, just a degree + PGCE or 4 years BEd, but make sure your subject is in demand. Check out Dept of Ed & Training website - www.det.wa.edu.au/teaching

Thanks Hello WA, so I should go ahead and register with WACOT? Don't want to waste my money if I'm going to fail the 457 application. I am a primary teacher with Science specialism but isn't this irrelevant as you teach across the board in primary.

Ooh I'm getting excited now, is there any documentation to show me that what you are saying is true?? Not that I don't believe you but don't want to get my hopes up!!

Maybe I am looking in the wrong places but all I can see is that to teach in WA you must fulfill certain criteria, one of which is to gain a sucessful 457 visa. Do I not need recent work experience to have my visa application accepted?

I'm confused!!!!!

No experience needed, just being qualified is enough to get past skill requirements. If you then get through interview and medicals you'll be off to Aus.
Down sides are they tell you where you work, so you get no choice, you can though limited areas in the state you'd not consider (eg we wouldn't want to go anywhere near Broome).
Get qualifications done asap and see what comes of it, doesn't cost that much. We're all done and dusted, but have a year and a bit to wait before we make the move

Hello WA is a representative of WA ed dept as far as I know. So what they say is true.
If you get in you'll be part of January 2010 with a few others on here (us included). Gems is great for letting you know all the ins and outs, as her Hubby is on 457 in WA

Ta for new new new job title - represetative of WA ed dept, lol??! Soz mate, I'm just a sponsored UK secondary Maths teacher going to WA in Jan 09.

About the DET website, there's a link to register your interest and they'll get back in touch with you to let you know what to do next, regarding getting your quals assessed by WACOT. The WA will sponsor you for the 457 (which of course you need to register WACOT, etc). Register your interest quickly with DET as now recruiting primary teachers for 2010

Hi, thanks for the replies.

I have already done my EOI and got a reply telling me to register with WACOT. I sent them an email though coz I wasn't sure which level of membership I need to apply for. The website has 2 to choose from I think. They haven't got back to me yet so maybe you guys could help with that one????

Australia bound, what do you mean get qualifications done asap???

To do the prelim assessment you don't need membership with WACOT there's a short form you fill in and then scan your degree, PGCE etc transcripts and email all to WACOT who will then inform you and also inform the DET that your quals are of same standard as required to teach in Oz. This prelim is so that you can actually get WACOT membership if DET decide to sponsor you, as they don't want a situation where they've pai dfor nomination for 457 done everything else and then get told your quals don't match Oz standards. Without WACOT membership, you can't teach in WA (kind of like our GTC)

ah...and is this prelim assessment on their website??

I had best get my transcripts then...do I just ring my Uni? Will they still have them??

Your uni may well charge you for transcrpts. Mine charged me £10 for my degree from 12 years ago. My OH who's a recent graduate got his sent for free when he got his degree certificate. The form (or the link) gets emailed when you do the DET EoI.

I can live with £10!!!!

I got the email from DET when I did my EOI, the link was this:
Forms can be downloaded from www.wacot.wa.edu.au;
but I couldn't see any assessment forms there...I think a few others on here have said that they have searched the site and it was nowhere to be seen!!!!

Thank you sooooooo much for all of your help today, you have been great and have put my mind at rest no end!!! Hope you don't mind if I pick your brains at the next hurdle

Claire xx

scrap that last question about the prelim quals form...I found it. It is in with the registration form!!!

Not too sure wether to apply for the provisional or full registration...to apply for full it says that you should have been employed as a teacher for 1 year out of the last 5. Well I have been employed as a teacher for almost 2 years but as supply through my LEA and not worked every week...should I go for the full and let them decide when they see my employment history on the form????

Dur...so many Q's

Hello Claire,

Just wanted to say if you come on the 457 scheme ask for Geraldton.
We are about to build huge new port just outside of town.
So your hubby should be able to get some work here.

Gems