Teaching in Australia through Smart Teachers Questions and Answers

Teaching in Australia through Smart Teachers Questions and Answers Contents What qualifications are required to teach in Australian Schools?... 2 Do you place Newly Qualified Teachers?... 2 What documents should I bring to Australia?... 2 Do I need a visa to enter Australia?... 2 Are there any limitations to the Working Holiday Visa?... 2 How do I obtain a visa for Australia?... 3 What if I am not eligible for a Working Holiday Visa?... 3 Where can I teach in Australia?... 3 What types of teaching work can I expect?... 3 What types of schools could I work in?... 3 Does Australia have a National Curriculum?... 3 How can I teach in Sydney and throughout New South Wales?... 4 How can I teach in Brisbane and throughout Queensland?... 4 How can I teach in Melbourne and throughout Victoria?... 5 How can I teach in Perth, throughout Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia?. 5 How is Australia s academic year divided?... 6 When is the best time to arrive in Australia?... 6 What salary can I expect as a Teacher?... 6 Will I be taxed in Australia?... 6 What does Smart Teachers look for in a CV/Resume?... 7 Will Smart Teachers assist in finding accommodation?... 7 Can Smart Teachers guarantee me work?... 7 For further information about working through Smart Teachers in Australia please Freecall 1800 734 758

What qualifications are required to teach in Australian Schools? To teach in Australia you need to have a University/College teaching qualification. These range in name, most commonly Bachelor of Education, Graduate Diploma in Education, Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Post Graduate Certificate in Edcuation (PGCE). If you do not have a teaching qualification you will be unable to gain registration with local education authorities such as the Queensland College of Teachers, Victoria Institute of Teacher Registration or Western Australian College of Teachers (see below) Do you place Newly Qualified Teachers? Yes What documents should I bring to Australia? Original Police Clearance Original Teaching Qualification Document and Transcripts Teaching References Curriculum Vitae/Resume Statements of Service previous teaching experience must be proven to ensure overseas experience is recognised on the salary scale. This statement must outline the dates of employment; type of position (fulltime or part-time); and whether or not leave without pay was taken. Photo Identification Visa - relevant visa documents in passport. We ask that you please email your CV/Resume and all other listed information to Smart Teachers as soon as possible to help maximize our ability to place you in a school. Email: queensland@smartteachers.com for jobs in Brisbane or throughout Queensland; sydney@smartteachers.com for jobs in Sydney or throughout NSW and ACT melbourne@smartteachers.com.au for jobs in Melbourne and throughout Victoria perth@smartteachers.com.au for jobs in Western Australia, South Australia or the Northern Territory Do I need a visa to enter Australia? New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa. UK, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Germany, Hong Kong & Cyprus passport holders under the age of 31 are eligible for the Working Holiday Visa. Are there any limitations to the Working Holiday Visa? Previous holders of a Working Holiday Visa are not eligible for a second Working Holiday Visa. Working Holiday Visa holders have 12 months to enter Australia and 12 months from the date of entry into Australia to live and work. Within this 12 month period, Working Holiday Visa holders must not work for any one employer for a period longer then 6 months (180 calendar days). For comprehensive information on Visa, visit www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/ Q&As Teaching in Australia with Smart Teachers 2

How do I obtain a visa for Australia? Visas must be organised prior to your arrival into Australia. Consult the Australian High Commission website in your country. What if I am not eligible for a Working Holiday Visa? All information on skilled or spousal migration is found at http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration/ Where can I teach in Australia? Smart Teachers recruits for schools throughout Australia Our Sydney Office recruits for schools throughout Sydney and all regional and coastal areas in NSW, Canberra and ACT schools Our Brisbane Office recruits for schools throughout Brisbane and major other metropolitan locations in Queensland, all coastal areas as Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and regional or rural cities and towns such as Toowoomba, Roma, Emerald, Charters Towers and Mt Isa. Our Melbourne Office recruits for schools throughout Melbourne and all regional and coastal areas in Victoria including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Melton, Mildura, Warrnambool and Sunbury. Our Perth Office recruits for schools throughout Perth and all regional and coastal areas in Western Australia. We also recruit for Darwin and all regional areas throughout the Northern Territory, Adelaide and all regional and coastal areas in South Australia What types of teaching work can I expect? Permanent Short and long term contracts (Please note, we do not specialize in Australian supply or relief teaching work) What types of schools could I work in? Primary (Pre-school Year 7; Ages 4 12) Secondary (Years 8 12; Ages 13 17) Special Needs Early Childhood Centres There are three education systems (types of schools) Independent Schools Private, fee paying schools Catholic Schools Government Schools Does Australia have a National Curriculum? Australia does not yet have a National Curriculum and this means that each state has a different curriculum and assessment processes. National Curriculum plans are in place and will be implemented between 2012 and 2014. See the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for updated national curriculum information. www.acara.edu.au Q&As Teaching in Australia with Smart Teachers 3

