teaching science in Australia

[helenm]

Hi all,

I'm new to this message board. I'm looking for information about teaching science (and physics, specifically) in Australia. Can't find an Australian-specific message board, so I'm hoping there are some Aussies here, or others who can help answer my questions.

I'm considering a career change from university physics research to secondary (high school) teaching. I have a PhD in physics and an honours degree in science and electrical engineering. I am frustrated with the lack of opportunity to teach in my current job, and becoming bored with the research I'm doing. I'd like a new challenge, and one that uses different skills to the last 10 years doing research.

To become a teacher, I'd have to do a 1 or 2 year teaching qualification, and after that I would re-enter the workforce at a sigificantly lower salary than before. So obviously the prospect of a couple of years with no income and then a lower income is a worry to me, as the mortgage won't wait, etc. Some of my questions are about salaries for Australian teachers, and I'm hoping somebody here can answer these for me (I believe that teachers are paid better in the UK and US, unfortunately):

- the starting salary for a graduate teacher in Victoria is around the AU$45,000 mark, I think. How quickly does one usually advance up the salary scale to a better income than that?

- how much difference does it make, salary-wise, teaching in a private schoo as opposed to a government school? Is the workload different? Are the resources likely to be as much better as I believe, in a private school?

- does it make any difference to my salary or the kind of jobs I might be able to get that I have a PhD in physics and I've taught (lecturing and tutoring) for several years at a tertiary level?

- given the choice of doing a qualification in physics and maths, physics and science, or physics and IT/programming/whateveritis, what would you do? Why? I certainly have the background in either maths or computer science, not sure if I could get qualified to teach science as I have no tertiary biology/chemistry. But I think science is more fun, and maybe I could swing it, as I have a good working knowledge of all sorts of science, both as it relates to physics and because it amuses me.

Hmm, that's all for now. I would appreciate it very much if anybody out there could give me some answers, suggestions, things to think about.

Thanks!

Helen

[groovy_wizard]

Hey, I am currently teaching Science in a Victorian school, so I might be able to answer some of your questions. Interestingly though, I am trying to get a teaching position in the US.

Ok, teaching in Australia. I too came from a research background, looking for a little more excitement and have never regretted my decision to change to teaching. It is incredibly challenging, but I look forward to going to work each day.

Victoria unfortunately has the lowest salary rates in Australia. Our education union is currently in the process of industrial striking to increase our salaries to be comparable with other states. We are currently in the midst of rolling 4hr stopages each week. Furthermore, we are arguably the hardest working teachers with the most contact hours, reductions in school funding and large class sizes. The starting salary for a graduate teachers is $46,127 and increases by around $1300 each year. The increment scale can be found here: http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/hr/empconditions/Teacher_salary_rates.pdf

In terms of public vs private, I can only tell you what I believe to be true, as I have never taught in a private school, nor will I. Private schools generally pay a little better than a public school, however the workload will be much the same with the addition of saturday coaching which you will be expected to do. Private schools here have their interschool sport competition on a saturday morning or afternoon. Some private schools are very well resourced, others are similar to public schools.

Unfortunately, a PhD wont get you any more money, however it may make it easier for you to get a job in a private school. Most schools put more value on your experience working with kids rather than post-grad qualifications.

We have a severe shortage of physics and maths teachers here in Australia. If you get a physics method, you will be expected to teach junior science (our schools are 7-12) as well as senior physics. Most science teachers are also expected to teach junior maths whether they are qualified or not. In Victoria, we dont have a specific IT subject (some schools still do year 12 IT). In our new curriculum, IT is interdisciplinary, which means it is taught and assessed in several subjects.

This site has heaps of info on it: http://www.teaching.vic.gov.au/default.htm

Even though our conditions arent the best here in Victoria, Melbourne is a wonderful city to live in and our kids are great (well at least the ones I teach are!) Hopefully our pay disputes will be resolved soon, however it will never be a well-paying profession.

I am happy to answer any further questions! Good luck :)

[helenm]

Hi groovy_wizard, thanks for your informative reply.

I have some more questions, no doubt will come up with others in due course.

Firstly: I am curious why would you not want to teach in a private school? What are the downsides, in your opinion?

I have discussed this from time to time over the years with people I know who went into teaching. Most have ended up in priv ate schools. My impression is that the salary difference is significant, the holidays are longer at private schools, and the resources for teaching are much better. Someone described to me a govt school where finding chalk for the blackboard was a problem, let alone finding the gear to do lab experiments.

On the downside, I guess that some people would not agree with the philosophy of some of the private schools (I know I would at least be bugged by some of that, though not sure if it would annoy me enough to make me not want to work there). And certainly some of the kids at some of the government schools would be in more desperate need of education, though how much difference that would make to a physics teacher, I'm not sure, except to reduce class sizes and make it more difficult to teach physics. In the end, all kids need education and part of my aims in going into teaching would be to encourage more kids to take up science at university and beyond.

I would be interested to learn more about your thoughts on these things.

From what you are saying, I'm not likely to miss out on the opprtunity to teach junior science (which I want to do - its how to get more kids into senior science, of course) if I qualify in physics and maths rather than physics and science. Is that correct?

Thanks again,

Helen

[groovy_wizard]

Good question. It is an entirely personal choice. I guess that I believe that all students deserve a good education and that you shouldnt have to pay for it. I am also probably very biased, but I believe that the best teachers are in public education. I work at a large inner city school and all of the teachers at my school are fierce supporters of public education and work extremely hard at giving our students the best opportunities we possible can with what we have. Being able to inspire students in that sort of environment helps to constantly improve what you do. I think it also gives your students a richer school experience knowing that their teachers love what they do and want them to be the best they can be. I just can't ever see myself working in a private school.

Im not sure about the differences in pay, I would assume that the salaries would be higher at the best private schools. I would assume you would get paid more in private schools and you do get a couple of extra weeks holidays.

You are right - doing physics and maths will mean that you will teacher junior science and maths as well as the senior subjects.