I am a fully qualified teacher who is currently teaching Mandarin part-time in an independent school in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

I am facing an extremely difficult situation in applying for the Australian Permanent Residency because AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership) has set the English Language Requirement to an Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test Report Form (TRF) that shows a score of at least 7.0 for both Reading and Writing; and a score of at least 8.0 for both Speaking and Listening.

This English language requirement is unrealistic and stopping the qualified teachers like myself to contribute to Australian Education, especially qualified Mandarin language teachers are highly demanding in the Northern Territory.

AITSL should accept multiple English Examination results as the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory as the following:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR)
Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT)

I took the ISLPR in 2014 and achieved the scores to apply for the teaching license with the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory without any issue. In ISLPR a score of 4 means Vocational Proficiency i.e. the person can use English fluently and accurately on all levels - personal, social, and in situations pertinent to their own 'vocational' fields. This should be highly considered by AITSL when they set the English language requirement. 

The crucial reason why I was able to successfully passed the ISLPR exam because they customized the questions based on my profession which is the Primary School Teacher unlike IELTS questions which cover all different topics and subjects. Therefore, it is unfair for AITSL to merely accept IELTS as the skill assessment for skill migrants for Australian immigration.

In AISTL advance notice

CHANGES TO AITSL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Issued 3 September 2012
From 1 January 2013 the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) will introduce changes to the assessment criteria for English language proficiency to be consistent with teacher registration requirements in Australian states and territories. 

If AISTL claims that they want to be consistent with teacher registration requirements in Australian states and territories. They should seriously look into the English language requirement of the Teacher Registration Board in ALL states and territories and accept IELTS, ISLPR and PEAT as the English Language Requirement.

The Teacher Registration Boards in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, and Victoria all accept IELTS, ISLPR, and PEAT. The Teacher Registration Board in New South Wale accept IELTS and ISLPR and that in Western Australia accept IELTS and PEAT.  

Please kindly support us by signing this petition and asking all the people you know to sign as well. 

 

Reference:

http://www.trb.nt.gov.au/registration/new-applicants/eligibility/establish-your-english-proficiency/​

https://www.trb.sa.edu.au/english​

http://www.trb.wa.gov.au/teacher_registrations/Becoming_registered/registration_requirements/Pages/English-language.aspx​

http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/teacher-accreditation/how-accreditation-works/your-accreditation/overseas-teachers/english-test​

https://www.vit.vic.edu.au/registering-as-a-teacher/how-do-i-register-as-a-teacher/a-guide-on-how-to-register-as-a-teacher/approved-english-language-tests​

https://www.qct.edu.au/registration/english-language-proficiency-requirement​

https://www.trb.tas.gov.au/Documents/English%20Language%20Proficiency%20Policy.pdf