The New South Wales curriculum and relevant teaching resources can be viewed on the NSW Board of Studies website www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au. The Queensland curriculum and relevant teaching resources can be viewed on the Queensland Studies Authority website www.qsa.qld.edu.au There is an Open Access Unit Curriculum Library located in Brisbane. (For registered teachers only) Tel: +61-7- 3421 6511 Libraries.INFOMNGT@qed.qld.gov.au The Victorian curriculum and relevant teaching resources can be viewed at Victoria Curriculum and Assessment Authority www.vcaa.vic.edu.au The Western Australian curriculum and relevant teaching resources can be viewed at the Western Australia Curriculum Council www.curriculum.wa.edu.au The Northern Territory Curriculum Framework and the NT Board of Studies can be found via www.det.nt.gov.au/parents-community/curriculum-ntbos The South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability Framework can be found online at www.sacsa.sa.edu.au/splash.asp How can I teach in Sydney and throughout New South Wales? NSW Catholic Schools Registration with the Catholic Education Office (CEO) is required to teach in Catholic schools. There are three CEOs in Sydney Sydney CEO www.ceo.syd.catholic.edu.au, Parramatta CEO; www.ceo.parra.catholic.edu.au and Broken Bay CEO www.brokenbay.catholic.org.au There is no registration fee associated with any of the CEOs. The Sydney CEO covers the largest area and is the one to register with prior to leaving your country of origin. To register provide your name and postal address in an email to classifications@ceo.syd.catholic.edu.au. Application forms and supporting documentation (E.g. University Transcripts) must be mailed to the CEO not Smart Teachers. Statements of Service from each employer are required by the CEO to secure your correct pay scale. All the CEOs require their teachers to be supportive of the school s ethos. NSW Independent Schools There is no registration process required for NSW Independent schools. There is an association of Independent Schools - www.ahisa.com.au/ Independent schools are privately funded religious or nondenominational schools and represent a large percentage of the schools in New South Wales. Independent schools place high expectations upon staff and students, focusing on academics, pastoral care and extra curricular participation. All Independent schools require their teachers to be supportive of the school s ethos. How can I teach in Brisbane and throughout Queensland? Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Teachers working in all Queensland schools must be registered with the Queensland College of Teachers Registration Applications for registration are available online from www.qct.edu.au/ Q&As Teaching in Australia with Smart Teachers 4

Application forms and supporting documentation (E.g. University Transcripts) must be mailed to the QCT not Smart Teachers. Documentation has to be certified or original. The registration process can take up to three weeks to complete and can be complete prior to your entry into Australia. The cost is listed on the website. Queensland Independent Schools Registration with the Queensland College of Teachers is the only requirement to teach in Independent schools. Independent schools are privately funded religious or nondenominational schools and represent a large percentage of the schools in Queensland The largest networks of Independent schools are: Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, and Christian. For details on these or other Independent religious schools, please contact Smart Teachers. All Independent schools require their teachers to be supportive of the school s ethos. Independent schools place high expectations upon staff and students, focusing on academics, pastoral care and extra curricular participation. Queensland Catholic Schools Registration with the Catholic Education Office (CEO) is required to teach in a Catholic Primary school. Please consult http://www.bne.catholic.edu.au. All applications for registration with the CEO must be mailed to the CEO, not Smart Teachers and there is no fee for registration. Secondary Catholic schools work Independently of the Catholic Education Office and Smart Teachers works directly with these schools. How can I teach in Melbourne and throughout Victoria? Victoria Institute of Teaching Registration (VIT) Teachers working in all Victorian schools must be registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) Applications for registration are available online from www.vit.vic.edu.au Application forms and supporting documentation (E.g. University Transcripts) must be mailed to the VIT not Smart Teachers. Documentation has to be certified or original. The registration process can take up to three weeks to complete and can be complete prior to your entry into Australia. The cost is listed on the website. How can I teach in Perth, throughout Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia? Western Australian College of Teachers (WACOT) Teachers working in all Western Australian, South Australian and Northern Territory schools must be registered with the Western Australian College of Teachers, Teachers Registration Board of South Australia or the Teachers Registration Board of Northern Territory. Applications for registration are available online from www.wacot.wa.edu.au; www.trb.nt.gov.au/forms/index.shtml or http://www.trb.sa.edu.au/default.php Application forms and supporting documentation (E.g. University Transcripts) must be mailed directly to the licensing bodies not Smart Teachers. Documentation has to be certified or original. Q&As Teaching in Australia with Smart Teachers 5

