Five reasons why now is the perfect time to start an education job

A career in teaching provides an opportunity to guide the next generation and help students discover the spark that ignites their interests. If this interests you, there is no better time than now to gain the skills for an education job.

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Whether you’re looking for a traditional classroom position or something a bit more dynamic, now is the right time to gain the expertise you need to land the perfect education job.  

But you might be wondering - what is the best way to break into the education sector? The answer is RMIT’s selection of postgraduate education courses.  Each gives you the know-how and the experience you need to take advantage of current trends and opportunities for educators in Australia.   

Two RMIT Education students with a primary school student in a school

1. There’s strong demand for new teachers 

Many factors are driving the demand for teachers across Australia. An aging population means a significant number of teachers are retiring, an increased birth rate means more students than ever1 and the sector continues to expand, with more teaching positions opening every day.  

State governments are also supporting the growth of the education sector by funding expansions. For example, the Victorian Government has invested a total of $1.6 billion to support and grow the state’s school workforce since 20192

Not only does this trend mean job security, but it also means that you’re able to be selective with your choice of role. Studying a postgraduate course now means you’ll have greater control over your future career and the freedom to choose a specialty that suits you.  

2. Education courses are currently supported by a host of scholarships  

The Victorian Government is supporting the training of secondary teachers to address the current shortage. One of the key ways they’ve done this is by funding scholarships to “help support about 4,000 future teachers”3

One of these scholarships is the Victorian Government ITE scholarship which was created specifically for those studying to become secondary education teachers. The postgraduate version of this scholarship gives eligible students approximately $9,000 across their studies2

Another scholarship for postgraduate students studying secondary education is the Teach Tomorrow scholarship which provides eligible students with monetary support and additional practical experience during their course.  

Both scholarships are available to those studying RMIT’s Master of Teaching Practice (Secondary Education). If you’re interested in an education scholarship but aren’t planning on studying a secondary education course, RMIT has other scholarships you might be eligible for.  

A career development teacher with an RMIT student sitting at a desk

3. You get globally recognised and transferable skills 

At RMIT we provide teacher education in line with international standards. Our graduates are ready to make an impact working with young people across Australia and around the globe. 

The skills you learn in an education course go beyond the classroom. Teachers are excellent communicators, collaborators, problem solvers and organisers. In a course like the Master of Education you gain all these and more. This course also gives you transferable research skills that complement your teaching expertise. 

In many of RMIT’s postgraduate education courses, such as the Master of Teaching Practice (Primary Education), you’ll even get the chance to test what you’ve learned in the real-world with at least 60 days of practical placements integrated into your study.  

4. The teaching field has never been so innovative 

Becoming a teacher means entering a long-standing profession that values innovation. Teachers are experts in using their own knowledge and the knowledge of their peers to inspire. In this age of rapid change and technological leaps, educators are becoming the frontrunners in integrating innovation into learning. 

From the everyday use of online teaching resources to the wonders of augmented reality in classrooms, new ways of learning are becoming available in many educational environments.  

For example, RMIT’s Pedagogies of Possibilities Lab (PoPLab) which is a virtual and physical space for innovative industry-partnered research. PoPLab gives education students to remote teaching simulations and lets them experience both online and face-to-face modes of teaching. 

RMIT’s future-focused learning and next-gen facilities means you won’t be caught unaware when you land an education job and begin teaching the next generation using the tech of tomorrow. 

5. The education industry has expanded beyond the classroom 

Long gone are the days when ‘education’ simply meant teaching in front of a chalkboard. Even in traditional teaching, there are many fields and pedagogies that take education out of the classroom and allow for a broader kind of learning. 

This is especially true in fields like early childhood education, which provides education and guidance to children from birth to five years old. Very little early childhood education is done in a traditional classroom environment. If you’re interested in pursuing this kind of education as a career, check out RMIT’s Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Another dynamic niche is career educators. These career experts work across many industries where they assist professionals in finding the job of their dreams. As with early childhood education, this is rarely done in traditional classroom environments – more often, a one-on-one approach is taken. RMIT’s Graduate Certificate in Career Education and Development is the perfect way to upskill to become a career development practitioner. 

There have always been compelling reasons to teach the future generation, but with so much on offer across the education industry, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get started today. 


Story:
 Courtney Johnson and Jacob Johnston 

 

References

1 IBISWorld. ‘Preschool education in Australia industry performance’. Accessed 5 March 2023. https://my.ibisworld.com/au/en/industry/p8010/performance.  

2 ABC News. ‘Victorian government offers free secondary teaching degrees to tackle teacher shortage’. Published 12 September 2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-12/victoria-free-secondary-teaching-degrees/102844100

3 Victorian Government. ‘Scholarships for secondary teaching degrees’. Published 12 December 2023. https://www.vic.gov.au/scholarships-secondary-teaching-degrees

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.