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Teaching in Catholic Schools

We understand that learning is enhanced when teachers work within a positive culture that values learning and the human person.

Our teachers strive to engage students, cater for their individual differences, and aim towards identified learning outcomes.

 

Requirements

Registration as a teacher in Victoria
All teachers in Victoria must hold current teacher registration through the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) whether you work in the Catholic, government or independent sector. The VIT’s role is to maintain high standards of professional practice for teacher registered in Victoria and to support teachers to meet those standards.

For more information, visit the VIT website www.vit.vic.edu.au.

 

Working with Children Check

Passing a Working with Children (WWC) Check is a legal requirement for everyone in Victoria doing paid or voluntary child-related work who does not qualify for an exemption.

For more information visit www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au.

 

Accreditation to teach in a Catholic school

Read about accreditation requirements in the Accreditation tab (above) and how to obtain accreditation.

Accreditation to Teach and to Teach Religious Education or Lead in Catholic Schools in Victoria

accreditation policy banner

Leaders and teachers in Catholic schools play an essential part in seeking to ensure that students experience a quality education, and are invited to encounter God and develop their knowledge and appreciation of the Catholic faith and tradition.

The accreditation process aims to support leaders and teachers entering and continuing service in Catholic education to develop the knowledge and skills that will support authentic witness in and across all Victorian Catholic schools.

Leaders and teachers entering Catholic education without being accredited to teach in a Catholic school are granted a five-year period from the commencement of employment to secure their accreditation.

There are two levels of accreditation in recognition of the different roles that leaders and teachers undertake:

1. Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School (gain and maintain)

2. Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School (gain and maintain).

All teachers are required to gain and maintain Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School.

All teachers of Religious Education and leaders are required to gain and maintain Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School. (Meeting the study and currency requirements of Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School also satisfies the requirements of Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School.)

Requirements for gaining and maintaining accreditation

Level

Gaining

Maintaining

Accreditation is gained by undertaking:

Accreditation is maintained by undertaking:

1. Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School

25 hours of professional learning balanced across the three categories,* within five years of being employed

25 hours of professional learning or formation balanced across the three categories,* in each five-year period following the initial gaining of Level 1 accreditation

2. Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School

Formal, assessed study in Religious Education/Theology/Catholic Leadership within five years of being employed (courses are approved by agreement of the diocesan heads of Religious Education).†

A qualification in Catholic Leadership (e.g. a master’s degree) must include four units of Religious Education or Theology (or equivalent)

50 hours of professional learning or formation balanced across the three categories,* in each five-year period following the initial gaining of Level 2 accreditation

Accreditation categories

The following categories apply to gaining and maintaining Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School, and maintaining Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School:

  1. the aims and objectives of the Catholic school
  2. Catholic curriculum,‡ Religious Education and faith development
  3. Catholic identity, culture, tradition and theology (including prayer, liturgy, Scripture and Catholic social teaching).

* ‘Balance’ for Level 1 accreditation requires a minimum of five hours of professional learning in each category, and for Level 2 accreditation requires a minimum of 10 hours of professional learning in each category.

† While this provision concerns teachers new to Catholic education, current teachers may pursue Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School at any stage of their career.

‡ ‘Catholic curriculum’ refers to the Catholic context and teachings related to learning areas other than Religious Education (e.g. Catholic teaching on bioethics in relation to the Science curriculum).

Accreditation guidelines, FAQs and example scenarios

Implementation Guidelines for Accreditation Policy

Accreditation FAQs and Scenarios

Teachers Applying for Accreditation

  • If you are a teacher not presently working in the Catholic system and you wish to apply for Accreditation, please contact your preferred Diocese.  
  • If you are a teacher working in the Catholic system and wish to apply for Accreditation, please click in the following link

Tap portal

Diocesan website:

Schools or External Providers Applying for Professional Learning Approval

  • If you are a Catholic School applying to have your Professional Learning approved for Accreditation purposes, please apply through CEVN.
  • If you are an External Provider applying to have your Professional Learning approved for Accreditation purposes, please click in the following link

TAP portal

Training Manuals

Video Resources

For Principals

For Learners

For enquiries regarding accreditation, please contact:

Other providers

 

Benefits of working in a Catholic school

Professional learning

We recognise that continuing professional learning is an essential component of school improvement and staff development. Professional learning is also a major contributing factor towards improvement in student learning outcomes.

For these reasons there is a commitment to:

  • allocating resources to develop schools as learning communities

  • facilitating ongoing religious formation of staff to enhance the Catholic identity of our schools

  • advancing leadership enrichment opportunities

  • building capacity in all areas of teaching and learning

  • making available regular professional learning activities for Catholic school staff through the My Integrated Professional Learning System (My PL/IPLS) and providing information about programs delivered by external organisations.

By providing these opportunities we recognise that effective schools are learning communities where all staff are lifelong learners.

Teachers already working in Catholic education in Victoria can access information about professional learning opportunities via My PL (IPLS) on the Catholic Education Victoria Network (CEVN) intranet http://cevn.cecv.catholic.edu.au.

 

Salary and Conditions

In Victoria, Catholic Education is covered by the Victoria Catholic Education Multi Enterprise Agreement (VCEMEA). Learn about the salary entitlements and provisions available to personnel working in Catholic Education in Victoria including:

  • Workload
  • Variation of hours
  • Salary assessments
  • Payment of salaries
  • Rates of pay
  • School holiday pay
  • Higher duties allowance
  • Long Service leave
  • Personal/Carer's leave
  • Family Leave – maternity, paternity and adoption leave
  • Superannuation contributions
  • and many other benefits available to Catholic schools' staff and Catholic Education Office personnel in Victoria.