International Teaching Fellowship

The International Teaching Fellowship (ITF) is an exchange program for Victorian teachers. Teachers exchange teaching positions and housing for the period of a school year (January - December).

The International Teaching Fellowship adds to the professional development of Victorian teachers and brings the contributions of overseas teachers to Victorian schools.

Currently International Teaching Fellowship exchanges are possible with Canada, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and International Schools.

Eligibility

The program is open to permanent, full-time teachers and principals from Government, Catholic and Independent schools in Victoria. Those working in primary, secondary and special schools with Australian citizenship are eligible.

 

Any teacher selected as an International Teaching Fellow must have a minimum of four years tertiary education, including the equivalent of one year of teacher training.

 

International Teaching Fellows are educators of the highest calibre. They are selected for their aptitude, experience and contribution to the profession. They have a record of sustained excellence in teaching and are prepared to participate in varied teaching situations.

The program

Victorian schools and school communities' benefit when overseas teachers and principals with different perspectives on education and culture are able to contribute to their school programs.

International Teaching Fellows and returned Victorian Overseas Fellows bring new ideas into the system.

While overseas, Victorian Fellows are ambassadors for the Victorian education system. Teachers are required to undertake to carry out and share the results of a study project related to their school and system priorities, on their return.

Salaries

International Teaching Fellows remain in the employment of their own education authority and have their salary remitted to them while they are overseas. Schools do not receive additional funding.

Costs and Accommodation

Participants pay their own travelling costs, and are responsible for their own arrangements for health and travel insurance. While on exchange they will continue to pay any mortgage repayments or rent in Victoria and will be provided with the same from their exchange fellow.

All fellows are expected to pay for amenities (gas, electricity etc) in the accommodation in which they are residing for the exchange year. It is a condition that both fellows and the respective families have sole occupancy of the accommodation. The International Education Division recommends against the exchanging of motor vehicles.

Administration of the program

The program is arranged on a government-to-government basis. The International Education Division of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) suggests possible matches that will be sent to the principal involved. Principals have the right to accept or refuse a proposed match.

The school is responsible for the administration of salaries and tax issues during the exchange year and the incoming fellow will have the same conditions as all other Victorian teachers.

Process

Applications are invited from Victorian teachers in August, (advertised in Shine magazine) with a closing date in November. Applicants are short-listed by the ITF Advisory Committee.

Selection is based on merit, rather than the number of years teaching or classification level. The files of recommended applicants are retained in Melbourne pending the arrival of files from overseas countries when matching can take place.

Matching takes account of teaching subjects, academic interests, social interests and family requirements. When the International Education Division has made tentative matches, they will be referred to the school for approval.

The principal may choose to contact the principal of the sending school to clarify aspects of the match. This is negotiated by the manager of the Program. Following approval by the principal/teacher, the match is referred to the overseas education authority for approval. When all parties concerned are satisfied, the exchanging teachers are invited to correspond with each other.

International Teachers Association

The International Teachers Association (ITA) is an organisation of past and present Teaching Fellows.

The ITA provides pastoral care, advice and services to Victorian and overseas International Teaching Fellows. The association has chapters to provide support throughout Victoria.

For more details on ITA membership contact: Lesley Hall (President)
E-mail: hall.lesley.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

 

For more information on the International Fellowship Program please contact:

Mary Kelleher
International Education Division
Ph: 61 3 9637 2085

Email: kelleher.mary.r@edumail.vic.gov.au

Teachers outside Victoria, Australia

This program is run by the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for Victorian schools. Teachers outside Victoria should contact their State Education Department to enquire if a similar program is available.

Privacy Note

The information contained in your application is being obtained for the purpose of participation in the International Teaching Fellowship (ITF) Program. It will be used by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) for matching exchange counterparts and informing exchange counterparts. Other persons/agencies that may be provided with this information are overseas and interstate exchange co-ordination bodies and support organizations which assist in preparing exchanges for their experience, such as the Victorian International Teachers' Association (ITA). Provision of this information is voluntary. If you do not wish this information to be given to support organizations, you must inform us of this in writing. The information will be stored by DEECD securely. You may correct any information provided by contacting the International Education Division, DEECD. 

