Special Needs Teacher AITSL cirteria, help please!

[Conandviv]

I work as a Special Needs Teacher in a special school in the UK and as a Special Needs Advisory Teacher for the Outreach Service of the special school where I work, advising mainstream schools about Special Education Needs. I also facilitate Special Education Needs training for the Teaching School department of the special school where I work. I have worked in a specialist educational provision for eight years in the UK.

 

My university qualifications are a 4 year BA and MA combined, Master of Modern Languages degree from the University of Manchester, awarded in 2004 and a primary PGCE (with Modern Foreign Languages) from Manchester Metropolitan University awarded in 2005.

 

My PGCE included Special Education Needs training and I have completed further Special Education Needs training during my time working in specialist educational provisions, such as a course in sign language, positive handling etc...

 

I have been looking into applying for a visa to move to Adelaide. I have contacted a couple of registered migration agents in the UK to enquire about migrating, and they have given me conflicting information: one of them stated I would be able to be assessed by AITSL as a Special Needs Teacher and the other thought that I may need to apply to be assessed as a Primary Teacher.

 

On the immi.gov.au site it states the required skill level for Special Needs Teacher is:

 

'This occupation has a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).'

 

So I believe my four year bachelors/masters degree plus primary PGCE and relevant experience meet this criteria but I can't tell from the information available from AITSL whether this corresponds with AITSL's requirements. The immi.gov.au site advises contacting the assessing authority to check specific requirements.

 

So I contacted AITSL directly and despite numerous requests for clarification all they do is refer me to the information on the application form and in their Q&A, which doesn't give definitive clarification for this query.

 

Can anyone clarify which assessment route is appropriate for me? Since I work as a Special Needs Teacher, I have a lot of experience in this field, I would be applying for jobs as a Special Needs Teacher in Australia and this profession is on the SOL, whereas Primary Teacher is not, I thought applying for assessment as a Special Needs Teacher would be the appropriate route for me, but if I need to apply as a Primary Teacher it would be good to know this before I begin the application process and potentially waste a lot of money applying for the wrong assessment.

 

Many thanks for any clarification or precedents that anyone can offer! :-)

[Blossom]

Just a bump for you.

[wrussell]

I work as a Special Needs Teacher in a special school in the UK and as a Special Needs Advisory Teacher for the Outreach Service of the special school where I work, advising mainstream schools about Special Education Needs. I also facilitate Special Education Needs training for the Teaching School department of the special school where I work. I have worked in a specialist educational provision for eight years in the UK.

 

My university qualifications are a 4 year BA and MA combined, Master of Modern Languages degree from the University of Manchester, awarded in 2004 and a primary PGCE (with Modern Foreign Languages) from Manchester Metropolitan University awarded in 2005.

 

My PGCE included Special Education Needs training and I have completed further Special Education Needs training during my time working in specialist educational provisions, such as a course in sign language, positive handling etc...

 

I have been looking into applying for a visa to move to Adelaide. I have contacted a couple of registered migration agents in the UK to enquire about migrating, and they have given me conflicting information: one of them stated I would be able to be assessed by AITSL as a Special Needs Teacher and the other thought that I may need to apply to be assessed as a Primary Teacher.

 

On the immi.gov.au site it states the required skill level for Special Needs Teacher is:

 

'This occupation has a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).'

 

So I believe my four year bachelors/masters degree plus primary PGCE and relevant experience meet this criteria but I can't tell from the information available from AITSL whether this corresponds with AITSL's requirements. The immi.gov.au site advises contacting the assessing authority to check specific requirements.

 

So I contacted AITSL directly and despite numerous requests for clarification all they do is refer me to the information on the application form and in their Q&A, which doesn't give definitive clarification for this query.

 

Can anyone clarify which assessment route is appropriate for me? Since I work as a Special Needs Teacher, I have a lot of experience in this field, I would be applying for jobs as a Special Needs Teacher in Australia and this profession is on the SOL, whereas Primary Teacher is not, I thought applying for assessment as a Special Needs Teacher would be the appropriate route for me, but if I need to apply as a Primary Teacher it would be good to know this before I begin the application process and potentially waste a lot of money applying for the wrong assessment.

 

Many thanks for any clarification or precedents that anyone can offer! :-)

 

From what you have posted:

 

It is possible that the two RMAs you contacted both gave correct advice, or that neither of them did. You might have grounds to castigate both of them. It is also possible that you might qualify to apply for migration in a different education-related skilled occupation.

