@beaj <blockquote rel="beaj">Hello! I have a question lang. Unlike you guys kasi, I am already here with a student visa taking up a VET course in some college.
I am a preschool teacher. I taught in Manila for 2yrs and then in SG for a year. I'm also a graduate of Early Childhood Education. When I first arrived here, I applied for casual childcare work sa mga agencies. So I have a few months experience na with childcare here. Pero casual teaching is not a regular job kasi so I only get around 2 shifts a week when I'm very lucky. Usually, wala pa. So I decided to just drop the casual teaching job and look for a different job. Now, I'm a Barista but I still accept some casual teaching when I'm available.
I have had my degree assessed by NOOSR, and the result is that my degree is equivalent to an Australian Degree. Ngayon, my situation is AITSL refuses to assess my ECE degree because they said na I'm already here anyway. They asked me to get the assessment from ACECQA (Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority) which I haven't done yet because I don't have time. Basically, every ECE or childcare teacher needs to be assessed by ACECQA first. Now, I'm just wondering will there be a chance that if ever my ECE degree is equivalent to at least a cert 3 or diploma in children's services, will be able to find an employer who will sponsor me? Or that's highly unlikely? The rules are changing nadin kasi in 2014, all childcare workers should have at least a cert 3. Eh I don't want to study education na talaga. If possible nga, I really don't want to teach children anymore. Pero I want to stay here for good. So yun, what do I need to do? Do I need to apply for other types of visa nalang at this moment? </blockquote>
Hi beaj
Go to your local TAFE or university and try the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Pathway under Departmet of Education. Since your degree has been assessed by the NOOSR positively, try to submit your documents to Overseas Qualifications Unit (OQU) as this will be your ticket to enrol in any uni or TAFE since you are here in OZ.
RPL credits your work experience and/or any experience related to your career regarless how and where you gained them. So instead of taking Cert III - as comparable to Australian Degree Holder like you are, i reckon you should do or take higher studies like Diploma or degree than that. You could even be credited to most of the subjects in CERT III of IV. I'm still in the process of doing this and will continue once my bub is a bit older.
I have positive assessment from VETASSES based on my educational qalification as comparable to Australian degree. I submitted my documents to OQU as well and gained the same result. I graduated BS industrial in manila and took 18 units of educ. I passed the PRC licensure exam for secondary teacher and had work experience mostly with foreign students learning english during vacation and holiday programs.
i hope you and i can both pursue and pass the RPL. :-)