Tradies becoming teachers

If you've got a trade or skill and you're thinking of getting into trade or vocational teaching, the Queensland Government and Queensland TAFE has a new tool to help. It's a website with information for tradies wanting to enter into teaching.

The site outlines what trade teachers do, how to shift from being a tradie to a teacher, the benefits of teaching, and other questions prospective teachers might want to know about.

One benefit of taking up this opportunity with Queensland TAFE is that the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, which is required to become a TAFE teacher, is paid for. Additionally, you will have access to ten days of paid industry professional development leave each year to maintain currency in your trade, according to teachyourtrade.com .

The site outlines that all you need are five years relevant industry and/or teaching experience and your trade qualification or equivalent to become a trade teacher. An assessment of your experience will be undertaken to determine your eligibility for a teaching position.

SkillsOne has also profile several Trade Teachers, with both articles and videos about trade teachers, including Travelling Woodmachining teacher, Gary Dunshea , Cotton Farming teacher, Graeme Harris and a series of videos about 2007 National Trade Teacher Of The Year, Marion Fitzpatrick .