ITF Reports

All International Teaching Fellows must submit a report of their experiences while teaching overseas. Fellows are to undertake an area of research or investigation that is relevant to their schools programs and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development priorities.

This report has three main purposes

  1. To provide International Teaching Fellows with a framework within which to focus and reflect on their professional and personal experiences while overseas
  2. To provide the Department and any other interested parties with information on worthwhile overseas initiatives and practices which may be considered for use in Victoria
  3. To provide the individual with the opportunity to explore an area of educational interest, to enhance their professional development.

Abstracts from International Teaching Fellowship reports

For full reports please contact Mary Kelleher, kelleher.mary.r@edumail.vic.gov.au

Downloads

International Teaching Fellowship Application and Information Form (Word - 1.3Mb) 

Application

Applications are invited from permanent Victorian Teachers working full time in either Government or Non-Government schools who wish to participate in the International Teaching Fellowship Program for 2011.

A limited number of Fellowships will be available to enable selected teachers or principals to work in the following overseas countries:

Applications for 2011 close 5 November 2009

Applicants must read the Terms & Conditions before completing the International Teaching Fellowship Application and Information Form (Word - 1.3Mb).

The application should be prepared electronically using the form provided. It should then be printed, signed and have photos attached.

Colour digital of photographs are preferred, printed 4 to an A4 page and stapled to the application.

Applicants must submit one original plus two copies of their application, including Medical Certificate and photographs. Incomplete or late applications may not be accepted.

Terms and Conditions

  1. The term of an International Teaching Fellowship is twelve months. Fellows are required to sign a contract, which requires they remain in the overseas posting for that period of time. They will not be able to resume their previous posts in Victoria until that period has expired. All applicants should note that application for an extension of the International Teaching Fellowship contract of 12 months will not be approved.
  2. Teachers selected for International Teaching Fellowships must be worthy representatives of their profession, of their education authority and their country. They should be prepared to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner at all times. A Fellowship is liable to be cancelled without notice in the event of a Fellow being convicted of a criminal offence, or conducting himself/herself in such a manner as, in the opinion of the host authority, would warrant the dismissal of a teacher similarly conducting himself/herself, who was employed by that authority.
  3. Any teacher selected as an International Teaching Fellow must have four years training, including the equivalent of one year of teacher training. International Teaching Fellows are educators of the highest calibre and are selected with due regard for their aptitude, experience and contribution to their profession. They are expected to have displayed a record of sustained excellence in teaching and to have an appropriate length of teaching experience. Applicants should be prepared to participate in varied teaching situations and generally to obey all lawful instructions given by any officer of the host education authority legally capable of giving such instructions.
  4. International Teaching Fellowships can only be awarded to Australian Citizens. Fellows must travel on an Australian Passport. Fellowships are dependent on the acceptability of the nominee and the nominee's family to the host country. Prior to the offer of an award the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development may seek to establish the acceptability of the nominee and the nominee's family to the host country ('Family' in the above context includes both de jure and de facto spouses).
  5. Fellows will be expected to indicate a topic of investigation or area of research they intend to undertake as a requirement of their Fellowship and submit a report to their employing authority for publication upon their return. Fellows may also be expected to contribute to professional development activities utilising their newly gained skills and information.
  6. Fellows will remain in the employment of their own education authority, retaining their normal rights, privileges and obligations in relation to their employers, including Work Cover during appropriate working hours only.
  7. Fellows will continue to receive their salaries while they are overseas, with continuing deductions for superannuation and, subject to international taxation agreements, for income tax (including Medicare and any other government levy). Applicants should be aware that exchange rates can fluctuate considerably and that successful applicants must make their own appropriate financial arrangements and be responsible for all their own costs incurred with their International Teaching Fellowship year.
  8. Any teacher who is employed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and awarded an International Teaching Fellowship will be granted the right to resume his or her existing school position on return from their Fellowship year or, where the school has undergone restructuring or has closed as a result of a request from the school council, the teacher will be given priority for a placement.
  9. Fellows will be expected to meet the costs of all fares for the forward and return journey for themselves and their families, and to make their own arrangements for passports.

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