Life After University
If you are moving close to completing your degree, you may be wondering how you can get a job as a teacher and start earning money so you can stop eating noodles as your main dietary intake. But where do you start?
The below has been put together as a guide to help you to apply for teaching jobs. It is mainly focused on New South Wales, however, it contains links to other states' teacher registration sites.
Disclaimer: The information on this site should be checked for accuracy before embarking on the application process. It is recommended you contact each state's regulatory body to ensure you have the correct information.
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership site can provide you with the national standards you must meet to become a registered teacher. Take a look over the policy below before applying to your local state or territory registration authority.
Early Childhood (EC)
Not all states and territories require registration before you begin working as an Early Childhood Teacher. The ACECQA website gives the details of each state and territory's requirements for registration.
Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
The very first thing to do is apply for the paid version of the Working with Children Check. NESA will not be able to begin the process until you have your paid check so get on the web, enter your details and get down to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to finish this step. The next thing to do will be to apply for accreditation through NESA. This will either be Conditional Accreditation (the ability to teach when you have not yet graduated) or Provisional Accreditation (you have graduated and want to move to the next step). The NESA website will guide you through this. After this, you will need to find a job. The following link will offer information about approval to teach after graduating: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw/become-a-teacher/approval-to-teach Alternatively, you can apply directly to each sector: Early childhood education. Information about working in or operating early childhood education services including outside school hours care. Plus, information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school. Additional Child Protection Training Requirements In NSW, nominated supervisors and persons charge (from day-to-day) must complete a Child Protection course required by a Government protocol applying to the approved provider in accordance with section 162A of the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law. All services/educators need the qualification, CHCPRT001, and copies of certificates and transcripts need to be kept on the premises. All information can be read here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/working-in-early-childhood-education/child-protection-training-requirements#Changes1 For the best information regarding the process, contact the Queensland College of Teachers. For the most up to date information, contact the Victorian Institute of Teachers. The Teacher Registration Board - Tasmania has information about registration and jobs. Contact the TRB to find out more. The South Australian Teacher Registration Board website is a good place to start for registration. Make sure you contact them to get the details about applying for jobs. Contact the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia to find out more about registration and applying for jobs. The Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory will be your best bet for information regarding teacher registration and how to apply for jobs. For more information regarding teacher registration and job applications, contact the ACT teacher Quality Institute.
Apply directly to the Department of Education and Communities.
Apply directly to the diocese(s) in which you wish to teach.
Apply directly to the school(s) in which you wish to teach. They will typically advertise job vacancies on employment websites or in newspapers.
Mutual recognition: Teacher registration in more than one state
Mutual recognition allows teachers to be registered in more than one state or territory in Australia and New Zealand without needing to complete the registration process from the beginning.
You do not need to be registered in multiple states/territories of Australia, but, if you do plan on moving, it is a really convenient way of being able to maintain your teaching registration.
Why may you register in more than one state?
Registering in more than one state can come in handy for those working in areas that straddle state borders – Albury-Wodonga on the border of NSW and Victoria, and Coolangatta-Tweed Heads on the Queensland/NSW border spring to mind.
Teachers working in these areas find it useful to hold both states’ teaching licenses, allowing them to work in any school within these areas.
For other teachers, holding multiple teaching registrations – while possible – can be expensive, particularly with multiple annual fees to keep all registrations current and yearly registration fees varying from state to state.
Teachers seeking to hold multiple current registrations will be looking at paying an application fee for each registration as well as the annual fee for each of these, which can run to hundreds of dollars or more.
The exception for this is Victoria and New South Wales - for those who are accredited teacher in NSW and wish to work in Victoria, the Victorian Institute of Teaching will waive its annual registration fees while the teacher maintains accreditation in NSW. This is a reciprocal agreement that allows teachers who live near the NSW-Victorian border to be able to work in both states and only pay one annual fee.
Below are some places to start gathering information in each jurisdiction. Each governing body has dedicated support staff to help you navigate which application process is correct for your personal circumstances.
The NSW Education Standard Authority (NESA) – Interstate Teachers provides teachers with important information when applying for accreditation. There is particularly useful information for Queensland and WA teachers. The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) offers an information sheet on mutual recognition as well as online forms and information on applying for mutual recognition. NSW teachers should contact the QCT directly for more information. Complete the application to the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) under mutual recognition form (excludes NSW teachers). Teachers who wish to be registered in both NSW and Victoria can apply for a waiver of fees. The Teacher Registration Board (TRB) "applying for teacher registration under mutual recognition form" outlines the process for teachers, as well as information for teachers from NSW. Teachers in Tasmania will also need to hold a registration to work with vulnerable people, in addition to their teaching registration. Applications for registration can be made via TRB Online. The "Application for registration under mutual recognition" page on the Teachers Registration Board (TRB) website covers both information and the application forms required for this type of registration. Teachers from NSW should contact the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia directly. For WA applications check the "applying for mutual recognition with WA TRB" page. Teachers in WA will also need a working with children check. Mutual Recognition. All applicants who hold teacher registration in another Australian State or Territory, or in New Zealand, will be granted the equivalent category of registration in the Northern Territory in accordance with the provisions within the Mutual Recognition (Northern Territory) Act 1992 or the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (Cth). Don’t forget that teachers in the NT will also need to hold an Ochre Card before commencing a registration application. For comprehensive information about all aspects of registering to teach in the ACT, consult the ACT Teacher Quality Institute, where you can gain information on what type of registration is right for you. Don’t forget that teachers in the ACT will also need to hold a Working with Vulnerable People Card in addition to their teaching registration.
