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Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Old Aug 8th 2007, 5:56 am
  #16  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Yes we intend writing to the relevant authorities and making the above points.

We have tried WA but you have to have been born after 1965 to be taken on the STNI scheme.
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Old Aug 8th 2007, 7:16 pm
  #17  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by freckles1970
I am a single lass too going over to teach, which state are you going to?
I have no idea which state I'll end up in!! I am looking at Tas (not just because my friend is back there, but that is a bonus!) and I've been looking at Perth (although I know that the jobs in Perth are limited & you are likely to end up out in the middle of 'woop-woop' as my friend always called it!!!), but this whole idea of being placed where the state wants you, rather than you actually having a choice has taken me aback a bit.

All of my plans are flexible and at least another 18 months away, so I have a while to find out bits & bobs yet! Where are you going? You can PM me the reply if you like & we can compare 'notes'!
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Old Aug 12th 2007, 4:23 pm
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by Gems
Hello,
sorry to here you have had such an awful time and little support.

We are here on sponsorship by WA. They could not have been more helpful.
Hubby is Primary teacher and all has been fine, hubby had a primary job allocated before we got here. We are now sitting in 4 bedroom modern house with garden (provided by WA Ed), and all is going well.

No we are not in the middle of a desert! We are in coastal touristy/fishing town. Which is picturesque and pleasant. Also get free flights to Perth once per year. Salary is ok and get pension.

My advice if you still want to give Oz a go is try WA. They can fast track your application and you could be working within a few weeks. The schools will be rural but its ok if you like outdoors.


Just sent you pm

GEMS
Hi,
I just read you message which gave me hope after reading someone's bad experience for finding a teaching post in a primary school. My husband and I have just got our visa and are planning to go to Perth in Jan 2008. I am a primary school teacher and thought that I would only be able to secure a post on arrival as I read that you had to do a conversion course - first aid and other bits - is that right? How did your husband manage to get a post before arriving - by applying directly to schools or through an agency?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
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Old Aug 13th 2007, 10:19 am
  #19  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by Gems
Hello,
sorry to here you have had such an awful time and little support.

We are here on sponsorship by WA. They could not have been more helpful.
Hubby is Primary teacher and all has been fine, hubby had a primary job allocated before we got here. We are now sitting in 4 bedroom modern house with garden (provided by WA Ed), and all is going well.

No we are not in the middle of a desert! We are in coastal touristy/fishing town. Which is picturesque and pleasant. Also get free flights to Perth once per year. Salary is ok and get pension.

My advice if you still want to give Oz a go is try WA. They can fast track your application and you could be working within a few weeks. The schools will be rural but its ok if you like outdoors.


Just sent you pm

GEMS
Hello,
It sounds as though you've had a really positive experience in finding a teaching post in WA and I wondered whether I could possibly email you and ask you some questions, if you have time please?
Many thanks in advance and I'm sure the sun in shining there. Can't wait to get to WA though slightly nervous at the mo.
Thanks. Jo.
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Old Aug 18th 2007, 12:00 pm
  #20  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Hi there,
just thought I would put in a little more WA input in this thread. I have been trying to get into the State school system but there is no chance to get a permanent position if you are not prepared to teach in 'whoop whoop' for at least a year. Which is probably the main reason for the teachers shortage at the moment. I have started a job as a teachers assistant in a private school here in Margaret River, and have now started to teach there on a permanent basis. Not fulltime, but at least it is a start. The assistant work actually provided a very useful learning process because the school system here is completely different from the one in the Netherlands where I am from originally. Best of luck everyone!
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Old Aug 18th 2007, 12:18 pm
  #21  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by nonemigrator
My wife and I had a SIR visa to work in Australia. My wife sought a primary teaching post to fulfil the needs of the visa, whilst I continued to work in the Uk. So we were running two houses, two cars etc.

My wife has made 60 applications for posts but never got a job. This is because almost all of the jobs are not real vacancies. Many of the posts in Australia are on short (3 month, 6 month contracts) which, when they come to an end, have to be advertised by law. In wife's experience these "jobs" then go back to the current post holder. She has impressed many times at interview but still the post goes to the exisiting post holder.

Beware also the displaced teacher i.e the ones who are surplus to requirements at other schools. They have automatic right to any vacancy.

My wife has done plenty of CRT (supply) work but this doesn't cover the bills, or fulfil the requirements of the visa.

Even Australian teachers will say that it takes 1.5 to 2 years for them to get a job.

We estimate it has cost us A$65000 to discover all this and so, reluctantly we have had to give up.

The assistance we have had from the SIR people has been minimal. We were assigned a contact on arrival but she has made no contact, and has been of little help when we contacted her. Don't expect any assistance in getting a job. The only contact my wife has had is to ask why she hasdn't got Private Health Insurance. The answer was simple - not earning enough to cover basis costs let alone insurance!

What would have really helped was knowing in advance that the employment possibilities in teaching would be limited. We have even considered moving state to secure work but contact with education advisers in all the other states has confirmed the same employment difficulties.

Finally my wife's experience in Australian schools has shown them to be years behind in standards compared to the UK system. They talk about raising standards but this is not evident in the schools. Planning is superficial and there are no school assessments systems that measure the progress made by children. They are strong on teamwork, and "Tribe" work but, in general, there is a very "laissez faire" attitude to schooling. They also seem to tolerate poor behaviour in a way that would not be tolerated in the UK, having little or no structures to deal with it. Against this backdrop a UK teacher would find themselves not only a bit of a threat to other teachers, but also disappointed.

