The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) is supporting the Victorian Government’s initiative to supply a pool of registered teachers for schools to access in order to cover any COVID-19 related workforce shortages. 

As Victoria continues to experience COVID-19 community transmission, many schools are experiencing workforce pressures as a result of staff testing positive to COVID-19 and / or being required to isolate. 

It is a legal requirement for anyone undertaking the duties of a teacher in a Victorian school to be registered with VIT. This includes those wishing to become part of the Victorian Government’s initiative to support for schools manage COVID-19 related teacher workforce shortages. 

The VIT is assisting retired and non-practising teachers with their registration requirements to ensure they are eligible to join the Victorian government’s pool of registered teachers. Casual relief teachers are encouraged to also join this pool. Phone DET Schools Recruitment Unit on 1800 641 943 (option 1) or email schools.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au.

Pre-service teachers in their final year of study at an accredited Victorian initial teacher education (ITE) program will be eligible to apply for Permission to Teach (PTT) (COVID-19 pre-service teacher workforce shortage). This temporary grant of PTT will assist in filling short-term vacancies to teacher absences caused by COVID-19, and will be available for the 2022 school year only.

The VIT’s key function is to provide for the safety and wellbeing of children by ensuring only qualified and suitable persons are teaching Victorian learners. 

Retired teachers who are not currently registered 

If you have previously been registered with the VIT and wish to teach again, please login to your MyVIT account and make an application for teacher registration. In many cases, the application form will be pre-populated with documentation we have on file.

The VIT recognises the urgency in creating a pool of registered teachers and will prioritise the assessment of these applications where possible. Read more about the assessment process.

Find out more about applying for teacher registration, including how to access your MyVIT account.

Non-practising teachers

If you currently hold non-practising registration and wish to be part of the Victorian Government’s pool of registered teachers, you should submit an application to return to teaching via the ‘Manage registration’ tile in your MyVIT account.

Your application to return to teach must be approved by VIT before you can undertake the duties of a teacher in a Victorian school.

The VIT understands the ongoing challenges that COVID-19 presents, and remains committed to minimising the impacts on teachers' registration requirements where possible.

Due to the uncertainty of guaranteed employment opportunities associated with the Victorian Government’s pool of registered teachers, it might not be possible to meet the 20 days of teaching requirement for those returning to teach. Those who cannot to meet this requirement will be given the option to move back to non-practising registration as part of the 2022-23 annual registration process.

Final year pre-service teachers 

Pre-service teachers in their final year of study at an accredited Victorian initial teacher education (ITE) program will be eligible to apply for Permission to Teach (PTT) (COVID-19 pre-service teacher workforce shortage).

PTT (COVID-19 pre-service teacher workforce shortage) applicants will be required to meet VIT’s rigorous suitability requirements and complete Mandatory Reporting training.

PTT is only granted to teach specific subjects or subject areas at a particular school for a maximum of three years, and therefore PTT cannot be used to undertake casual relief teaching.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate they have appropriate content knowledge of the subject area/s they will be teaching. Additionally, those teaching in special school settings will be required to demonstrate professional and academic experience relevant to the role.

Details can be found here.

Victorian Government’s pool of registered teachers 

Those who wish to join the Victorian Government’s pool of short-term staff to manage COVID-19 teacher workforce shortages must liaise directly with the DET Schools Recruitment Unit by phoning 1800 641 943 (option 1) or emailing schools.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au.  

Schools wishing to access the Victorian Government’s pool of registered teachers must liaise directly with the DET Schools Recruitment Unit by phoning 1800 641 943 (option 1) or emailing schools.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au.