Teacher registration for Secondary teachers Perth/Brisbane

[Eliza]

Hi

A question for any British Teachers who have moved to Australia and have applied for teacher registration.

I am a Secondary school teacher currently in the UK, looking to move to Perth/Brisbane (still undecided). I have 5+ years experience.

I am about to apply for teacher registration and want to know more about the process. For example, will I have to re-start from the bottom to meet the Aussie teaching standards? I was told by an Aussie teacher that having teacher training and experience from the UK is usually an advantage as we are ahead in a lot of aspects, e.g. technology, resources etc.

I understand that each state has different registration processes, and wondering if it's easier to apply in certain states or if there's any advantage to any, e.g. all my experience/skills can be transferred easily?

Any advice much appreciated.

Eliza Steyl

[HadEnoughofJuju]

Hi There

If you are planning on moving to QLD then you will need to register with Queensland College of Teachers and have your qualifications assessed by them. This is a completely separate assessment to the skills assessment that AITSL do for the visa application process. I am not sure if you are going to have to have you skills assessed by AITSL as well. We had to send a copy of the skills assessment certificate to QCT as part of that registration. QCT take 10 weeks to assess your qualifications and let you know if your registration was successful. Once registered with QCT you will then need to register with the Queensland Department of Education before you will be allowed to teach in any of the state schools whether it be part time, full time or relief teaching. It's also a good idea to register with TRACER which is used a large number of the state schools to source relief teachers. Relief teaching pays very well by the way. You can't register with TRACER until you have an employee number from Queensland Education

If you want to know more about registering in WA the read Rikamarie's post on the subject, she did a pretty comprehensive job of documenting the process.

[Eliza]

That's so helpful, thank you! I have already had my skills assessed by AITSL, as I needed it for my visa application.

I have looked into the teacher registration process a bit more in both Perth and Brisbane, and have found that it seems that I can only gain full registration in WA after completing a year's teaching in an Australian School and meeting the professional standards:

http://trb.wa.gov.au/registration/applicants-with-overseas-qualifications-and-experience/

And similar in Queensland?

http://www.qct.edu.au/Registration/ProvRequirements.html

If that's the case, I am not too pleased about having to meet the Australian professional standards since I have a lot of experience under my belt.

I guess I was hoping I could gain full registration from Queensland as their teacher registration application seems a lot simpler than the many categories that WA have, to which I finally figured the correct application for an overseas teacher to apply for is Non-practising registration:

http://trb.wa.gov.au/registration/application-forms/non-practising/

So what I'm worried about now is if I'll find work. I keep hearing that Perth has a lot of work for Secondary teachers but Brisbane not so much?

I teach Food and Textiles Technology (I think it's called TAS in Australia?)

[HadEnoughofJuju]

Unfortunately in QLD it takes two years to get full registration as a teacher. And the professional standards thing was implemented about 2 years ago so it's fairly new and again unfortunately they expect everyone here to keep to the standards no matter how much experience you have. My wife has taught for 10 years and she would have had to as well. That and the fact that the kids in the public schools are out to get teachers in general made her change careers.

She's now going to teach adult learners of other countries English as a second language and there's no having to be registered or continual assesment and professional standards courses that she needs to attend.

P.S. Just because you got the visa using your teaching qulifications does not mean that you have to teach. Once you are here you can do whatever tou want to.

[OzzieWishes]

I'm registered in WA and I can't be fully registered until I have a full year under my belt. I too have plenty of experience under my belt (18 years). Registration is a real mission but it is a continued thing....you are constantly having to document and record evidence whether you are fully registered or not as you have to reregister every 5 years and you need to provide proof of everything to meet Australian standards. But, if you can provide evidence of your years of experience, your pay level will not be affected. Make sure you bring letters proving you were employed By a school. Payslips can also help. So, although I am not fully registered as yet, I am paid very well. Best advice is to do relief teaching to get yourself into a school. It didn't take long to get offered a post. Good luck with your decision.

[Eliza]

I currently teach in quite a challenging all inclusive public school in London, and I hope that has toughened me up! I was hoping that the Aussie state school kids are more disciplined!

OW do you mind if I ask what you teach and if it's a permanent position or relief? I don't mind doing relief work for a while (hopefully not too long before I get a permanent position).

I read that Queensland teacher reg also lasts 5 years, but I thought WA you have to renew every year? Or at least pay the fee every year!

Thanks guys

Eliza

[HadEnoughofJuju]

You have to register with QCT and the registration is five years but you have to pay every year on the anniversary of your registration (money making scheme if you ask me). The registration with the QLD Department of Education is dependant on the QCT reg but does not cost anything as far as I can remember.

[STP]

Thanks for the informative and useful topic guys.

Just a quick question: do the same registration processes apply to independent school's? Or do they run their own show?

[Drought]

same process applies irrespective of sector you wish to work in.