Classification: Classroom Teacher
Position No: Shirley Smith High School - Classroom Teachers - P71537, P71542, P71538, P71540, P71539, P71541, P71543
Directorate: Education
Advertised (Gazettal date): 22 June 2026
Contact Officer: Melissa Beattie on [email protected]
Shirley Smith High School - Classroom Teachers: start Term 1 2027
Join our team of passionate teachers in ACT public schools and make a real difference in the lives of students.
Shirley Smith High School is in the Gungahlin district of Canberra and opened in 2024 with an inaugural cohort of Year 7 students. In 2027, the school will cater for students across Years 7–10. At full capacity, the school will accommodate up to 800 students and employ approximately 90 teaching and ancillary staff.
The school provides high-quality, contemporary indoor and outdoor learning environments. These inclusive facilities are designed to support students with a diverse range of learning and social needs.
We are seeking highly collaborative and innovative teachers to join our team for the 2027 school year. Our school has a strong focus on inclusion through Universal Design for Learning (UDL), collaborative teaching and learning, inquiry-based practice, and response to intervention.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate experience or capability in one or more of these areas, or within another key learning area. All aspects of our work are guided by our school values and our Yindyamarra framework.
We are seeking a qualified secondary classroom teacher for permanent positions at Shirley Smtih High School.
Secondary teaching specialisations include:
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STEM (engineering/robotics/3D design)
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Disability Education / Inclusion Specialist
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Performing Arts/Drama
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English (EALD experience highly desirable)
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Physical Education and Health
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Mathematics
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HaSS
What we can offer you:
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Competitive pay: Enjoy some of the best teacher salaries and conditions in Australia. Starting at $91,396 for graduate teachers, with experienced teachers earning between $108,619 and $129,106.
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Generous superannuation: 12.5%.
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Relocation support: Up to $12K reimbursement for interstate and international teachers, plus extra for dependents.
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Salary packaging: Options with full fringe benefits tax concessions.
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Supportive environment: Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
Why join us?
- Career growth: Benefit from the 3-year New Educator Support Program and leadership pathways to fast-track your career.
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Work-life balance: Enjoy short commutes with every ACT public school within a 30-minute drive, giving you more time for what matters.
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Focus on wellbeing: Work under an Enterprise Agreement that prioritises teacher wellbeing and reduced workloads.
About the ACT Education Directorate:
We deliver high-quality public education for children and young people across the ACT. Our mission is to provide excellent, fair and equitable learning opportunities where every student feels safe, valued and supported to thrive.
ACT public schools educate more than 50,000 students across 93 schools including early childhood schools, preschools, primary schools, high schools, colleges and specialist school settings.
Through our Strong Foundations program, we are delivering a consistent evidence-based approach to learning across ACT public schools.
More information can be found on the ACT Education Directorate website.
About the role:
As a secondary teacher at Shirley Smith High School, you will:
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Plan and deliver engaging and differentiated teaching and learning programs (years 7-10) that align with the Australian Curriculum (V9.0).
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Manage classrooms effectively, using well-developed communication and interpersonal skills to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive classroom where every student feels valued and motivated to learn.
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Build respectful, positive relationships with students, colleagues, families, and the wider school community.
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Contribute to whole-school initiatives and collaborate within a professional, student-focused team.
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Demonstrate a deep understanding of how secondary students learn and use feedback and assessment to guide progress.
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Engage in ongoing professional learning to develop your teaching practice and enhance student achievement.
What we’re looking for:
- Secondary subject expertise: Strong curriculum knowledge and a demonstrated approach to enhancing student outcomes.
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Qualifications and experience: A recognised tertiary teaching qualification and experience working with secondary students.
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Passion for teaching: A genuine desire to see students thrive and succeed in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Eligibility requirements:
To apply, you must have:
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A recognised 4-year full-time tertiary teaching qualification.
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ACT Teacher Quality Institute Teacher Registration (or eligibility to apply).
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Valid ACT Working with Vulnerable People registration (or eligibility to apply).
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Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid working visa.
How to apply:
Apply via our job portal with:
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Your resume/CV detailing your experience and teaching qualifications.
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A statement (maximum 3 pages) showing how your experience fits with the 7 Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership’s (AITSL) teacher standards.
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Your academic transcripts (preferably certified) – new graduates only.
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Evidence of your current teacher registration.
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Contact details for two teaching referees.
For more information on applying for an ACT public school teaching role, visit the website.
The ACT Education Directorate is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply. Visit the website to find out more about rewarding careers when you teach in Canberra.
All offers of employment are made under the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and are made on the basis that you satisfy all relevant pre-employment checks. All new ACTPS employees must complete pre-employment checks before starting employment and hold Mandatory Registration to Teach in the ACT (Active TQI and Working with Vulnerable People Registration).
Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.
The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal.
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