Becoming a Teacher?

[DaintreeDream]

Trillian - Can I ask how you are finding UNE and also if you have completed any of the intensive training and how you have found it as far as travelling etc. I am looking at studying with them next year and I am currently making my final decision on which course to do, it is mainly the intensive training holding me back at this stage.

[Trillian]

I'm loving it! The Lecturers I have had this year have been really good and they have a strong online component for most of the subjects. A friend of mine who is a year ahead of me in the same course said she has had 2 lecturers that didn't really exude excitement for the subject which made it hard for her to remain enthusiastic, but she said if that was the only downside, then it wasn't that bad at all.

I've not had to go to any intensive schools as yet, but I think I will have one subject next year where I have to go. Two of the subjects I did this year had them, but they were non-mandatory so I didn't go. In October they will put up all the subject information for next years courses, so you may not be able to find out which ones have intensive schools until then. I think for my degree, there are only a few subjects that do the intensive schools which is good.

[DaintreeDream]

Thankyou Trillian. I have always wanted to work in child protective services and have been thinking for a long time about completing my bachelor of social science, but the practical me has always wanted to be a teacher so I have finally made a decision, I am going to apply for the Bachelor of Special Education (Primary)/Bachelor of Disability studies. My girls have inspired me to work with other children with additional needs as I have discovered how hard it is to find good help and from understanding and compassionate people. So fingers crossed that I am accepted and on my way to becoming a teacher for special little children. Just waiting for tomorrow for the subject information to appear on their website for next years courses to confirm intensive school and exam dates.

[Trillian]

Good for you! You wont regret it at all. You can have the exams done closer to you - I don't have to go anywhere to sit exams and can go to the local TAFE to do them, so that is one less thing to worry about.

[misty]

Thought I would butt in and say I think UNE is a fabulous uni, particularly for external students.

In regards to employment options, your best bet is to arrang a time to go and have a chat with a couple of the local principals. Sometimes there aren't many positions around for permnament / full time teaching staff, but there is a real shortage of substitute teachers. I used to have a friend who was working fulltime hours just being a releif teacher at high school level.

[*Ali*]

The employment question is really a how long is a piece of string question- especially depending on where you live. I work for the Dept of Ed in WA, I have been teaching for 7 years now, and have never really be without work- however having said that I have never had a permenant job, each year I am on an end dated contract, so come the end of the school year, I am never sure if/where I will be teaching the next year. Each state does things differently, here the schools are staffed through central office, so you put in your application for the schools/ year levels etc that you are qualified to teach, and they match you against available jobs- we are just moving into Independent Public Schools, where teachers can apply directly to and be hired at school level, rather than having to go through central staff.
There is a ranking system for placement of teachers- unplaced permenant staff, permanent staff transfering, fixed term teachers & then graduate and re entry teachers. There are alot of teachers struggling to get full time and on going employment, especially if they are not willing to go and do a country stint. I have only just gained my permenancy this year after 7 years of teaching- 2 years in the country and 5 years metro, I got my permenancy through spending 2 years in a "difficult to staff school" in the metro area.

As for qualifications- Generally High school teachers have a specialty and do a teaching degree, either a bachelor of Ed high school, with units in which ever area of study they are interested in, maths, science etc. Or do their specialty degree then a Grad Dip in Education.
Primary school Teaching is another seperate degree- a 4 year degree in teaching (in WA) this means you are qualified to teacher years 1-7
Then there is an Early Childhood Degree- also 4 years and this (once again in WA) qaulifies you to teach k-3.

[DaintreeDream]

Trillain, this may be a little personal so please feel free to not answer but, I have just filled out the application and I am a bit nervous as I did not complete my VCE and I have not completed (commenced not completed) any courses since leaving school, I could sit the STAT test but I am not in the position at the moment to do so, I have attached the mature age entry form so that is enough but I am curious as to whether you had completed any previous study or VCE equivelent upon entry?
(I blame it all on lack of career counselling from my school and my parents and vow to educate my children to make wiser decisions)