What you need to do to teach in South Australia

Here are some pointers for what you need to do and in which order……please get in touch if I can help in any other way with the forms. You can get some help from the TRB themselves, but with time differences etc this can be frustrating when you want an answer NOW…like I did! Hope this helps guys!

The process is a long one folks! Be ready to put some time into it now and then you will reap the benefits when you arrive. There is enough to do with every day living when you get here, without having to worry about forms etc. I put my applications in to the TRB and DECS at the end of December and they only cleared me on the 3rd March! It takes them a while and it does depend on whether you have a current shortage listed subject to teach. Even though the UK told me I was on the list, over here I am not! You would be if you teach a science, design tech, or Phys ed!

• Fill out forms for the TRB (teachers registration board) TRB South Australia

For this you will need all of the documents that they ask for to be certified by a solicitor or equivalent. The degree transcript they are quite funny about…it MUST include the following:

1. your name printed in full;
2. your student identification number;
3. the name of the course of study, e.g. Bachelor of Arts (Hons), etc.;
4. the minimum length of the course in years;
5. the mode of attendance, i.e. full-time or part-time;
6. the enrolment and completion dates,
7. a list of all subjects and marks,
8. if possible, the number of contact hours per subject ( this includes lectures, tutorials and practicals);
9. the full title of the qualification you were awarded.
10. the date of conferral (i.e. granting) of the award;

This official academic record:-
- must be on university letterhead;
- and be signed by the academic registrar (or equivalent position) of the tertiary institution;
- and be dated;

You WILL ALSO NEED A LETTER FROM THE UNI STATING HOW MANY DAYS TEACHING PRAC YOU DID IN EACH YEAR! This is the tricky one, my uni couldn’t remember and didn’t have much of a record, but the TRB accepted what I had in the end.

You will also need a current police check from the UK, so if you haven’t sent off the one to the immigration people yet, get another copy done and get it certified…..otherwise you will have to get another one and pay again!

• Fill out the form for DECS (department of education and children’s services) DECS South Australia

This will also require some of the forms that you used for the TRB one. So you need to do this at the same time, to save money when getting them all certified!

• The first aid and mandatory notification courses are to be done here in Oz when you arrive. You don't need to have them for the TRB just for DECS, and they suggest that you fill out and send off the forms to them before leaving the UK and then on arrival after doing the courses, take the certificates in to show them then. You can book your courses before arrival too, which I found to be a good idea as they get booked up quickly. I did mine with: First aid First aid
You need to do the essential first aid for schools which I think is this link: First aid 2


Mandatory Notification:
mandatory notification
I'm not sure if that one is the right link...but they will be able to direct you from there. They were really good at their course. It's a whole day so you want to make sure it's fun!

Here are some of the replies to my emails that I sent whilst doing my forms. They may be of help to you.
" You can certainly apply for registration whilst in the UK. Documents need to be certified by one of the persons listed on the form it cannot be an ordinary police officer. The main issue with application from the UK is the transcripts of the degrees (undergraduate and postgraduate) I have attached an information sheet outlining the requirements. A statement from the University is also required stating how many practical teaching days were completed throughout your teaching degree."

I may add more when I think of more, but I think I have covered everything for now. Please contact me if I can help.
Sue

Wow Sue, excellent information. Definitely headed for the faq.....

hi sue,
just out of interest have you got or applied for any jobs yet?

i have two interviews this week with private schools so :sign03:

i have had three interviews over the last month for advisory roles and although my application was good it was felt i didn't have enough experience with australian 'outside agencies' which in fairness is true. it is encouraging that i have had an interview from all but one of my job applications this month so i am trying to stay positive - but it is very frustrating!!

this is a very good post - i wish somebody had posted it when i was stil in the uk!

i just wanted to add that if you have any certificates from courses - you know like 'numeracy courses' or behaviour management or anything like that - especially if you are a primary teacher - keep them, because when you get your letter of authority to teach it lists any special area's that you have extra knowledge or experience in and i wish i had brought mine with me!! you only get acknowledged for areas that you have proof for - ie if it says in your reference that you were a co-ordinator or if you have certificates.

any way good luck every one.

jax

hello

thanks for that post quaverwave very informative.


