If you’re a Kiwi Educator moving to New South Wales, Australia, this guide is for you! Keep reading to learn how to register to teach…

 

Registering as a teacher in NSW requires you to be on the ground in Australia to get the first step done, which is applying for a Working With Children Check.  

To apply for this check you must take all your proof of identity documents in to a Service NSW centre to have them verified face to face. 

To make life easy, we suggest following the steps below. 

 

Before you leave New Zealand: 

On arrival into Australia: 

  • Get yourself an Australian sim card / mobile number as soon as you land. 
  • Call to get your VEVO number after you land – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/contact-us/telephone. This is important as you will need it for your NESA application for your “Commencement of ID”. 
  • Collect your Australian bank card if you set up an account before you left (this can be another form of ID for your WWCC if needed). 
  • Once you have arranged an Australian mobile number, complete the online WWCC application and enter the details of your identity documents. You will receive an email receipt with an application (APP) number and information about next steps. 

For proof of ID – generally wherever they say an Australian form of ID, you can replace with the NZ equivalent. The Commencement of ID will be your Vevo number (Immi card) that you need to phone on arrival to get. 

The WWCC is valid for 5 years, costs $80 and the processing time is anywhere from a few hours to 5 days. 

Once you have your WWCC clearance, your second step is to apply for NESA (NSW Standards in Education). 

 

Getting accredited with NESA for the first time (Initial accreditation) 

Accreditation is an annual fee of AU$100 and can take 5 to 20 working days to process. 

 

If you have current full registration in New Zealand, you can apply through the mutual recognition pathway. This is the most simple route. 

Download and complete the Application for mutual recognition form (PDF 782.61KB) 

Then submit the following documents: 

  • completed application for mutual recognition form 

 

If you have provisional registration or you are a new graduate who hasn’t registered in NZ yet, then you need to follow the below route: 

Choose the type of initial accreditation that you fall under: 

Conditional 

Apply for Conditional accreditation if you are in your final year of an accredited undergraduate or graduate entry teaching degree.

Provisional 

Apply for Provisional accreditation if you have successfully completed an approved teaching degree. 

 

To gain Initial Accreditation, documents you will need are: 

  • certified copies of your university transcripts and awards for completed qualifications (evidence of current enrolment does not need to be certified). 
  • Your Vevo / Immi card number. 
  • certified copies of 100 points of identification (eg NZ passport, birth certificate, driver licence) as well as any change of name documents (eg marriage certificate) 
  • a current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance , as above.  

Create an online account with NESA here.  

1. Log in to your account and update your details. 

2. Complete and submit the declaration task. 

3. Complete and finalise your Statement of Accreditation task. You must upload the following relevant documentation and then ‘Save and Proceed’ to the next step: 

a. Proof of identity: 100 points required (PDF, 1 page, 200BK). 

b. Additional information, e.g. Working with Children Check (mandatory), visa and offer of employment (if applicable). 

c. Your qualifications (create a new entry for each qualification, and upload transcripts). 

d. Save and submit. 

With NESA, you are then able to teach in the independent school sector. 

 

To be able to teach across government schools there is still one final step! 

You next need to be approved to teach by the NSW Department of Education, this takes a further 1 to 2 weeks and you can do this here: Gaining Approval to Teach 

 

It’s good to allow around 4 to 6 weeks for this entire process – however if you have a job arranged, sometimes schools can expediate this if it’s getting close to your start date.