Teaches academic and living skills to primary, middle or intermediate, and secondary school students with particular learning difficulties using various techniques, and promotes students’ social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. Registration or licensing is required.
What’s it like to be a Teacher - Special Education?
Special education teachers develop and conduct learning programmes for
preschool, primary and secondary students who have learning difficulties or an
impairment in their physical, sensory, emotional or intellectual abilities.
Some also teach students who are intellectually gifted.
Special education teachers may work in schools for children with special needs
or in mainstream classrooms, either with groups of students or on an
individual basis. In mainstream schools, special education teachers are
involved in the planning and implementation of programmes to enable students
with disabilities to function successfully in a regular classroom setting.
How much can I expect to earn?
Full-time employed Teacher - Special Education earn an average of $1310 per
week. The [average annual salary for this job is $68120 excluding super.]
Personal requirements
dedicated, patient and tactful
able to relate easily to children
flexible and adaptable
able to motivate students to learn
able to communicate simply and clearly
understanding of people’s special needs
prepared to work outside of school hours.
This job also involves:
Mainly indoor work
Workers performing these jobs would usually be expected to spend more than
three-quarters of their day indoors, in an office, factory or other enclosed
area protected from the weather.
Reading or writing
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may
be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as
letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or
writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and
symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing
skills.
This occupation offers jobs at the following skill levels:
Professional Jobs
Jobs in this group usually require completion of a recognised Bachelor Degree,
or extensive relevant experience. Some jobs also require post-graduate study,
such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master Degree.
Study requirements
At school, you can study these subject(s) to get a good foundation for this
occupation:
English
School subjects that include some aspect of English provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases an English-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Mathematics
School subjects that include some aspect of MATHEMATICS provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a mathematics-related subject is a
pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Duties and tasks of a Teacher - Special Education
Special education teachers may perform the following tasks:
assess the abilities and potential of students requiring a specific study programme using a variety of tests and other forms of assessment
plan special courses of study to meet the needs of students
teach academic subjects and practical self-help skills using various methods and aids to assist in the education and rehabilitation process
develop and adapt the curriculum to make it relevant for students with disability
observe students to evaluate and record their progress and to detect signs of developmental disorders, ill health or emotional disturbance
work closely with other professionals, including guidance officers, speech therapists and psychologists
promote health and safety concepts and social interaction with other students
assist students with toileting, feeding and other personal matters (this may require lifting the students)
discuss aspects of students’ development with parents and other educators
discuss the aims of the education programme as a whole with parents
participate in community activities and on school committees.
Specialisations
Adult Literacy and Numeracy Teacher
An adult literacy and numeracy teacher specialises in teaching literacy and
numeracy skills such as reading, writing and mathematics to adults with low
literacy or other people with literacy or numeracy problems.
