Students of all ages and abilities across the state need teachers to support and nurture their educational development. When it comes to choosing what type of teacher you'd like to become, there are a range of options.
Early childhood
Early childhood teachers make a difference in children's lives (typically aged from birth to 5) by making learning fun and setting the foundation for future learning and life successes.
Learn more about a career in early childhood, including the types of services and roles, qualifications required, and teaching in a State Delivered Kindergarten on the
Early Childhood Education and Care website.
Primary
Primary teachers are trained to teach students from Prep to Year 6 (typically aged 5 to 12). They teach a wide range of subject areas, including English, mathematics, science, geography and history to one allocated class.
Primary teachers develop learning plans that address the curriculum, while nurturing the intellectual, social and physical development of individual students.
Secondary
Secondary teachers are trained to teach one or more subject areas to students in Years 7 to 12 (typically aged 13 to 18). Imparting expert knowledge to secondary school students helps prepare them to find their own path in life beyond schooling.
Visit the
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority website for more information about the senior syllabuses used in Queensland state schools.
Special and inclusive education
Teacher in special and inclusive education settings, including special schools play a vital role in supporting students with diverse learning needs and disabilities reach their full potential, both academically and personally.
They may work with students in individual or small-group settings, as well as within general education classrooms.
A key focus of their role is to develop and implement learning strategies that are tailored to the specific learning goals and abilities of each student. They also work collaboratively with parents/carers, other teachers, therapists and other professionals to ensure a coordinated approach to student support.
Specialist teachers
If you have a passion, hobby or particular interest, you can turn it into a career by teaching others. Teaching goes beyond the core subjects of mathematics, English and science.
You could be teaching students in curriculum areas such as:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- arts, including dance, drama, visual arts and music
- astronomy and physics
- aviation and aerospace studies
- building and construction skills
- design
- earth and environmental science
- engineering
- food and nutrition
- horticulture and agriculture sciences
- hospitality and tourism
- information and communication technology
- instrumental music
- languages
- marine sciences
- media, film and television
- modern and ancient history
- outdoor education and recreation
- philosophy and reason
- psychology
- robotics, coding and digital solutions
- special education.
Other education or school-based careers
If you're not sure if teaching is for you but you still want to make a difference to students’ lives, you might be interested in the range of other related roles, including those that support teachers and students in our schools.
Teacher aides
Teacher aides have an important role in state schools and help make a difference within the school community. By providing a wide range of support to teachers and students who need assistance, teacher aides are instrumental in helping students achieve learning outcomes and reach their full potential.
Find out more about
becoming a teacher aide.
TAFE teachers
Tertiary and Further Education (TAFE) teachers deliver educational excellence to students in their chosen industry. With the opportunity to teach in a variety of locations and across a range of delivery modes, TAFE teachers harness a variety of training tools and techniques. TAFE teachers are not departmental employees but are employed in TAFE Institutes.
Find out more about
becoming a TAFE teacher.
Non-teaching professionals
Teachers are supported by and work collaboratively with a wide range non-teaching professionals to help students reach their full potential.
These include: