At School 5-18

Our Teachers

There are currently over 109,749 registered teachers in Victoria. A large percentage of these work within government schools.

Using their knowledge, skills and experience, our teachers creatively use a range of teaching strategies to cater to the unique needs of your child and their future. As professionals in education, they regularly participate in professional development and seek new ways to enrich the learning of their students.

To ensure that our teachers provide the best learning environment possible, the Victorian Institute of Teaching regulates and promotes the teaching profession and its integrity.

Qualifications of Victorian government teachers

Before people can become a qualified teacher in Victoria they must have at least four years of approved tertiary study, including a minimum of one year of teacher education preparation.

Once teachers have achieved these qualifications they may apply to become a registered teacher in Australia.

After they are registered they have the ability to legally teach at any government or non-government school in Australia or New Zealand.

For more information about the qualifications and registration of Victorian teachers, see: What About Teaching

Registration of Victorian teachers

In order to become a registered teacher and legally have the ability to teach in Victorian schools, teachers must:

  • have the approved qualifications
  • be of good character
  • go through a National Criminal History Record Check.

Once teachers become registered they need to renew this registration every five years. To renew their registration they need to declare that they:

  • have maintained an appropriate level of professional practice. Teachers need to have completed at least 50 days of teaching, equivalent practice or educational leadership over the previous five years, as well as completed 100 hours of recognised professional development
  • are still suitable to be a teacher. Teachers need to have a current and satisfactory National Criminal History Record Check. They also need to advise the Victorian Teaching Institute of any current charges or convictions to ensure they can still be considered suitable to teach.

Professional development

Victorian government teachers can choose from a range of professional development programs, which meet the Victorian Teaching Institute’s standards of professional practice.

These include a range of conferences, workshops and seminar opportunities, as well as in school activities.