Recognise the Graduate Teacher Programme

I am currently in Perth and have been trying to get registered with WACOT(Western Australia College of Teaching)for 2 weeks. WACOT have been in contact today and refused my application. All the documentation is fine apart from the fact that my GTP qualification is 'not issued by a recognised higher education institution'. I have been invited to show cause as to why my application should not be refused and I have been in contact with my training provider asking them to outline the course I undertook. More and more students in the UK are taking this path into teaching. I have been on the internet and googled 'GTP teaching in Australia' and have read time and time again UK teachers coming over here having exactly the same problem. I do believe that in time, the Australian government will have to accept this method of training. I am highly disappointed as I am sure you can imagine, after vigorous training and 2 years teaching experience.

Anyway, I am not giving up and will be submitting statements to back up my application.

Please, please can anyone suggest anything? I am here with my boyfriend on working holiday visas and we want to make a good go of things out here. WACOT have also made me aware that if I am offered a teaching position, a full limited Authority to Teach' may be issued...and this doesn't usually mean Casual Relief Teaching, but more likely temporary positions. The trouble is, who is going to employ me on a temporary basis on a working holiday visa?!!

Please help if you can..

Rebecca

Hi

Same old story I'm afraid. The only glimmer of hope I can offer is regarding Queensland and NSW. - I've not heard of any way around it in WA.

(1)
QLD have a process for those applying for teacher registration who do not have a recognised teaching qualification, rather sexily _title_d "Applicants applying under s8(1)(a)(ii) and s9(1)(a)(ii)". They make it a difficult process, and it can take several months I think.

The relevant pages of the Queensland College of Teachers can be found at:

http://www.qct.edu.au/registration/Section8or9.html


You need to submit a portfolio, have all the necessary documentation which is certified etc etc.

This also only applies for Queensland of course; not sure how you'd then go about getting it recognised in other states, if that is possible. The process is only of use if you have a visa to work (which you guys do) - it's pointless for anyone without a visa to work as state recognition is entirelty separate from the national assessment of qualifications, for the purposes of obtaining a skilled visa. And of course you'd need to be in Queensland (!).


(2)
Independent schools in NSW can take on teachers who do not have a qualification that is recongised, as long as they "undertake" to do such a qualfication, and the school agrees that the teacher will work under "supervision" (interpret as you wish...). In such circumstances provisional registration can be given. The necessary training can be done part time / in holidays. I've discussed this with Heads in NSW and they are prepared to do it in the right circumstances. It is a long shot though - you need a strong application, a suitable vacancy and a Head who's prepared to go through the mountain of bureaucracy (and expense) to do it. Not easy.


Many of us on this site have said it before, and I'll keep saying it - the situation is, frankly, farcial.

whoops - "farcical" (!)

Hi again,

I have been invited to show cause as to why my application should not be refused and I have been in contact with my training provider asking them to outline the course I undertook. I have already heard back from them with a long letter in support of the Graduate Teacher Programme and me as a trainee. My application goes to the Board at the end of the month, so it's only a matter of time till I know for sure and I can tell you I am going to fight for this one...I will keep you posted with how I get on, though I am not hopeful from reading peoples posts...

In my letter from WACOT, they say they are happy for me to be granted a Limited Authority to teach and I can contact an officer about it if I'd like to. Any idea what Limited Authority to teach actually means? Does it mean I can get a teaching job for a limited time? What jobs does it en_title_ me to apply for? This has not been made clear to me despite numerous phone calls. I was also told the officer concerned would get in touch with DET on Friday to see if there were any jobs with them going...

This is terrible!! I am being treated as a complete and utter unprofessional...To make matters worse, the more people I meet in Perth and get chatting to, the more it has become perfectly clear that they are CRYING OUT for decent teachers!!! CRAZYY!! I am going insane.

Any help/advice gratefully received.

A very depressed and desperate Rebecca

From what I can tell, Limited Authority to Teach means that a school taking you on would have to sign up to provide 'appropriate supervision' of you, whatever that means, provide opportunitites for further professional development, and it's for a maximum of two years.

I was under the impression that you had to apply for it jointly with the school intending to employ you, but I may be wrong.

You may've seen this already: http://membership.wacot.wa.edu.au/LATAppForm.pdf


Good luck

Mark

Hi there,

An update. I have been given a Limited Authority to Teach. It's a good start as I am the first GTP case in WA...So I can work with up to six schools over a 2 year period. Better than nothing.

I think it really does help contacting the Min of Ed, which is what I did, with all my documentation which went to WACOT in support of my application. My training provider and school I taught at wrote strong letters in support of me and I also wrote a detailed letter. The decision was made last week on the strength of my GTP and the teaching i have already completed - that's what I was told by the director of WACOT anyway.

This has not been easy and there have been lots of tears along the way, but I feel slowly but surely I am making progress.

The next step is actually finding a school who will take me on, so that the back of the LAT form can be completed and they can process my application once and for all and I WILL have a WACOT number...HORRRRAAAHHHHH!! I can finally apply for jobs.

The bit which is slightly insulting is that the school who decides to employ me will have to justify why they chose me over other 'suitably qualified teachers' and show what they will do to support and mentor me...COME ON!!!

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we have to go high up to get any kind of level of support.

Good Luck everyone. In the meantime, if you're on facebook and want to join this group, pleeease do. Search for it on facebook 'Recognise the GTP teacher training in Australia and New Zealand!'

Thanks and best wishes,

Rebecca