Hi,

Im 22F and have a Bachelors in Math and Computer Science. Though with how the tech industry is panning out with Claude and AI prompting becoming the entire job I am considering switching career trajectories.

I am considering doing a PhD in math and trying to become an academic, but the demand in academia is dicey. The objective of getting the PhD for me would be so that I can be a university lecturer, since I enjoy teaching difficult math (I currently tutor university math classes). This does have an attractive salary progression, since most universities post this, starting is 85k ish and professor level is almost always over 200k. Though the role is not strictly teaching obviously, its also research and supervision of research students etc, with the teaching being to hundreds of student and much less personal.

On the other hand, teaching high school year 10-12 math lacks the difficult math but I'd get to teach as the sole job. I think I'd like to teach those high intensity/accelerated math programs that some schools run. But the downside is the lower pay progression since most of the time its just one level of high school teacher unless you become a head of department etc. Since the alternative has such attractive pay scales, I was wondering if theres pathways in private or IB school teaching where maybe specifically for the math subject demand, they pay more. Im thinking the top performing private schools of the state eg.

Not saying I'd only want that, but I want to know if that is an option that pays closer to 130-160k after a few years of experience.

Many things draw me to teaching, and I understand the classroom management involved etc, and Id like to connect with students and make a difference, but it does have its downsides which i am trying to justify. Thre transition would also require a year or two to complete a masters in secondary education.

Pay transparency helps us all, so if anyone is able to share any private school teaching salaries I'd be so appreciative. Also if anyone could explain the differences between Religious and non religious private education.

I’m currently hired for term 4 at a catholic school, absolutely love the school but know I will not be offered a job here due to catholic funding. I am wondering did all schools hire already now I just have to wait? Feel worried….

Is it just me or recruitment getting more competitive?

For context, I’m a grad secondary teacher, teaching Science & Maths, and looking for a new position next year as my MACS school can’t offer me a load next year.

I have been applying around, had 1 interview at a local public school, no feedback for a month, no reference check - an automatic fail.

I also applied to other schools and haven’t heard back at all.

Compared to last round, I was contacted by multiple schools, interviewed at 4 different schools and received 3 contracts.

Is it actually a lot more competitive or it’s too early to say….

It seems QLD isn't happy with having the weakest industrial law; they want to give the minister the power to act like the QIRC and block public servants from striking.

Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News. follow Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie will give himself powers to stop public servants — like police, nurses and teachers — from striking under major industrial law changes. The sweeping shake-up will also cap protected industrial action at 30 days and strip workers’ rights to be paid even if they do some duties while on strike. Under the law changes introduced on Wednesday night, Mr Bleijie would be able to step in if industrial action is happening, or is likely to happen, and he considers it could endanger lives, safety, health or welfare, in line with existing rules under the Commonwealth Fair Work Act. He could also terminate protected action if it could damage the Queensland economy or if ending it is considered to be in the public interest. This would include concerns about the impact of strikes or bans by frontline workers such as police or teachers. https://archive.is/eVf2F

Wrote to the FWC to enquire about the progress

Got told it has been signed off TODAY.

For anyone who's been on an interview panel, I'd love to hear your perspective.

How much weight do you place on an applicant's interview responses compared to their overall personality, authenticity and how well you feel they'd fit within the school community?

For example, would you consider someone who might have been a little nervous and didn't necessarily deliver the most polished answers, but came across as genuine, passionate and someone who would be great to work with?

I'm also curious about reference checks. How much influence do referees have on the final decision? Can an exceptional reference make a significant difference between two candidates, or is the preferred candidate generally decided before referees are contacted?

I'm looking at running a whole-school charity fundraiser and would love to make it as student-led as possible rather than having staff do all the heavy lifting. This will be with students in Stage 3.

I'd like to have them take ownership of things like promotion, fundraising ideas, event planning, communicating with the school community, etc. The goal is to build leadership, problem solving and not just to raise money. This fundraiser is for a cause that is special to these students and I believe there will be immediate buy in, so that is not an issue.

For those who've done similar projects:

• What responsibilities did you hand over to students?
• How did you avoid students just asking the teacher what to do next?
• How did you organise the students to work well together?
• What worked well and what would you avoid?
• How much guidance was necessary without taking ownership away from them?

Would love to hear any examples from upper primary teachers who've done something similar. My biggest concern is finding the balance between authentic student leadership and ensuring the event actually gets off the ground!

Hi everyone!

I'm currently studying Secondary Education at university and have recently started looking into casual SLSO work in NSW public schools through ClassCover.

Today, I was booked for my first casual SLSO shift at a public school. However, when I arrived, the school checked my details and told me I couldn't work because I had apparently been screened as a volunteer through a previous university teaching placement at another public school.

They advised me to contact my previous placement school and ask them to update my screening so I could work as an SLSO.

The confusing part is that I already have a valid paid employee Working With Children Check, which I've confirmed through Service NSW.

I also contacted the NSW Department of Education afterwards to clarify the situation, but the representative I spoke with said they couldn't find any screening records under my name, whether as a volunteer or an employee. He advised that a school would need to initiate an employment screening request.

So now I'm a little lost, because the school I attended today said I was already screened as a volunteer, while the Department couldn't find any record of that screening.

I'm also unsure about contacting my previous placement school to change my status, since I was only there as an unpaid university placement student and was never employed there as an SLSO.

I've since emailed the school that booked me to ask for clarification, but I thought I'd ask here in case anyone has experienced something similar.

Has anyone dealt with this before, or does anyone know how the screening process works for someone starting casual SLSO work through ClassCover?

Does a school need to initiate a new employee screening request, or is there something I need to organise myself before accepting shifts?
I'd really appreciate any advice. Thank you!

My school announced excess this week and found out a lot of us will lose our jobs. We won't find out till week 8, which is stressful.

Our principal said it's happening all across Victoria because of recent funding cuts.

I am just wondering who else there is experiencing this right now? Everyone at my work seems so depressed right now.