 

It is not possible to offer a considered professional opinion about your skills assessment/visa prospects without seeing your academic transcripts, the content and duration of your teaching practicum, your employment certifications/duty statements and other documents.

 

Due to the risk of a fatal misunderstanding, or another complaint to the regulator when I tell an abusive fool to jump in the lake, you stupid ***, or both, I do not offer telephone advice and I rarely make appointments. There is little point in conducting endless telephone conversations or trying to advise someone who did not bring the documents requested to an appointment, or a means of paying a professional fee AND I have to get my feet off my desk and remove the accumulation of bills, threatening letters and junk mail, which I do by sweeping the lot into a rubbish bin. I developed this technique following the example of my former HT (mathematics) who used to dig out the textbooks and sweep the rest into a bin, sometimes two bins. ‘What happens if there was something important?’ ‘They will send it again’. It worked for him and it works for me. He was a POM, but not one who would die of thirst beside the waterhole for want of a glass. Amusingly enough he drank himself to death.

 

You have more degrees than a thermometer and you cannot decide what to do and apparently a brace of RMAs hold differing opinions. That should be telling you something. The various powers that be would not tell you the time of day if they owned a clock factory, unless you pay a processing fee.

 

May I suggest that you consult a registered migration agent to undertake a formal assessment of your case and give you a written opinion about your possible visa strategies and your prospects of success? All the RMAs who post on this forum are OK, except me; my sense of humour has developed into a mental deficiency.

[Guest Guest75]

Way to go Westly, having a bad day???

[wrussell]

Way to go Westly, having a bad day???

 

I shall be having a worse one tomorrow. I have a dental appointment and I know why she wears a mask.

 

Said the dentist when near to distraction

How I long for some positive action

A deep prolonged drilling and subsequent filling

Instead of this simple extraction

[Guest Guest75]

I shall be having a worse one tomorrow. I have a dental appointment and I know why she wears a mask.

 

Said the dentist when near to distraction

How I long for some positive action

A deep prolonged drilling and subsequent filling

Instead of this simple extraction

 

 

Oooer Westly!!!!

 

Perhaps you need some Minions to help out with your stressful life.

 

I'm down by one this week............

[Guest Husky]

I work as a Special Needs Teacher in a special school in the UK and as a Special Needs Advisory Teacher for the Outreach Service of the special school where I work, advising mainstream schools about Special Education Needs. I also facilitate Special Education Needs training for the Teaching School department of the special school where I work. I have worked in a specialist educational provision for eight years in the UK.

 

My university qualifications are a 4 year BA and MA combined, Master of Modern Languages degree from the University of Manchester, awarded in 2004 and a primary PGCE (with Modern Foreign Languages) from Manchester Metropolitan University awarded in 2005.

 

My PGCE included Special Education Needs training and I have completed further Special Education Needs training during my time working in specialist educational provisions, such as a course in sign language, positive handling etc...

 

I have been looking into applying for a visa to move to Adelaide. I have contacted a couple of registered migration agents in the UK to enquire about migrating, and they have given me conflicting information: one of them stated I would be able to be assessed by AITSL as a Special Needs Teacher and the other thought that I may need to apply to be assessed as a Primary Teacher.

 

On the immi.gov.au site it states the required skill level for Special Needs Teacher is:

 

'This occupation has a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).'

 

So I believe my four year bachelors/masters degree plus primary PGCE and relevant experience meet this criteria but I can't tell from the information available from AITSL whether this corresponds with AITSL's requirements. The immi.gov.au site advises contacting the assessing authority to check specific requirements.

 

So I contacted AITSL directly and despite numerous requests for clarification all they do is refer me to the information on the application form and in their Q&A, which doesn't give definitive clarification for this query.

 

Can anyone clarify which assessment route is appropriate for me? Since I work as a Special Needs Teacher, I have a lot of experience in this field, I would be applying for jobs as a Special Needs Teacher in Australia and this profession is on the SOL, whereas Primary Teacher is not, I thought applying for assessment as a Special Needs Teacher would be the appropriate route for me, but if I need to apply as a Primary Teacher it would be good to know this before I begin the application process and potentially waste a lot of money applying for the wrong assessment.

 

Many thanks for any clarification or precedents that anyone can offer! :-)

 

 

If you are the main applicant seek professional advice. My hubby thought it was a waste of money..but then some people think they know everything!

[wrussell]

If you are the main applicant seek professional advice. My hubby thought it was a waste of money..but then some people think they know everything!

 

People who think they know everything exasperate those of us who do.

[Guest Husky]

People who think they know everything exasperate those of us who do.

 

Couldn't have put it better myself mate