teacher

administrative officer

registered nurse

mental health technician

project officer

NSW Department of Education

A diverse and sometimes challenging job. Children with disabilities have a wide range of behavioural patterns that can change due to change in medication, routine, or conditions (including mood). These behaviours can change at any instance. My role is assisting with taking these students with disabilities to and from school, maintaining vigilance, for their and others health and safety.

I expected, before undertaking the job, that the students would be highly varied in their behaviour, particularly not understanding rules and how they should behave. However, these students have an understanding of the rules and what to expect once they are in the car or on the bus. As stated previously, their diverse behaviours are due to various reasons. And, they understand my role and my relationship to them.

Management has informed me of any changes in the conditions of my job or contract.

My co-workers have performed their role to the best of their abilities, as well as maintaining a comfortable environment for both the students and myself, while in the car or bus.

The hardest part of my job is that some students have challenging behaviours that need to be regulated to keep themselves and others safe.

The most enjoyable part of my job is when the students smile and say hi, when they are getting in to the car or get on the bus.

there are so many flaws in the teaching service
I was leading teacher/deputy principal and i found so many principals envied me because i came through the leading teacher ranks: they felt i should have waited my time and did country service.  I was too innovative for their way of managing

I found most Principals are NOT suitable for the position.  Most did their degree and have done very little training after that.  Most know very little about financial management or how to manage people or difficult children.  Most know little about managing students with disabilities

A large number of Principals are BULLIES: they bully staff and students. Most Principals DO NOT supervise staff as they are afraid of giving real appraisals as many teachers are poor teachers who do little professional development that is worthwhile

I was bullied by a number of Principals and directors always support the Principal without analysing the situation.  Most directors are from primary background and know little about managing high schools.

School management plans are a waste of time as majority of schools do not even use or refer to them.  These plans are just done to satisfy the system and most schools do not even use them - they are a paper exercise

I arrived at the department as a contractor, initially for a few months, and I am still here a few years later – which is perhaps the finest personal testament I can give about the team I have been working with.

There are many teams across the department, each with their own managerial styles and team cultures, so in that sense it is no different to any other work environment. But I am happy to say that the team I have been involved with are in general a very friendly and supportive bunch of people.

A mobile work environment makes flexible working arrangements possible – even encouraged. This is great if you have outside or family obligations that require your time, and it means, with the current climate, that working from home is viable and easy. At this writing, I’ve yet to take advantage of it, but it’s nice to know I’ll be able to when needed.

In addition, the ready availability of training courses, online learning resources, and secondment opportunities with other teams across the department provides every chance of career advancement for those who are willing to take advantage of it.

I dedicated 10 years to something that I loved, I was excited to go to work each day –  however well before the pandemic schools have increasingly become the worst place to work! Crisis meetings are held regularly by executive staff and Principals to tackle serious growing concerns across all NSW schools such as significant teacher shortages and unsustainable workloads. Student's learning is neglected daily with classes often collapsed and covered by inexperienced casuals baby sitting classes. 10,000 or more teachers were sacked due to vaccines mandates placing significant pressure on schools to deliver learning to students already suffering during this tough time. The Education Minister and NSW Government need to seriously address the real world problems this profession is facing, until then it will continue to spiral downhill with teachers resigning daily. I do not recommend to anyone considering working here until these issues are addressed. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Teaching Technology. Having wood and metal workshops.  When students were excited and willing to have a go. I didn't get a chance to teach computers which what I was qualified to teach.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Dealing with the executive and school politics. Policies that had more to satisfy favoured individuals and faculties. Dealing with students who would be better catered for in another setting.  Bandaides are applied to problems that need systemic  change.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Toxic. In the TAS faculty there was a collegiate, helpful environment.  Our head teacher was exceptional, always supportive and fighting for our faculty. But above that staff were concerned about themselves.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Rushing to class, preparing for the next class, marking, meetings,  training that won't be used. Change for change sake and dealing with deceitful lazy children to the detriment of those who want to participate.

I loved teaching the students who had chosen the stage 6 science subjects and my students achieved great results.......
but the NSW DoE is run by a gang of executives who stick together and if one of the gang doesn't like you for a personal reason (not professional), the ruthlessness will rear its ugly head and all kinds of absurd accusations will be leveled at you and your once secure, permanent, full-time position with the DoE will be no longer. No matter how hard you had worked and how passionate you were (in fact, I still am) about public education and about your teaching subject. The Dept. of EDUCATION of all govt. departments will lie and push you to the brink of taking your own life without a care in the world for you as a staff member or for your own children who would be left orphaned. It is a good place to work for 99% of people, it was good for me for 17 years, until I unluckily got on the wrong side of the wrong person for reasons too detailed to write here. Just watch your back if you choose to work for them.

Came in as a middle age employee and found there to be many cliques. It was hard to fit in with existing staff who were all teenagers or on the verge of retirement.

Contract hours agreed to at the commencement of employment didn't match expectations of what you were really supposed to work; all while it is made abundantly clear you won't be paid for those extra hours. So you have to choose to work for free to perform to expectation, or risk looking slow or incompetent if you only work what you are paid for.

Management team were really bright, inspiring and motivating - a true asset to the department. 

The technology is quite up to date but the IT Support team are understaffed putting immense pressure on anyone having a slight tech emergency that needed immediate help and on the tech team themselves always run off their feet.

I would rate DET/DEC very highly.  I was always improving myself and encouraged by Higher Management ie High School and TAFE:

EEO values and principles are high in DET

Everyone who works hard is highly rewarded and given a fair go.

I have enjoyed a happy and most satisfying career working with qualified management, staff and gorgeous children who were well cared for and encouraged to achieve their full potential.

I have only positive experiences.

I have also worked in Catholic Primary Schools and have enjoyed teaching from K-6.  Christian morals and ethics were soundly instilled in these schools.  The Duty of Care is amazing; extra tuition for kids with learning difficulties, diversity, etc was engendered with sound expertise.  Teachers work very hard however, the reward is at the end of the day to see kids learning, enjoying and safe.

I am blessed and rewarded in my career.

I would like to be able get more work from the Dept. The NSW Dept of Education and Training is a great place to get work.
A typical day includes meeting a new class or catching up with previous students, organising the work to be done and taking the students through the set tasks.
I learn many new things each day such as new teaching methods and new subjects being taught. 
I am shown how different teachers manage different classes and use reward systems to maintain discipline. 
I am lucky enough to meet many hard working and dedicated people.
The hardest part of the job is looking back over the day and wishing I could have done more to help the students. Sometimes in older classes there can be discipline issues.
The most enjoyable part of the job is helping the students with their education and giving them tasks that they enjoy.

Although my experience with the Department of Education was unpaid work experience, I found it an extremely good experience and really got me a good feel for the work place and boosted my confidence. I enjoyed working to help the students and helping set up lessons and activities. A typical day would consist of helping the teacher I was working with with anything they needed done, providing help to students with their set tasks and also conducting lessons for the students. I learnt how to properly set up a variety of lessons for students and also gained confidence. The lesson planning was undoubtedly was the hardest part of the job, but even then it was enjoyable and found it as a helpful experience. I enjoyed the whole job itself but I mostly enjoyed engaging in a variety of lessons with the staff/students and helping any way I could.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Teacher 30 salaries reported	$105,041 per year
Administrative officer 4 salaries reported	$68,413 per year
Registered nurse 96 salaries reported	$80,109 per year
Mental health technician 58 salaries reported	$92,794 per year
Project officer 12 salaries reported	$112,125 per year

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