Graduate Teacher Recruitment Initiative

Eligible graduate teaching positions are now ongoing

Ongoing employment gives you a job opportunity without a specified time limit, that means you can start your teaching career in a secure, permanent role. To apply, visit School Jobs Vic and use the filtering options to select ‘Graduate Teacher’ under the role type category. Graduate teacher vacancies are advertised as ongoing, however, may be subject to a probationary period. Graduate teachers are also eligible to apply for all classroom teacher vacancies, including ongoing and fixed-term positions.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for GTRI vacancies in our schools, candidates must:

be a 4-year qualified teacher who has completed all course requirements and graduated within the last 4 years
be currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching
not be employed as a teacher by the department at the time the advertised position is to commence
not previously received the GTRI incentive payment
successfully gained a graduate specific teaching position outlined in the job opening.

Incentive inclusions:

part-time positions will attract a pro-rata incentive amount equal to the time fraction advertised
teachers who accept these positions need to commit to at least a year in the position to retain the incentive.

How do I apply?

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Applying for graduate teacher roles

Visit the department’s School Jobs Vic portal to find out which schools have graduate teaching roles currently open for application.

To apply for a position under the Graduate Teacher Recruitment Initiative, candidates should search for open positions with “GTRI” in their title.

After submitting an application, you may be invited for an interview. School job selection panels choose the successful candidate based on merit assessed in the interview and written selection criteria.

Merit is the relevant skills, personal qualities and abilities required to do well in the position.

Help with School Jobs Vic and Schools Recruitment

For help with School Jobs Vic or other school recruitment enquiries:

email: schools.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au

phone: 1800 641 943, select options for Schools Recruitment - (free call from within Australia) or +800 0408 0408 (toll free from other countries). Phone support is available Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC + 10).

Why choose a Victorian government school?

Teaching in Victorian government schools is a rewarding and dynamic career where no two days are the same. As a teacher you have an opportunity to have a real impact on a child’s life.

Victorian government school teachers are supported by their peers, their leaders and the government to deliver great outcomes for their students. They apply the latest research and global best-practice to achieve excellence in our schools.

As a teacher you can inspire your students and help each Victorian child become a better version of themselves.

As a graduate teacher you will:

receive a competitive starting salary of $79,589 and can access progression of up to $118,063 as a classroom teacher
be provided with secure ongoing employment – all graduate teacher vacancies are advertised as ongoing
be considered for flexible working arrangements upon request
be connected with a state-wide network of peers and enjoy hands-on training with the latest technology
access to the Employee Wellbeing Support Services (EWSS), providing support with work, life and personal health issues
have the chance to build professional relationships with your colleagues and have an ongoing professional development such as:

professional learning communities (PLCs) consists of small groups of teachers working together
Learning Specialists whose role is to focus on supporting teachers and graduates to become more effective teachers
professional practice days, which are dedicated time to focus to improve high-quality teaching and learning.

Be supported with professional development opportunities and initiatives such as:

Graduate Teacher Learning Series including feature articles, graduate video series, podcasts and many other toolkits
Graduate Teacher Conferences for first year teachers to enhance professional practice
Effective Monitoring Program for classroom mentoring matched with a mentor teacher
induction support materials such as graduate teacher induction guide.

work for an employer that champions diversity and provides an inclusive workplace that aims for a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Victorian community
be employed by the Department of Education, not just a school, giving you the ability to work across Victoria while maintaining ongoing employment and leave entitlements that will move with you from one school to another
have clear pathways to middle leadership through the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, and to Learning Specialist and Leading Teacher positions
receive the benefit of improved working conditions including:

the first reduction in face-to-face teaching in over 3 decades
enhanced time-in-lieu provisions for teachers and education support class employees
increases to paid parental leave entitlements and superannuation contributions during the first 12 months of unpaid parental leave

Handy recruitment tips

Start your job search early: It’s never too early to start looking for a job. Start your search early and be open to various teaching opportunities. You may not get your dream job right away, but any teaching experience is valuable.
Create a strong resume and cover letter: Your resume and cover letter should be tailored to the teaching position you are applying for. Highlight your relevant skills and experience, and make sure they are easy to read.
Network with other teachers: Attend job fairs, join teaching organizations, and connect with other teachers in your field. They may have job leads or be able to offer you advice on your job search.
Be flexible: Be open to teaching different grade levels or subjects. This will make you more marketable to potential employers. Also think about other geographic areas.
Prepare for interviews: Research the school and council you are interviewing with and prepare answers to common interview questions. Be sure to dress professionally and arrive early.
Follow up after interviews: Send a thank-you email or note after your interview to show your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the position.
Keep a positive attitude: The job search process can be stressful but try to stay positive and don’t get discouraged. Keep working hard and you will eventually find the right teaching position for you.

Updated 26 March 2026

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Graduate Teacher Recruitment Initiative

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Eligible graduate teaching positions are now ongoing

Eligibility criteria

Incentive inclusions:

How do I apply?

Why choose a Victorian government school?

Handy recruitment tips

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