What does a teacher do?
Regardless of the educational level and specialisation they work in, teachers are responsible for creating a positive classroom environment, allowing students to develop their skills and knowledge in a supportive and encouraging setting. Teachers can opt to follow a career that aligns with a personal or professional interest in the secondary and vocational education sectors, such as art, mathematics or hairdressing. In the case of primary, ESL or special education teaching, the focus is placed on addressing the educational needs of the student across the entire curriculum.
Tasks:
- Creating lesson plans to a set curriculum
- Assessing student performance and providing feedback
- Developing teaching materials and assessment tools
- Maintaining classroom discipline
- Guiding students to resources
What skills do I need to be a teacher?
Teaching is a hugely varied profession but some key skills and attributes are common across the education sector. Organisation and planning are crucial for success as a teacher, not only are you devising lesson plans and scheduling your teaching terms, you’ll need to provide structured feedback and assessment results to each student in the class individually. Patience, understanding and a genuine interest in student welfare are necessary in this demanding profession, teachers often speak of their career as a passion rather than just a ‘job’. Creativity, sensitivity, technological prowess and the ability to work closely with students, teachers, parents and community groups in a respectful way are all elements of this rewarding career path.
- Patience, resilience and understanding
- Highly organised and detail-oriented
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to break complex ideas into simple concepts
- Enthusiasm for the subject/age group
Specialisations
Teachers can work at different levels of seniority, in different subject areas and with different age groups and ability types, making this a very diverse profession with many avenues for employment. In order to work as a teacher in the Australian public school system, you will be required to complete a tertiary qualification, generally a Bachelor of Education or postgraduate Master of Teaching.
Primary School Teacher
High School Teacher
Special Education Teacher
ESL Teacher
Teacher Librarian
Early Childhood Teacher
Accredited Childcare Worker
Vocational Education and Training (VET) Lecturer
Head Teacher
School Principal
Study pathways for teachers
Becoming a teacher requires tertiary study in your field of specialisation, as well as ongoing professional development to ensure you’re on top of developments within the education sector and your subject area or field.
Getting Started
Get qualified to work in the education sector and offer a great introduction to the world of teaching.
Skill Building
Completing a bachelor degree will allow you to pursue employment as a professional teacher in Australian schools.
Professional Development
Additional training is available for those refining their skill set or pursuing a specialisation.
Industry Recognition
In order to work as a teacher you will need to join the register of qualified teachers in your state. Find out more in our Resources section.
Getting a job after graduation
Put your training to good use and get the best professional head start in your teaching career. Take a look at our sample resume and cover letter and put your best foot forward when you apply for teaching jobs.