An ongoing shortage of VET teachers continues to limit the availability and take-up of VET subjects in Australian secondary schools. This impacts the number of Certificate II and III qualified students available to take up apprenticeships in the trades, which further impacts the building industry and the wider economy.

In Melbourne’s northern suburbs, the Northern Melbourne VET Cluster (NMVC) – which is a consortium of 56 member schools covering Northcote to Whittlesea, and Essendon to Eltham – has launched a teacher recruitment drive called Trade up to Teaching. The NMVC is encouraging people who are qualified in the traditional trades to become VET in secondary school teachers in either a full- or part-time capacity.

“The NMVC offers more than 40 VET courses and many of our 2023 courses are already oversubscribed, primarily due to a lack of qualified VET teachers,” NMVC coordinator Vicki Bawden says.

“There’s never been a better time for tradespeople to become teachers and pass on their skills to the next generation.”

Interested tradespeople are encouraged to visit this link and complete an Expression of Interest Form. They’ll be put in touch with recruiting staff from one or more of the NMVC’s member schools that are seeking staff.

“If you are passionate about your trade area and want to impart that passion and the relevant skills to young people then teaching VET in a secondary school is an incredibly rewarding career option,” Vicki explains.

To become qualified to teach VET in secondary school tradespeople attain a TAE Certificate IV in Training & Assessment. This, together with the required industry qualifications and experience (an apprenticeship plus a minimum of five years in industry) allows tradespeople to apply for positions in schools. Employer schools then assist the tradesperson in getting Permission to Teach registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.