Learning area requirements

Requirements

To be eligible for the Leadership Development Program, candidates must be able to enrol in one or two learning areas.

To be eligible for the Leadership Development Program, candidates must be able to enrol in at least one or two learning areas.

We are committed to placing subject specialists in classrooms that need them.

The learning areas you’re eligible to enrol in depend on your prior academic study at the undergraduate and in some cases postgraduate level. During the selection process, Teach For Australia will assess your transcripts to determine your possible enrolment areas. Each learning area has specific requirements (set by regulatory bodies) that all candidates must meet to be eligible.

Learning areas close progressively throughout the year, when we meet school demand. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. You may submit an application if at least one of your learning areas is open. If you have any questions about learning areas, read this explainer about the transcript assessment process or reach out to a Recruitment Manager.

Find out if your learning area(s) are currently open for applications.

Round Dates – 2026

Round one: 16 Feb – 30 Mar
Round two: 20 Apr – 1 June
Round three: 22 June – 3 Aug

Depending on the subject, some learning areas do not require a second subject area. Please check the table below for specific requirements for each learning area. With all learning areas, some flexibility, with and within placement states may be necessary.

wdt_ID	Learning Area	Status	Requires a Second Learning Area	Inherent Requirements (Major/Minor)	Placement States	When to Apply
2	Biology	Closed	Yes	Major or Minor Permitted. Can include genetics, human biology, microbiology, botany, and zoology. Does not include biochemistry.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	Round 1 & 2
5	Chemistry	Closed	No	Major or Minor Permitted. Can include biochemistry.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
6	Drama	Closed	Yes	Major Permitted. Performance Studies (Drama) or Theatre Studies (including practical Drama).	VIC, WA	Rounds 1 & 2
7	Earth & Environmental Science	Closed	No	Major or Minor Permitted. Can include areas such as environmental engineering, natural resource management, and environmental management.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
8	Economics	Closed	Yes	Major or Minor Permitted. Does not include banking or finance.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	Rounds 1 & 2
9	English Literature	Closed	No	Major or Minor Permitted. Must have at least two units of English Literature. Can include one unit of media or linguistics.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
11	Geography	Closed	Yes	Major or Minor Permitted. Must include features on the earth, human geography, and physical geography.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	Rounds 1 & 2
12	Health	Closed	Yes	Major or Minor Permitted. Must include diverse units, with a minimum two of: • Health & Wellbeing • Public health • Family • Human Development • Nutrition • Gender Studies • Youth Studies	NT, VIC, WA	Round 1
13	History	Closed	No	Major or Minor Permitted. Does not include Art History. Can include a mix of modern and ancient history.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
14	Digital Technology – Including ICT	Closed	Yes	Major or Minor Permitted. Must include units in coding.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
15	Languages other than English	Closed	Yes	Major Permitted. We currently place the following languages: • Chinese (Mandarin) • French • German • Indonesian • Italian • Japanese • Spanish Native speakers may also obtain a “Statement of Equivalence” if they have another major derived from formal academic study.	NT, VIC, WA	All rounds
17	Mathematics	Closed	No	Major or Minor Permitted. Does not include economics, financial or business mathematics. Can include engineering.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
18	Media	Closed	Yes	Major or Minor Permitted. Can include journalism, media creation, production, cinema content, and editing. Does not include, advertising & marketing, photography and public relations.	VIC, WA	Round 1
19	Music	Closed	Yes	Major Permitted only including the following: • musicological study (music history and analysis) in a range of musical styles; • periods and genres with a strong component of contemporary and western art music; • compositional techniques; • music performance studies (a minimum of four units) and preferably Australian music. The study of music and music practice must be developed as a discrete discipline. Two instruments are preferred. Does not include sound production. Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	Rounds 1 & 2
20	Physical Education	Closed	No	Major Permitted only. Must include study in the following discipline areas: • Human movement (e.g anatomy, physiology), • Health, and • Nutrition AND diverse skills from these areas: • fundamental motor skills, • ball handling, • dance, • games, • fitness education, • athletics, • aquatics, • sports education. Requires first aid certificate AND current AustSwim accreditation prior to enrolling in the masters course.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
21	Physics	Closed	No	Major or Minor Permitted. Can include electronics and some engineering.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	All rounds
23	Psychology	Closed	Yes	Major Permitted. Can include Neuroscience.	VIC, WA	Round 1
25	Visual Arts	Closed	Yes	Major Permitted only. • practical studies in 2 dimensional art forms such as drawing, printmaking, photography, visual design, graphics and multimedia; • practical studies in 3 dimensional are forms such as ceramics, sculpture, installation and site specific works and/or 4 dimensional art forms such as animation, filmmaking, web-based art, game design, time-based works, graphics and multimedia; • and art theory/history (a minimum of one year), • and studio art making practice (a minimum of one year). The study of visual arts must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally oriented or curatorship courses are not recognised as equivalent.	NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA	Rounds 1 & 2
26	Outdoor Education	Closed	Yes	Major Permitted only. Can include some environmental studies and outdoor recreational activities. Must hold an Emergency First Aid Level 2 certificate.	TAS, VIC	Round 1 & 2

* Requires flexibility within placement state

Definitions

Major: A total of ¾ of a year of full-time university study (or part-time equivalent). In most Australian courses, this equates to six units. No more than two units at the first–year level and at least two at the third–year level or higher.

Minor: A half-year full-time university study (or part-time equivalent). In most Australian courses, this equates to four units.
No more than two units at the first–year level.