Overview

As well as being a significant source of jobs and current economic growth, the quality of Victoria’s education system is crucial to the state’s future economic national and international competitiveness.

Victoria’s education industry includes:

• the early childhood education and care sector (pre-school age)
• the primary school sector (children aged 5-6 to 11-12)
• the secondary school sector (children aged 11-12 to 17-18)
• the tertiary education sector (including university and vocational studies post-school).

Industry size

According to the ‘2008 Teacher Supply and Demand Report’ released by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development,  there are over 60,000 teachers employed in schools across Victoria. The report also forecasts that an average of 3300 new teachers will be needed in Victorian each year leading up to 2012. Contributing factors to this trend can be partly attributed to the ageing teaching workforce combined with a rapid increase in student enrollments¹.

Industry contacts

Professional bodies and industry associations are a good source of information about the education industry in Victoria.

The following bodies represent various sectors within the industry:

• Australian Education Union
• Victorian Independent Education Union
• The Victorian Government Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
• Early Childhood Australia

Tip

Not sure what your occupation is? Visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's Australian Skills Recognition Information portal.

Further information

• Victorian Government visa sponsorship

¹ Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2008), 2008 Teacher Supply and Demand Report. Retrieved from www.eduweb.vic.gov.au.