Teaching - primary

**Karen_Jon** · 03-07-2011, 08:48 PM

Hi I was wondering if somebody based in SA could advise about the current job market. I am led to believe that it isn't bad and that teachers can earn about $300 part time. Am I correct in thinking that I can't start applying for jobs until I am in SA? If there is anything I could do from the UK, could people pls advise. Is it also true that permanent posts are not very popular?

We have just had out 176 visa approved. However our main worry is how long it wil take us to secure jobs. My husband would be loking for building work, but he is prepared to do anything initially.

Thanks Karen

**Adelaide_bound** · 03-07-2011, 09:10 PM

You will need to do your First Aid and Mandatory (Child protection) training before you can teach in SA, these are both one day courses, but you need the certificates before you can register with TRB, and then register with DECS, so you can't really get a job before you get there (I'm sure someone on the ground however might know if this is actually what happens in real life, or whether in practise you can get a position 'pending First Aid/Mandatory').

Can I ask what you mean by $300 part time? A Day? (Would love to know - I was working on the basis of nearer $150 -200 a day).

Sorry I'm not in SA at the moment, but have done loads of research on this, so thought I'd give you a start :)

Best of luck :)

**Nick11** · 04-07-2011, 01:05 AM

Depends on how long you have been teaching. Scale 9 is the top for relief and it is about $340 a day.
I used to do relief..but have left teaching now. It can be a bit hit and miss. Fall lucky and you may earn a good wage...don't get the brakes and you're in big trouble financially. A lot of schools have their own group of relief teachers and it is pretty much a closed shop. You register with clusters of schools For example I was on the relief list for all the schools around Woodcroft, Happy Valley etc for over 2 years. In that time I got 1 phone call , whereas the cluster group for Christies was quite busy....but there is a reason for that!!! You normally only visit that school once!!!! I bet you can guess why!!!!
There are no permanent jobs around Adelaide...you need to go to the country for that. Again..there are reasons why!!!!

**Adelaide_bound** · 04-07-2011, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Nick11

Depends on how long you have been teaching. Scale 9 is the top for relief and it is about $340 a day.

Seriously?!

How much do you have to log to go up a scale Nick? Is it one a year/one every two years? Or is it calculated differently, ie to do with results or PM or something?

**Karen_Jon** · 04-07-2011, 08:14 PM

Hi thanks for your thoughts. I absolutely love my job and I am very good at it, so I would be quite miffed to venture into another profession. I suppose I will have to work hard and prove myself when we set foot on SA soil. I was wonderign about emailing schools and seeing if they need a teacher and highlighting that I already have a visa from the state. Is that pointless?

Also, this might be a silly question but why is there a lack of permanent posts as this can't be good for the children.

Thanks K

**Karen_Jon** · 04-07-2011, 08:17 PM

Oh just wondered if the scale I am on in the Uk has any bearing on the scale I would begin on in SA?

questions, questions!!

**Adelaide_bound** · 04-07-2011, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Karen_Jon

Also, this might be a silly question but why is there a lack of permanent posts as this can't be good for the children.

Thanks K

Because they had a big drive for teachers a few years back and now have loads and loads of qualified teachers (like here!)

**Adelaide_bound** · 04-07-2011, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Karen_Jon

Oh just wondered if the scale I am on in the Uk has any bearing on the scale I would begin on in SA?

questions, questions!!

Yes it does - but not sure exactly how

(hence my question for further clarification from the helpful Nick - our insider mole :P)

**Nick11** · 05-07-2011, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Adelaide_bound

Seriously?!

How much do you have to log to go up a scale Nick? Is it one a year/one every two years? Or is it calculated differently, ie to do with results or PM or something?

I'm not really sure to be honest. I had been teaching for 17 years and had the equivalent of 14 years full time. You have to fill in forms and get proof of how long you have taught. I used my teachers pension as evidence. It took a long long while to come through and a lot of chasing!!!!
For some reason I have 6 years in my head..but I may be wrong and it could more.

**wizzywozza** · 05-07-2011, 09:40 AM

Interesting thing on Leon Byners 5AA radio prog last Friday morning .................. 103 vacant teaching jobs advertised in SA ............. 1800 applicants! Might be worth seeing if there's a podcast of the interview. Seems there's an oversupply of teachers at the moment. One caller to the prog was a Pom phoning on behalf of a friend, also a Pom, who came over here under the impression there were jobs galore for teachers and can't get anything, and will in all likelihood have to go back to the UK as she cannot fulfill her visa requirements.