IEU Career Corner: graduates, consider starting your teaching career as a CRT

Starting your career as a casual relief teacher can offer many benefits for newcomers to education.

A casual relief teacher – sometimes referred to as a substitute teacher – works in a casual, relief or emergency basis filling in for full-time staff who are absent.

There are many agencies available to help you find a placement as a CRT, but the IEU’s advice is to try contacting schools yourself before giving up part of your wages in commission. Schools are usually happy to discuss a position with a graduate and even if something is not immediately available, opportunities often arise after that initial personal contact is made.

Personal approaches also avoid the high fees charged by CRT placement agencies that are taken out of the teacher’s daily rate. If a member does want to use a teacher placement agency, we advise them to seek advice from the union before signing any agreement.

Here are some of the benefits of CRT work for newcomers to education:

Flexibility

Casual relief teaching provides a flexible schedule, allowing you to choose when and where you work, which can help balance work with personal commitments. No two days are alike, and the variety keeps the role exciting, each assignment bringing a new opportunity to engage with different students, explore different teaching styles, and learn from different school environments.

Workload

As a CRT, you experience fewer meetings, reports and parental interactions, lessening the crushing workload that can overwhelm experienced teachers, let alone newbies. Entering the profession a little more gradually makes a lot of sense. It takes time to learn how to manage a classroom, adapt to school routines and learn curricula, especially while you are negotiation the VIT registration process. As a CRT, you concentrate on your class and delivering that day’s set content. And then the rest of the day is yours to do with as you please!

Experience

As a CRT you will have diverse classroom experiences across different schools, year levels, and subjects, enhancing your teaching skills and adaptability. Constantly attending new schools forces you out of your comfort zone and offers work with a diversity of staff and students. A first year as a CRT also enables you to understand the different demands of government, independent and Catholic sectors which can help you make more informed career choices.

Skill Development

A CRT is exposed to different various classroom management techniques and school cultures, helping you develop a versatile skill set. You see how experienced teachers set up their curriculum and run their classes. You will also have the opportunity to try out different lessons on different students. Every day brings a new challenge, so your creative problem-solving skills are tested on a regular basis.

Networking and employment opportunities

Working in various schools allows you to build a broad network of educators, administrators, and support staff which can lead to valuable professional relationships and job opportunities. Personal connections remain the most powerful tool in a jobseeker’s arsenal. Performing well as a casual relief teacher can lead to long-term contracts or permanent positions; schools are keen to engage staff who they know and rate. Being a CRT showcases your personal qualities and work skills to principals and school leadership teams.

Professional Growth

The varied experiences and challenges you encounter as a CRT can contribute to your professional growth and confidence as an educator. The work makes you adapt to new classroom dynamics, curriculum requirements, and teaching styles, developing your resourcefulness, problem-solving, and flexibility. Being better able to swiftly adjust to different learning environments makes you more employable and deepens your confidence as an educator.

Challenges

Working as a CRT is an adventure – no two days are alike. Some liken it to a learning ‘gap year’, where you soak up formative experiences. But it’s no holiday on the job. Being a ‘fly in-fly out’ teacher demands flexibility and self-belief. If you prefer a strict, predictable routine, it may not be for you.

Specific challenges include:

Limited Preparation Time

CRTs must react quickly to 7am phone calls to fill in at a school experiencing an unexpected staff absence. There’s usually little notice for jobs and limited preparation time. That means adapting to new lesson plans, curricula and school dynamics on the spot. CRTs must learn quickly how to manage their time and think on their feet to provide satisfactory lessons. Instant rapport CRTs have little time to connect with students, making their assignments a searching test of empathy, communication skills and confidence. They don’t have the luxury of having the full year to establish solid relationships with students.

Classroom Management

No teacher can be too shy or retiring, but CRTs need an even thicker skin to cope with a succession of unfamiliar classrooms. It’s a daunting assignment to promptly establish a productive classroom, cope with disruptions, and maintain discipline.

Finances

CRTs get paid better hourly rates than tenured early-career teachers, but they don’t get holiday pay, so must plan for times when school is out and they aren’t employed. Careful budget management and financial planning are essential.

Making the decision

If you want to stretch yourself without burning out, working as a CRT for a year (or more) offers variety and flexibility and could be the ideal way to ‘try before you buy’. This is a good time to be a CRT – most schools are stretched by the teacher shortage and will embrace a reliable replacement.

The choice really comes down to knowing yourself. Are you adaptable and resilient? Do you need to know more about what school life will offer? If you thrive on change need flexibility and connect quickly with students, this might be the perfect job for you. You’ll certainly undergo a year of accelerated learning!