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With iconic landmarks, breathtaking scenery, a laid-back culture as well as a range of world-class education institutions, there’s no doubt that Australia is a great place to be – whether you’re looking to further your studies or work.
If you’re thinking of heading Down Under, there are a myriad of courses and career paths available and many options that you can explore.
However, becoming a teacher and pursuing a career in education can be one of the most fruitful career paths you can take.
On top of being fulfilling and giving you job satisfaction, teaching is also a job that is high in demand across the country. Thus, you’ll have great career prospects and opportunities to grow both as a teacher and also as an individual.
In 2021, there were 303,539 full-time equivalent teaching staff in Australian schools. However, the country still faces a shortage of teachers in the face of a rapidly growing student population.
On top of that, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a teacher shortage crisis as many teachers were at risk of contracting the virus. This led to some staying away from work, and others eventually leaving the profession altogether.
As the country’s borders are open again, international students have been flocking there to pursue their studies, hence adding to the existing student population.
While teachers continue to be sought after in Australia, there are also other reasons besides the shortage why it is a good career to pursue.
Despite the increase in teachers, Australia still faces a shortage as the number of students continues to rise and the demand for teachers continues to soar. This is largely because the teacher enrolment is not keeping up with student enrolment.
The fastest-growing state in Australia, Victoria, predicts that within the next four years, around 1,300 additional teachers would be required per year to accommodate approximately 90,000 students which are expected to enrol.
On top of providing for its local students, Australia also has a large number of international students flying over to further their studies each year. Hence, creating a demand for international teachers as well.
As a teacher in Australia, you can earn an annual salary of anywhere from $70,255 as an entry-level teacher to $141,529 as a more experienced teacher.
With a median of $87,104, you’ll be earning a good amount to live comfortably in the country and also have good prospects and opportunities to grow professionally as the demand continues to rise.
If you’re looking to pursue a meaningful job, being a teacher is a great path for you to consider.
After all, you would be responsible for shaping young lives and inspiring future generations in the classroom. Also, you’ll play a part in enabling your students to reach their potential – and you never know, they might even go on to achieve great things.
You’ll be required to complete a teacher skills assessment by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) before you can apply for your Skilled Visa.
To qualify as a teacher in Australia, you must also have four years of tertiary education under your belt, be it a 4-year Bachelor of Education or a 3-year degree in any subject together with a 1-year PGCE/PGDE.
You must also have completed a minimum of 45 days of supervised teaching practice as part of your compulsory initial teacher education program.
To prove your proficiency in the English language, you’ll be required to sit for an IELTS Academic test. You’ll be assessed on your skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking and given a score for each portion of the test.
You need to score at least 7.0 for both the reading and writing components, as well as an 8.0 for the speaking and listening segments in order to successfully apply to be a teacher in Australia.
Do you intend to pursue a teaching career Down Under? Then you’ll need to ace your IELTS test to gain entry to your dream course!
And guess what, we can help! Our IELTS experts will help assist you to make the right choice.
In addition, you also check out our whole host of IELTS resources available to guide you through the formats and get you as ready as possible for the tests.
These include our Masterclass Webinars, our Preparation Course and tips from IELTS experts to get started!
And once you are ready, book your IELTS test with us today!
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