-

Learning areas

Learning areas are the subjects you are qualified to teach. Check this page to see if your learning areas are currently open for applications.

Requirements

To be eligible for the Leadership Development Program, candidates must be able to enrol in 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. 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 in order to be eligible.

Learning areas close progressively throughout the year, when we accept enough candidates to meet school demand. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to ensure we are still accepting applications for your learning areas. 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 and Advocacy manager.

Learning Area Requirements

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

Round Dates

  • Round one: 17 Feb – 31 Mar
  • Round two: 28 Apr – 1 June
  • Round three: 30 June – 10 Aug

Learning areas close as accepted candidates fill our quotas within each learning area. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to ensure we are still accepting applications for your learning area.

All candidates must have at least one major in a single learning area. Some subjects will require a the second learning area which can be a major or a minor.

wdt_ID Learning Area Status Requires a Second Learning Area Requirements (Major) Requirements (Minor) Placement States When to Apply
1 Accounting* Open Yes Major study in Accounting. Minor study in Accounting. VIC, WA Round 1
2 Biology Open No Major study in Biology.

Can include genetics, human biology, microbiology, botany, and zoology. Does not include biochemistry.
Minor study in Biology.

Can include genetics, human biology, microbiology, botany, and zoology. Does not include biochemistry.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
3 Business Management* Open Second learning area recommended but not required. Major in Business Management including at least one unit of finance or accounting AND one unit of business management.

The remaining units may be drawn from:

• Business law
• Economics
• Human resource management
• Industrial relations
• Organisational Behaviour
• Marketing
• Finance
• Accounting
• Business management
Major in Business Management including at least one unit of finance or accounting AND one unit of business management.

The remaining units may be drawn from:

• Business law
• Economics
• Human resource management
• Industrial relations
• Organisational Behaviour
• Marketing
• Finance
• Accounting
• Business management
VIC, WA Round 1
5 Chemistry Open No Major in Chemistry.

Can include biochemistry.
Minor in Chemistry.

Can include biochemistry.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
6 Drama* Open Yes Major in Drama, Performance Studies (Drama) or Theatre Studies (including practical Drama).

If study pattern includes units with textual analysis (e.g. dramaturgy, textual study of plays) then single learning area may be permitted.
Minor in Drama, Performance Studies (Drama) or Theatre Studies (including practical Drama). VIC, WA Rounds 1 & 2
7 Earth & Environmental Science Open No Major in Earth and/or Environmental Science.

Can include areas such as: environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resource management, environmental management, biological sciences, chemistry, geography, and earth science.
Minor in Earth and/or Environmental Science.

Can include areas such as: environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resource management, environmental management, biological sciences, chemistry, geography, and earth science.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
8 Economics Open No Major in Economics.

Does not include finance.
Minor in Economics.

Does not include finance.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
9 English Literature Open No Major in English.

Must have at least two units of English Literature.

Can include some media, linguistics, or writing.
Minor in English.

Must have at least two units of English Literature.

Can include some media, linguistics, or writing.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
10 Environmental Science Open No Major in Environmental Science.

Can include areas such as: environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resource management, environmental management, biological sciences, chemistry, geography, and earth science.
Minor in Environmental Science.

Can include areas such as: environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resource management, environmental management, biological sciences, chemistry, geography, and earth science.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
11 Geography Open No Major in Geography.

Can include features on the earth, human geography, and physical geography.
Minor in Geography.

Can include features on the earth, human geography, and physical geography.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
12 Health Open Yes Major in Health, including at least two of:

• Health & Wellbeing
• Public health
• Family
• Human Development
• Nutrition
• Sociology
• Gender Studies
• Youth Studies
Minor in Health, including at least two of:

• Health & Wellbeing
• Public health
• Family
• Human Development
• Nutrition
• Sociology
• Gender Studies
• Youth Studies
NT, VIC, WA Rounds 1 & 2
13 History Open No Major study in History.

Does not include Art History.
Minor study in History.

Does not include Art History.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
14 ICT & Digital Technology Open No Major in Information Technology.

Must include units in coding.
Minor in Information Technology.

Must include units in coding.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
15 Languages other than English* Open Yes Major in the language. We currently are able to place the following languages:

• Chinese (Mandarin)
• French
• German
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Spanish
• Japanese

Native speakers may also obtain a “Statement of Equivalence” if they have another major derived from formal academic study.
Minor in the language. We currently are able to place the following languages:

• Chinese (Mandarin)
• French
• German
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Spanish
• Japanese

Only accepted through academic study and when there is another major derived from formal academic study.
NT, VIC, WA All rounds
16 Legal Studies* Open Yes Major in Legal Studies.

Does not include criminology.
Minor in Legal Studies.

Does not include criminology.
VIC, WA Round 1
17 Mathematics* (Including Engineering) Open No Major study in Mathematics.

Does not include financial or business mathematics. Can include engineering.
Minor study in Mathematics.

Does not include financial or business mathematics. Can include engineering.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
18 Media* Open Second learning area recommended but not required. Major study in Media Studies.

Can include journalism, media creation, production, cinema content, and editing.

Does not include photography.
Minor study in Media Studies.

Can include journalism, media creation, production, cinema content, and editing.

Does not include photography.
VIC, WA Round 1
19 Music* Open Second learning area recommended but not required. A major in Music 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.

Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent. Two instruments preferred.
N/A NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA Rounds 1 & 2
20 Physical Education* Open No Major study in Physical Education.

Must include study in the following discipline areas:

• Human movement (e.g anatomy, physiology),
• Health, and
• Nutrition

AND the following skills 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.
N/A NT, SA, VIC, WA Rounds 1 & 2
21 Physics Open No Major in Physics.

Can include electronics and some engineering.
Minor in Physics.

Can include electronics and some engineering.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA All rounds
22 Politics* Open Yes Major study in Politics.

Can include some International Relations units.
Minor study in Politics.

Can include some International Relations units.
NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA Rounds 1 & 2
23 Psychology* Open Yes Major study in Psychology. Minor study in Psychology. VIC, WA Round 1
24 TESOL* Open Yes Major in Linguistics OR second language OR appropriate TESOL Studies (AQF Level 7 or higher). Minor in Linguistics OR second language OR appropriate university-level TESOL Studies (AQF Level 7 or higher). NT, VIC, WA Rounds 1 & 2
25 Visual Arts* Open Second learning area recommended but not required. A major in Visual Art that includes the following:

• 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 courses are not recognized as equivalent.
N/A NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA Rounds 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. You must also have two or more units at second-year level and at least two at a third-year level.

Minor: A half-year of full-time university study (or part-time equivalent). In most Australian courses, this equates to four units. You must have at least two units at a second-year level.