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete and can be complete prior to your entry into Australia. The cost is listed on the website. If you are unsure whether your teaching qualification is recognized in Australia, please contact the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSRA) who provide up-to-date information on the recognition of overseas qualifications. www.aei.dest.gov.au/aei/qualificationsrecognition/default.htm How is Australia s academic year divided? The academic year is divided into four terms: Term 1 late Jan to Easter (2 weeks holiday) Term 2 Easter to late June (2 weeks holiday) Term 3 early July to late September (2 weeks holiday) Term 4 early Oct to late Dec (5 weeks holiday) When is the best time to arrive in Australia? During the school year, schools register vacancies from eight weeks prior to the start of a new term to two weeks after the start of a new term. We experience a higher volume of short and long contract positions during the school year though permanent positions are available. When recruiting for the start of a new school year, schools register vacancies from five months prior to the start of a new school year to one month after the start of a new sc school year. For example, schools will register their January 2012 vacancies with Smart Teachers in early August 2011 and this will continue until February 2012. It is during this recruitment period that we experience the most jobs of any time of year. It is also the best time of year to secure a permanent work or long term contracts. We recommend arriving in Australia in advance of a new term or school year during the times noted above. Schools prefer face to face interviews, especially in metropolitan areas like Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne. Arriving early to interview in person is recommended. What salary can I expect as a Teacher? All teachers are paid directly by the schools, not Smart Teachers. Smart Teachers charges schools a fee for our service. Our service is completely free to teachers. NSW: Queensland: Victoria: Western Australia: Northern Territory: Contract/permanent positions - $55,000 - $91,000 per annum Contract/permanent positions - $55,000 - $78,242 per annum Contract/permanent positions - $55,000 - $81,000 per annum Contract/permanent positions - $56,000 - $88,190 per annum Contract/permanent positions - $58,000 - $79,099 per annum These rates are approximations only. Salaries are determined by qualification and teaching experience, which is proven by statements of service. Will I be taxed in Australia? All Teachers are required to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN), issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Without a TFN teachers may pay more tax than necessary. Application forms for TFN are online at the ATO s website www.ato.gov.au To view individual taxation rates for non-residents (working holiday visas) or residents, visit www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/12333.htm&mnu=42904&mfp=001/002 Q&As Teaching in Australia with Smart Teachers 6

What does Smart Teachers look for in a CV/Resume? Ideally, each CV/resume should include: Qualifications should be clearly outlined name of awarding institution, title of qualification, and year awarded. Teaching Experiences must be clearly outlined dates, name of school, subjects and year levels taught, and name of Principal or Deputy to act as a referee. Practicum Teaching Experience (Newly Qualified to One Year Experienced Teachers ) dates, name of school, subjects taught, year levels taught, and name of associate teacher to act as a referee. Extra Curricular responsibilities or interests Philosophy of Education or Teaching Statement Smart Teachers has a CV template that will assist you. Will Smart Teachers assist in finding accommodation? Smart Teachers provide information on accommodation only. found through Travel Agents or Website. Useful websites include: www.travelmate.com.au www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/australasia/australia www.gumtree.com.au www.realestate.com.au Short term accommodation is best Long term accommodation should be organised upon arrival as we recommend viewing accommodation prior to making any commitment. The following websites may assist in finding long term accommodation: www.realestate.com.au www.gumtree.com.au www.domain.com.au Can Smart Teachers guarantee me work? Unfortunately, no teacher recruitment company can guarantee work but Smart Teachers pro-actively works in partnership with all of our teachers to broaden job opportunities. With all contract and permanent placements through Smart Teachers, there is a high demand for Secondary Trained Teaching Candidates (Years 7-12). Q&As Teaching in Australia with Smart Teachers 7