Teachers are often told that Australia needs them.
Teaching appears consistently on skilled occupation lists, and demand for educators is regularly discussed in workforce planning and migration commentary. As a result, many teachers assume that migrating to Australia should be relatively straightforward.
But this assumption is exactly what causes many teachers to stall — sometimes for years — without ever receiving an invitation.
In this episode of Making Australian Migration Easy, Rhea Fawole, Principal Lawyer and CEO of SOLVi Migration, explains why independent skilled migration for teachers is not automatic, and why eligibility alone rarely leads to a successful outcome.
One of the most common misunderstandings is the belief that lodging an Expression of Interest places you “in line” for a visa invitation.
Australia’s skilled migration program does not work this way.
It is not a queue.
It is a competitive selection process.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee progress. What matters is how competitive your profile is at the time invitations are issued.
For migration purposes, Australia does not assess teachers broadly.
Teaching occupations are assessed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), and only specific teaching categories are recognised. A teacher’s qualification and supervised teaching practice must align precisely with the occupation being assessed.
Where this alignment is incorrect, the migration pathway is compromised before it even properly begins. This is one of the most common reasons teacher applications stall or fail.
A positive AITSL skills assessment is mandatory before an Expression of Interest can be lodged.
This assessment is not a formality. AITSL examines qualifications, supervised teaching practice, employment evidence, and English language ability. Errors or assumptions at this stage often lead to lost points and reduced competitiveness later in the migration process.
Without an approved skills assessment, an Expression of Interest has no practical value.
English language testing is another area where teachers frequently underestimate the impact.
While IELTS Academic is required for the AITSL assessment, English test results also directly affect skilled migration points. Applicants who do not sit an English test receive zero English points.
For many teachers, this alone determines whether an invitation is received or not.
Teachers may be eligible for several independent skilled migration pathways, including the Skilled Independent, State Nominated, and Regional visas.
Which pathway is viable depends on a combination of factors — including age, English results, skills assessment outcomes, work experience, partner profile, and nomination strategy.
Being eligible for a visa does not mean an invitation will follow.
Independent skilled migration offers teachers long-term security and control over where they live and work in Australia.
But that independence requires preparation, accuracy, and a clear understanding of how the system actually operates.
This episode explains what Australia looks for when assessing teachers — and why strategy, not assumption, determines who moves forward.
If you’re genuinely considering independent skilled migration, the first step is understanding whether your profile is suitable under Australia’s current skilled migration settings.
👉 https://solvi.net.au/gsm-eligibility-check
This assessment is designed for skilled professionals who are prepared to approach migration properly. It is not intended for general enquiries or free advice.
If you already know that you want tailored legal advice on your migration options, you can book a paid legal consultation directly with SOLVi Migration: