Five reasons to become a teacher

Teaching is a career that gives you the power to make an impact: to the lives of individuals, communities, and even to Australia's future. But with the teaching landscape in sharp focus in 2024, it's clear we need quality, passionate teachers more than ever before.

Considering Australia relies on its teachers to provide a future for our children, the nation's teacher shortage is an issue that needs to be resolved - and we're responding, by evolving our degrees and deepening our relationships with schools and pre-schools.

We're passionate about education: because in what other career can you inspire future leaders, innovators and problem-solvers? Imagine teaching mathematics to a student who will go on to become a leading architect; legal studies to a future diplomat; or art to someone who whose work will one day be in-demand by curators. Educators do the work of the nation, and are among the most trusted people in the lives of their students.

Now is the time to take the first steps on your journey towards becoming a teacher – be it in Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, Health and Physical Education, or Inclusive and Specialised Education. Here are five reasons you should consider studying to become a teacher.

1. Change a child's life for the better

Think about your most inspiring teacher: how they made you feel, what they inspired you to do. It's an incredible opportunity that teachers hold, and one that could be at your fingertips if you decide to pursue teaching.

As a teacher, you’ll be able to educate countless students over your career, making a genuine difference to the world we live in. “I pursued teaching to play my part in making the world a better place. To give young people hope. To give them a voice," says Brenton, one of our Master of Teaching graduates.
 

2. Enjoy a long-term, fulfilling career 

Teaching graduates can almost certainly walk into a job from the day they graduate - or even their final year of study. Plus, they're joining an industry with long-term career prospects. Education is a fast-growing sector, with great job opportunities. The teaching profession is projected to have strong future growth* and is essential in ensuring our nation’s young people continue to receive a high-quality education.

_{*Labour Market Information Portal, Department of Jobs and Small Business. 2020 employment projections for the five years to November 2025.}

3. Experience days that are full of variety

As a teacher, no two days of work will be the same. You have the ability to add your own style to curriculum delivery, the curriculum itself evolves based on the latest research and requirements, and your students will no doubt have different questions, viewpoints and needs daily. 
 

4. Dive into an area of interest

What's better than sharing a topic you love with other people? This is a career where you'll get to do that every day, often with keen learners who want to discover more.

And you're not limited to teaching in a classroom environment, either - you can take your career further by upskilling or pursuing a specialisation. Other opportunities include working as a school coordinator or principal, curriculum and policy adviser in departments of education, or adviser to government departments and other policy-making organisations.
 

5. Enjoy a flexible lifestyle (and yes, school holidays)

The teaching profession is often seen as a great choice for parents or parents-to-be. Around ten weeks of holidays per year is a favourable perk (although, as teachers will tell you, this is a profession often requiring some out-of-hours work and preparation), which enables those with school-aged children to spend this time together. Flexible working arrangements are also common for family care purposes.

It's a great time to be a teaching student.

Gain a degree in as little as 1.5 years

Flinders University provides a variety of pathways to becoming a teacher. If you already hold a degree you may be eligible to study our two-year Master of Teaching (or 1.5-year accelerated mode), which prepares graduates to enter the teaching profession with confidence and competence.

If you don’t yet hold a degree you can study a four-year undergraduate degree, which enables you to focus your studies in an area that suits your interests. "Flinders stood out for me because it has a strong focus on developing education courses," says graduate Anthony Salerno. "[You'll learn] from academics who are accomplished and have attained mastery within their respective fields."
 

Make the most of CSP and scholarship opportunities 

The government recognises the importance of training and upskilling future educators, and as such, many Education courses at Flinders offer Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) - meaning the government will pay part of your fees. Who doesn't love graduating with less of a debt?

To further minimise the fees you'll need to pay, we also recommend exploring the range of scholarship opportunities on offer. Just make sure to keep an eye on the application closing date for any scholarships you're considering. 
 

Earn an income while you study

It can be difficult to balance full-time study with part-time or casual work, often in a completely different industry than the one you want to work in after graduating. But what if you could work in a role that is completely relevant to your future professional field? If you're a pre-service teacher, you have the opportunity to complement your studies by working as a School Services Officer (SSO) or Early Childhood Worker (ECW).

Explore 'work while you study' positions in schools and preschools, and enjoy receiving an income, the flexibility to work around your studies (you can choose the days that suit you), and the opportunity to receive valuable classroom experience - setting you up for success in your future teaching role.

 

Find your Fearless. Study Education.