Let’s get serious here for a bit, Ontario teachers. Everything that’s happening in Ontario politics and education right now means there couldn’t be a better time to apply for teaching jobs in New Zealand or Australia.
If you’ve been out of touch, here’s a quick rundown and what it means for you in the near future.
What’s happening to Ontario education?
• Teacher and education worker contracts expire at the end of August.
• Ontario Premier Doug Ford is proposing increases in class sizes (which means less electives will be available). He wants to create mandatory online courses for high school students. Ford also has alleged plans to save the province money by phasing out 3,475 teaching positions within the next four years.
• Walkouts and protests for these changes are happening across the province, planned by students and teachers. Needless to say, these proposed cuts are not a good thing for people who want teaching jobs.
• Negotiations recently began between the Ford government and Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF). Talks have so far included possibly bargaining away sick days.
What does this mean for Ontario teachers?
Some changes are likely about to be made that will cost Ontario’s teachers in the long run. First and foremost, if negotiations aren’t concluded by the end of August, Ontario teachers may go on strike.
Beyond that, we’re looking at the possibility of a real shortage of teaching jobs in primary and secondary schools in Ontario over the next five years.
The government has claimed they won’t be cutting jobs, but instead just not rehiring staff after someone retires. That still means teaching positions are being slowly phased out. BUT—if this has you stressed out about career prospects, read on. We’re here to help with one simple notion: who says you have to teach in Canada?
Teaching jobs in Australia and New Zealand
Although these turbulent political times are stressful, they also create the potential for Ontario teachers to embrace new job opportunities elsewhere.
While the Ford government eyeballs cuts in the province, teachers are in high demand in Australia and New Zealand. These countries need teachers, and if you’ve ever considered travelling to work—it’s a great time to do so.
Leading Out is happy to help you find teaching positions in Australia and THEN some. We go the extra mile and help you apply for visas, find accommodation, and more. Besides getting a teaching job you’ll love, moving to Australia has many other benefits, including fabulous food and incredible travel opportunities!
Get in touch!
What have you got to lose by dropping us a line? If you are looking to start your next adventure with us, or you have questions, email steven@Leadingout.net. Don’t forget you can also get in touch on Facebook and Instagram, or leave us your thoughts in the comments below.
One of the most prohibitive things about teaching in New Zealand or Australia could be the cost of moving overseas. The price of a plane ticket, visas, and storage for any stuff you haven’t Marie Kondo’d out of your life by now might seem like a major barrier. Now, there’s a grant for that.
That’s right—good news for people looking for teaching jobs in New Zealand! The Overseas Relocation Grant, also known as the ORG, could make the cost of moving to teach across the world much more affordable.
Even better news? Leading Out is ready to do everything we can to help you apply and get you on the way to the adventure of a lifetime!
First, let’s take a bit more of an in-depth look at the ORG, how it works and whether you’re eligible to apply.
What is the Overseas Relocation Grant?
Sure, it says it all up front in the name—the ORG is a teaching grant offered by the New Zealand government to those who are interested in teaching overseas. It’s meant to help cover the cost of relocating.
The grant covers up to $5,000 in moving expenses, and is given to teachers after they have successfully relocated to New Zealand.
Why is New Zealand Offering the ORG?
New Zealand is looking for teachers to fill positions all across the country. They count on international teachers to staff many of their schools. If you’re a qualified Canadian or North American teacher, there’s a good chance you’ll be eligible to apply for the grant.
If you’ve always wanted to travel and teach, but have been intimidated by the potential cost, this could be the opportunity for you!
Am I Eligible for the Overseas Relocation Grant?
In order to qualify for the ORG, you need to have a teaching job in New Zealand already established, as well as a certification to work in Aoeterea. (That’s the Maori name for New Zealand—something you’ll pick up when you start your future teaching job overseas!)
More specifically, the TeachNZ site states that applicants for the Overseas Relocation Grant must be registered and certified by the Education Council of New Zealand, as well as have a full-time, permanent, or fixed-term position for 12 months in a State school.
Can Leading Out Help Me Find Teaching Jobs New Zealand?
You might be thinking, “But how can I get a job so I can apply for this grant and begin living my best life ASAP?”
Forgive us for sounding like an infomercial, but that’s where Leading Out comes in. Finding qualified teachers work overseas is our specialty!
We use our network of connections, and first-hand experience to help you get work, apply for visas, find accommodation, and of course, file that grant application!
You can check out Our Services page for a more in-depth look at how we can help, or contact us if you want to know more about the ORG, teaching in New Zealand, and how we can make it happen!
Have you ever thought about teaching in New Zealand? Do you have any questions about the Overseas Relocation Grant?
Leave a comment below or get in touch, or reach out to us on Facebook.
Leading Out was an incredible team to work with. They helped me navigate through the tedious paperwork and somehow made the process less stressful and a lot more exciting. Even when I was settled overseas, they were always available to help with questions, concerns, confusions, or simply to offer some suggestions. It was comforting knowing that I always had someone I could reach out to for help.
What was your favourite classroom experience while in Australia?
Being a casual relief teacher brought me to new parts of the city every week. It was quite challenging to walk in to a group of students you had never met before and teach lessons you were not familiar with, but once I got accustomed to it, I was able to enjoy the journey and embrace the life of teaching on the fly. Not to mention, learning to entertain a group of students with my funny accent.
One experience that does stick out for me was my day as a Phys. Ed teacher at a Special Development School in Yarraville. I was so impressed with the support, the attention, and the detail that went in to coordinating lessons for these students. It was an extremely rewarding experience for me as a new teacher and I definitely left that day with more than I came in with.
What was your favourite travel experience?
Moving to Australia was an experience in itself. There are so many places to explore and if it weren’t for time and money, I would have done it all! I am very happy, however, that I was able to make the trip over to Tasmania. It was probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. We travelled over with no particular plan or schedule, but only a hand written list of suggested places to visit from friends and acquaintances we met along the way. It was quite refreshing to set out on the road with no time constraints or commitments. I don’t think there are many places in the world where you can get away with this type of haphazard plan, but it seemed that no matter where we went or which direction we took, it always left us in complete awe.
Why would you recommend teaching in Australia?
Teaching abroad was a great transition for me after graduating from teacher’s college. I was looking for an opportunity to travel while also continuing to gain experience as a teacher. It was nerve-wracking walking into a new class every day, but it was also quite exciting. Every day brought a new challenge and the whole process taught me a lot about myself and the world of teaching.
What advice would you give a new teacher moving to Australia?
Pack warm clothes. I thought I was escaping the Canadian winters by going to Australia…little did I know that I would have to wear socks and sweaters to bed some nights. Besides that, go in with an open mind and see every day as a new adventure. It’s a beautiful country filled with some amazing people.
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