Ive been through the process and have teacher registration and contacted the department enquiring how to apply for employment. They sent me an application form which i duly filled in and sent off.

I recieved a letter the other day saying i had to supply my first aid certificate and mandotary notice before being considered.. :doh:

well now in limbo re searching for jobs from over here.. :sign53:

just have to sell the house now!!!!! fingers crossed.

thanks once again for the post.

regards

lolly

hey lolly
just wanted to say you can apply to private schools with out the TRT letter of authority - which is what you get after you submit your first aid and mandatory notification.

hope you don't mind me answering your p.m. here - with regard to the proof of additional skills i was reffering to the teaching domains/subjects and additional knowledge and experience listed on page 16 and 17 of the 'teaching in south australia' guidelines that came with your application form. any that you supply proof for will be listed on the TRT authority letter to let potential schools know what your specialisms are.

hope that makes sense
jax

cheers jax

no dont mind you replying on the thread...if it helps others thats fine.

think i will be getting in touch with the training people I did the course with, even if they can just write a letter to confirm that the training was undertaken.

Im not sure that training in Gifted and Talented or Learning Styles would be classed as a specialism but will give it a go.

I do teach chidren with Special Educational Needs..ie physical and specific learning needs within a mainstream setting but no specific training...just have to get on with it.!!! and only included these details on my covering letter and reference from head.

regards

lolly

I have another hoop for you to jump through with regards to teaching over in Oz...well Adelaide.

I am now doing some TRT work and in order to get paid DECS have now decided that I need to have an official statement of service from each previous employer, even supply agencies etc.
This must follow the criteria below. It's a complete nightmare for me as I had all those lovely references and testimonials from employers but because it doesn't say on them whether I had any unpaid leave then hey are not accepted by DECS! Hmmmm....I thought the uk was bad for red tape!

Statement/s must be on official letterhead paper and signed and dated by the employer;
The position held (e.g. Teacher )
The exact dates of commencement and termination of employment;
The fraction of time worked must be shown in terms of full time equivalence;
Dates of any Leave Without Pay taken (if no Leave Without Pay was taken, a statement to that effect must be provided).


To help you....this is what I did. I wrote a word document and sent it to all my past employers. They then only have to put it on headed, sign and date. Some agencies did this for me the same say that I emailed them! This is what I stated:
To Whom It May Concern:
Statement of Service for: _________________

__________ was employed as a Full Time, (1.0) Class Teacher from _______________till ________________ at _______________School.

During this time she did not take any periods of unpaid leave.

Yours sincerely,


This should cover any of their questions.

I Hope that this helps people that are in similar situ. I thought I'd done with all the paper work but hey ho......no! So now it's all up and running, but please feel free to use this template above if it helps.

Oh, and KEEP SMILING GUYS.........teaching is good when you get it here! I've been doing some TRT and have really landed on my feet with it, as the performing arts teacher at one school is currently having a knee replacment! Hmm, off for about 6 weeks!

Hi

I've been doing TRT work since October and still not being paid the right amount! As Sue said it's a nightmare trying to get that last bit. I got in touch with the teacher's pensions agency back in the UK as they are the only ones who could provide a complete printout of all my jobs since I qualified. This ISN'T good enough! But the letter they sent back was saying just a simple statement as Sue above says is what's needed so make sure you get that before you come over. However mine said 'previous employer' not employers? Hopefully the last one will be enough - got me worried now!
Hopefully I'm due a tidy sum in back pay when they get it sorted.
I've been VERY LUCKY to get a contract up to Christmas, full time next term then 3 days a week til Xmas with the same class (special needs primary).
I read Jax's post about finding alternative work over here - you seriously need to be prepared to do this if coming over as a primary teacher. Hope the job is going well for you Jax

Mandy :D