David Baylis of Mentone, Reader's Comment, Baillieu plan to get rid of bad teachers, Jewel Topsfield, The Age, 21 June 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/baillieu-plan-to-get-rid-of-bad-teachers-20120620-20oky.html Historical link preserved from the original page.
Victorian teacher: I had no work in 2011.
I studied as a mature aged student to gain an Arts degree and then completed my Graduate Diploma of Education.
I had short term contracts.
The first one was for one term and then the school advertised for the second semester and I was successful in gaining the position.
At the end of the year, they advertised for two positions for English / Humanities.
There were four of us on contracts, but two had made the decision to move on - one because she had been on contract for five years and the other to travel.
I didn't get either of the positions.
The successful applicant decided not to take up the job and the position was offered to someone else.
To say I was gutted is an understatement.
I had three terms of being told what a good job I was doing.
The students were achieving, we were getting on like a house on fire and I absolutely loved my job.
My students, when they found out, were most upset.
2011, I had nothing.
I am not in a position to travel more than about an hour for work.
If I cannot secure a position, either via contract or as a casual, by the time the VIT renewal is due, I won't be bothering.
I'll attempt to find an office job, like I used to have before.
By the way, what exactly do we pay all that money to VIT for?
What a jip!