youthpublishnowAustralia has a genuine, active teacher shortage and state education departments are doing something practical about it: they are recruiting overseas. If you are an internationally trained teacher with solid qualifications, strong English, and flexibility about where in Australia you are willing to work, the pathways to Australian school employment are clearer in 2026 than they have been for years.
This guide covers what Australian teachers earn, how AITSL assessment and state registration work, which visa routes bring you to Australian classrooms, and how to approach the application process from Nigeria.
Why Australia Is Recruiting International Teachers
The shortage is most severe in STEM subjects and in rural and remote communities. Western Australia, regional NSW, regional Queensland, and remote Northern Territory schools face the most acute gaps. International teachers willing to work outside major cities are typically placed faster, offered higher incentives, and given more support during the registration process.
Victoria and New South Wales also face shortages but primarily in specific subjects: mathematics, physics, special education, and digital technologies are the most critical across both states.
Australian Teacher Salaries 2026
| State | Starting Salary (AUD) | Experienced (AUD) | Remote Allowance |
| New South Wales | AUD 84,000 to 90,000 | AUD 120,000 to 130,000 | Up to AUD 24,000 |
| Victoria | AUD 82,000 to 88,000 | AUD 115,000 to 125,000 | Up to AUD 20,000 |
| Western Australia | AUD 84,000 to 92,000 | AUD 118,000 to 128,000 | Up to AUD 27,000 |
| Queensland | AUD 80,000 to 88,000 | AUD 110,000 to 120,000 | Up to AUD 22,000 |
| South Australia | AUD 78,000 to 85,000 | AUD 108,000 to 118,000 | Up to AUD 17,000 |
AITSL Assessment Process
AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership) assesses whether your overseas teaching qualification is substantially equivalent to an Australian standard. Required documents: official academic transcripts, degree certificate, evidence of at least 45 days of supervised student teaching, English language test (IELTS Academic 7.0 with no band below 7.0 or equivalent), and evidence of professional teaching experience. Processing takes six to ten weeks.
After a positive AITSL assessment, you apply for teacher registration with the state authority in your target province: Victorian Institute of Teaching, NSW Education Standards Authority, Queensland College of Teachers, or equivalent.
Visa Routes
482 TSS Visa (Medium-Term): Teacher on the MLTSSL. Job offer from a state education department or non-government school with sponsor status. Four years, renewable. Leads to 186 permanent residency.
190 Skilled Nominated Visa: State nomination adds 5 points. All states have teachers on their state nomination lists in 2026. Direct permanent residency pathway.
491 Skilled Work Regional Visa: Adds 15 points. Must work in regional Australia. Significantly faster invitations for teachers willing to work outside major cities.
Are Nigerian four-year Bachelor of Education degrees recognized by AITSL?
Four-year BEd degrees from accredited Nigerian universities are generally assessable by AITSL. The structure of your qualification, including theory hours and supervised teaching days, determines the assessment outcome. AITSL assesses each application individually based on submitted documentation.
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