Australia

Although Australia is an English speaking nation, it still has a large English language teaching industry in the bigger cities, as well as in some of the more remote areas of the country. The main focus of this industry is the vast numbers of foreign students who come here from all over Asia to enrol on intensive English language courses that are provided by numerous language schools all over Australia. Although courses aimed at foreign students make up the main bulk of the country’s language teaching programs, you will also find that there are many schools around Australia that provide English language instruction to local Aboriginal communities. These language programs are run by charitable or governmental organisations and are aimed at helping the Aboriginal people learn language skills that will improve their employment prospects and ultimately improve their quality of life.

Job Expectations in Australia

Although there are generally plenty of job opportunities all over Australia, English language teaching is highly regulated in all sectors of the industry which makes it difficult for foreign teachers to gain access to them. The high standard of qualifications required, tough immigration policies and an English speaking population mean that the vast majority of jobs are taken by Australian citizens. Although it is not easy for foreign teachers to find work in the country, it is still possible if you can fulfil all the necessary criteria. For teachers who do find themselves working in Australia the country has a national pay scale for the teaching sector that ranges from AUD 18,000 to AUD 30,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

Visa Options Australia

One popular and quite straightforward option for some teachers is to visit Australia on a 12-month working holiday visa. This visa is quite restricted but it does offer those who qualify for it a chance to gain some classroom experience in a variety of unfamiliar environments, something that will certainly be beneficial when looking for future employment. The working holiday visa is restricted to British, Irish and Canadian citizens under the age of 31 and is not extendable once the 12 month period has elapsed. Another major restriction of this option is that you are not allowed to work in the same job for more than three months at a time. While the working holiday visa has clear limitations, it is still a popular option for many younger travellers who are looking to earn some spending money while exploring this vast and beautiful country.