So our dream ends. We have loved living in Australia but unfortunately were given false hope. I do hope that this contribution helps others before they invest an awful lot of money.
It is exactly the same here in northern ireland! I am a classroom assistant and it took me about 2 years to get a job. once ur in u should never leave or you'll not get back in.

any job that comes up there is usually someone already in it. I,m a 1 2 1 special needs ca and next year would be my last year, but if another job came up i would get it automatically.

however it doesn't matter as hopefully i will be in oz!

is it the same i presume for classroom assistants over there?
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Old Sep 2nd 2007, 8:22 pm
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by Gems
Hello,
sorry to here you have had such an awful time and little support.

We are here on sponsorship by WA. They could not have been more helpful.
Hubby is Primary teacher and all has been fine, hubby had a primary job allocated before we got here. We are now sitting in 4 bedroom modern house with garden (provided by WA Ed), and all is going well.

No we are not in the middle of a desert! We are in coastal touristy/fishing town. Which is picturesque and pleasant. Also get free flights to Perth once per year. Salary is ok and get pension.

My advice if you still want to give Oz a go is try WA. They can fast track your application and you could be working within a few weeks. The schools will be rural but its ok if you like outdoors.


Just sent you pm

GEMS
Hi Gems
Great to hear that WA has been successful. I have my teleconference interview in October for the WA sponsorship programme. Could you give me some advice on the type of questions they ask? Also you say that you have a four bedroom place, is this because you have children? We have three under five, do they take this into consideration? Hope you can help me with this. Thank you.
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Old Sep 9th 2007, 9:33 am
  #23  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by Vooson
Hi Gems
Great to hear that WA has been successful. I have my teleconference interview in October for the WA sponsorship programme. Could you give me some advice on the type of questions they ask? Also you say that you have a four bedroom place, is this because you have children? We have three under five, do they take this into consideration? Hope you can help me with this. Thank you.
Can you send you me a link to the WA sponsorship programme? My SIL is a teacher and she is interested.
Thanks.
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Old Sep 10th 2007, 3:02 am
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Old Sep 15th 2007, 3:32 am
  #25  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

I wouldnt recommend trying the ACT education department - it is very difficult to get permanency here especially for primary teachers although they say that there are vacancies for specialist secondary teachers - maths and science always seem to be in high demand. It would appear that if you specialize (special ed is also usually high demand) then you are in with a better shot.

Interesting to hear your opinion of the system here too. I must admit I had thought the same thing as you but it is years since I have had anything to do with UK education and from various reports about the failings there I was unsure about the relative standards.
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Old Sep 17th 2007, 8:59 pm
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by Gems
Hello,
sorry to here you have had such an awful time and little support.

We are here on sponsorship by WA. They could not have been more helpful.
Hubby is Primary teacher and all has been fine, hubby had a primary job allocated before we got here. We are now sitting in 4 bedroom modern house with garden (provided by WA Ed), and all is going well.

No we are not in the middle of a desert! We are in coastal touristy/fishing town. Which is picturesque and pleasant. Also get free flights to Perth once per year. Salary is ok and get pension.

My advice if you still want to give Oz a go is try WA. They can fast track your application and you could be working within a few weeks. The schools will be rural but its ok if you like outdoors.


Just sent you pm

GEMS
Thanks for this info!!!! It sounds just what we want. Could you explain the process you went through to get this please? Im a primary teacher with a BEd Hons(Science) Im also in management. Ive got a hub and two children as well who would be coming too - obviously! Wed love to be in WA. Any info would be gratefully recieved. Any other jobs going at you hubs school? Thanks
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Old Sep 17th 2007, 9:10 pm
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by I_Will_Freckle
Can you send you me a link to the WA sponsorship programme? My SIL is a teacher and she is interested.
Thanks.
Could I have more info on this WA sponsorship thing? Many thanks in advance
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Old Sep 17th 2007, 9:15 pm
  #28  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

You should check first if you are eligible for a skilled visa. This could then be a permanent visa which would not restrict you on location or occupation when you get to Australia.
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Old Nov 10th 2007, 2:27 pm
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Hi there looking into teaching in WA. You mentioned in one of your threads that you had some information of someone to contact regarding this. Would be a great help if you could pass this on to me too. Also you talked about the B.Ed 3 year degree is there a problem if you have one of these?

Thanks

QUOTE=Gems;5150392]Hello,
sorry to here you have had such an awful time and little support.

We are here on sponsorship by WA. They could not have been more helpful.
Hubby is Primary teacher and all has been fine, hubby had a primary job allocated before we got here. We are now sitting in 4 bedroom modern house with garden (provided by WA Ed), and all is going well.

No we are not in the middle of a desert! We are in coastal touristy/fishing town. Which is picturesque and pleasant. Also get free flights to Perth once per year. Salary is ok and get pension.

My advice if you still want to give Oz a go is try WA. They can fast track your application and you could be working within a few weeks. The schools will be rural but its ok if you like outdoors.


Just sent you pm

GEMS[/QUOTE]
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Old Nov 10th 2007, 6:22 pm
  #30  
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Default Re: Thinking of teaching in Australia - don't

Originally Posted by teach9
Also you talked about the B.Ed 3 year degree is there a problem if you have one of these?
My partner did a 3 year degree with QTS at Sheffield Hallam, and this has caused issues...

Technically the 3 year degree is not recognised in Australia - you have to have done 4 years at uni (3 yrs + pgce or 4 yrs degree with QTS).

Therefore you have complications with satisfying "Teaching Australia" who assess your skills inorder for you to claim points for your visa.

We have got round this, as I could get enough points on my own, without claiming for Kates points.

However, we now have the same problem satisfying "The Queensland College of Teacher" so that Kate can register to teach in QLD. We've been investigating this, and have taken it up with QCT with the support of SHU. We're are still waiting to here how we get on with that and still see it as a "gamble"...

We've been discussing this issue here:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466301
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