Primary Casual teaching agencies

[osakabull]

Just wanted to know of people's experiences with teaching agencies in regards to which are good ones.I'm looking to join one but cant find any feedback on experiences with agencies.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[boomering]

I use to do alot of CRT work and now have a ongoing position. There are numerous agencies. One I use to use is Southern Teaching Service which is run by a guy down Frankston way. He has a big number of schools in the south- east area, but he charges a fair bit $$$$. The thing is that you can claim all the fees you pay as a tax deduction. My suggestion is go around to schools and speak to the person in charge of hiring CRT's. Trust me schools are looking for CRT's. and like it when they can ring you direct. What usually happens is that when you do CRT work at a school it will lead to contract work. If you need any more help holler

 

[raskolnikov]

I did CRT work through Skilled for about six months. Skilled are good in that I found I got a lot of work through them. CRT work is horrible unless it's a short-term thing with a definite goal in mind, well even then it's horrible but at least you know there's an end in sight. I did it as I came back from teaching overseas mid year and did it before I found a job the next year. I used to hate going to bed not knowing whether I was working the next day. School holidays are hard as there is no pay unless you find some other work. I did a school holiday program but it was boring and paid about $15 an hour. Also I used to think I had leprosy by the way other teachers in the staff room used to treat me as a CRT. I'm always careful to chat with relief teachers when they are here as I know that feeling of sitting in the staff room with nobody talking to you.

 

[osakabull]

Thanks for the info and suggestions.Do u know any schools that have ESL centres for primary aged kids?I have tried doing a search but im not getting the right results.I know there was a large school in Collingwood where i worked before but dont know any others.

 

[Rocco Jones]

Thanks for the info and suggestions.Do u know any schools that have ESL centres for primary aged kids?I have tried doing a search but im not getting the right results.I know there was a large school in Collingwood where i worked before but dont know any others.

There is a Western English Language School (WELS) outpost at Kensington PS.

 

[catswhiskers2007]

I am a principal in a large primary setting- we have tried several CRT agencies and were once loyal to SOS, based in Geelong. However, they now will not cover workcover and charge schools and teachers much higher than others. We now use another melb-based agency that has much better customer service, follow up with less than average replacement teachers and better conditions. It is a quite competitive market and we use the agencies to assist us with teacher recruitment.

 

[superfraser]

I started relief teaching in June this year.

I've since taken a position with a school to see out the year.

My first stop was my old high school.

I called up and asked to speak to someone about doing relief work at that school. They connected me to the Daily Organiser - my old German teacher. We had a little chat and I asked him, would it be better for me to join an agency or contact schools directly?

His answer:
We prefer to contact the relief teacher directly. Agencies cost us more, and the teacher gets paid less.

I put my contact details in with that school and 3 others.

I was working another a job so I didn't care too much in regards to the amount of days work that I got.

- I got plenty of work.

Between 3-5 days a week.

Each school that I have been to has expressed an interest in keeping me around in a more permanent position.

I've always arrived on time. I'm very personable. I'm neat. I ask questions.

I haven't done anything special in an attempt to get a permanent position - I really wasn't looking for one and was reluctant to accept the one that I did take.

I'm seriously loving teaching at the moment.

I wish you all the best!

 

[bresker]

I used SOS, and got plenty of work in the westerns suburbs, including ESL. There is a big ESL school there with outposts elsewhere.

I found some of the ESL quite tough, as I was mostly teaching African kids who had come from unbelievably tough backgrounds. Kids who had lost parents in the Sudanese conflict. Also some Burmese kids who had been adopted by Aussie families. Angry kids. I would be angry too.

Some schools I dreaded, some classes I dreaded, but most were fine. I did it for a year and a half, and I've never done any other teaching. I'm pretty good at it, if I say so myself. But when I return to Melbourne I hope to overcome my trepidation & avoidance of responsibility and get a full time job.

 

[bresker]

http://www.esl-wels.vic.edu.au

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Not sure what agency we get our CRT's from but we should really think about changing. We have had some shockers of late.

 

[Krisabella]

Hi there,

Being based in Geeling, SOS is great. Lovely people and you are able to get a lot of work. Good luck.

 

[jefffff34]

CRT work is great. I miss it!

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Can't stand it. Hate it and hate my time at the current schools i'm at.

Loved my time at my old agency with a high profile private school...but the agency turfed me when my daily organiser retired

Oh well, i might ask my old schools direct.

 

[bresker]

I'm back & getting my VIT registration in order. I live in Brunswick East so I think I'll just call in and talk to some vice principals in surrounding schools. I don't want an agency taking my cash.

I'm primary trained but my degree was technically p-10. Myex-missus is a high school teacher and reckons I should approach places like Scotch College about work, as I have an honours degree in Latin & ancient history. I don't think there would be much call for a relief Latin teacher but who knows? I have worked in public high schools twice & found the experience completely terrible but I suppose Latin teaching would be cruisy

 

[bomberdude18 2]

I'm planning on working CRT when I graduate early next year. I'm not sure whether there's any agencies where I live, but even if there was I wouldn't use one. I'd rather deal directly with the school and try to build my own relationships with the people there and plus why pay somebody else to get me CRT work when I can do it myself and have some control over the schools I want to try and work at.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

I'm planning on working CRT when I graduate early next year. I'm not sure whether there's any agencies where I live, but even if there was I wouldn't use one. I'd rather deal directly with the school and try to build my own relationships with the people there and plus why pay somebody else to get me CRT work when I can do it myself and have some control over the schools I want to try and work at.

I think that's the way to do it.
Why do you want to CRT and not go straight into a job?

 

[bomberdude18 2]

Because I transferred universities after my first year, my placement didn't roll over so I'm doing my final placement next year. I'd be hard pressed to have a job lined up to start in mid-march so CRT is the only option to begin with. But i'm happy about that because it gives me the opportunity to go overseas and do a few other things I want to do before I get married and my life is over. Plus no meetings, no planning, no reports is a plus.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Because I transferred universities after my first year, my placement didn't roll over so I'm doing my final placement next year. I'd be hard pressed to have a job lined up to start in mid-march so CRT is the only option to begin with. But i'm happy about that because it gives me the opportunity to go overseas and do a few other things I want to do before I get married and my life is over. Plus no meetings, no planning, no reports is a plus.

Fair enough.
There are definitely some advantages to both and the ones you mentioned are great. I think no parents is almost as good as those reasons too!

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

ANZUK are good. I work through them and also work directly for a few schools.

 

[raskolnikov]

Well, I'm back on the old CRT mill. However I'm quite happy with that as I'm in a financial position now that I'm happy to only work two or three days a week and it means no report writing or staff meetings. Plus if I stick to a few schools in my area(Brunswick) I get to know the staff and students a lot better which is what I didn't like about working through an agency.