In Australia, employment eligibility and conditions for teachers and certain other English language college staff are well defined and regulated by the federal government through the Department of Education. Specifically, the ELICOS Standards 2018 set out that ELICOS teachers must:
There are further requirements for teachers who teach on English language programs in the primary or high school sector. Similarly, there are further requirements for those teachers who teach on English language programs for students under the age of 12.
As well as the above, senior academic leadership staff must hold a suitable postgraduate TESOL qualification, and appropriate educational management and TESOL teaching experience or equivalent. They must also maintain up-to-date knowledge of significant developments in TESOL theory and practice.
If you have an overseas qualification and intend to apply for teaching or Academic Manager positions, it is advisable to confirm the acceptability of your qualifications by contacting the college at which you plan or hope to work.
To review the specifications regarding teaching and other specialist staff required in ELICOS colleges, you can check Standard 6 of the ELICOS Standards 2018.
Employment conditions, including rates of pay, are determined by Awards and Enterprise Agreements. Although enterprise agreements can differ from institution to institution and across states, the Awards provide for minimum conditions with regard to salary, leave etc.
Rates of pay are determined by the level of qualifications and experience held by each individual teacher.
For more information on working conditions and employee/employer rights and obligations, visit the Australian government ‘Fairwork’.
For more information on the most common Award for ELICOS teachers.
Whether a person is a permanent or temporary resident or classed as a non-resident, they must pay tax on any money earned from employment. The amount of tax paid depends on a person’s resident status and on how much they earn.
For more information on tax in Australia, visit the Australian government’s tax office.
All workers in Australia must also make automatic contributions to Medicare, the national health insurance scheme The Medicare charge is 2 per cent of taxable income.
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with eight countries – New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Malta and Ireland. Under these Agreements, residents of these countries have restricted access to Medicare while visiting Australia.
Medicare covers visitors for the duration of their stay, except those from Italy or Malta, who are covered for a maximum of six months. To be eligible, enrol at any Medicare office in Australia, making sure you have your passport with an appropriate visa and proof that you are enrolled in your own country’s national health care scheme. Other nationals should take out private insurance.
For more more information regarding Medicare.
