Publication Details
Datta-Roy, S.,
&
Lavery, S.
(2017).
Experiences of overseas trained teachers seeking public school positions in Western Australia and South Australia.
Issues in Educational Research, 27 (4), 720-735.
Abstract
Many overseas trained teachers migrate to Australia in search of different lifestyles. In their endeavour to find suitable teaching positions in public secondary schools, overseas trained teachers often confront multiple challenges. This study explored the different issues that 12 overseas trained teachers experienced before obtaining a teaching position in a public secondary school in either Western Australia or South Australia. Data were collected through using twelve in-depth semi-structured interviews and researcher generated field notes. The results indicate that participants experienced the following challenges: apparent lack of information on post immigration life in Australia; danger of misinformation; registration delays; inconsistency in English language requirements; fixed term offers for teaching positions; difficult living conditions in the country areas; and a perceived lack of consistency in the teacher orientation programs provided by the Education Departments of Western Australia and South Australia.
Keywords
education, secondary schools, overseas trained teachers, teaching positions, Western Australia, South Australia
