In October, WA’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) announced a $100,000 subsidy as part of the Western Australian Government’s $13.1 million boost in investment in WA’s international education sector funded in the 2023-24 State Budget.
The ELICOS Teachers’ Subsidy provides 31 trainee teachers with a support payment towards completing the well-recognised Cambridge CELTA Certificate. Delivered through two local teacher training centres, Phoenix Academy and Milner College, the qualification enables teachers to work in private colleges and university language centres.
The subsidy could not come at a better time. The Australian Government is on the brink of releasing International Education reforms focusing on strengthening the quality and integrity of the industry. Yet quality education requires qualified teachers, and there continues to be a post-COVID teacher shortage.
An academic manager in Perth who wished to remain anonymous said, ‘We are struggling with staffing. With another COVID wave and many teachers having left the industry, we’ve been facing days where we don’t even have a relief teacher to call in’.
Subsidising costs of teaching qualifications was one of the key measures English Australia raised ahead of the 2022 Jobs and Skills summit. CEO Brett Blacker then highlighted the need for serious measures to address the shortage, saying “with 70% of ELICOS students moving into further academic study post their English course, the flow on effects will be felt in the Higher Education and vocational education sectors”.
He now says “English Australia commends the WA Government for its proactive support of international education through the ELICOS Teachers’ Subsidy. This initiative…exemplifies a commitment to fostering excellence in English language teaching. We applaud this forward-thinking initiative and its positive impact on ELICOS teachers in the region.” 
The initiative is already having an impact, with at least 12 new teachers already working in the industry and another two cohorts set to graduate in the coming weeks. Most soon to be graduates already have multiple job offers from local ELICOS providers.
Morgan Biggs is one of the 12 trainee teachers taking the current intensive CELTA at Phoenix Academy. Building on his overseas teaching experience, he says the course is an opportunity to “pinpoint my teaching strengths and refine my skills”. He said the subsidy enabled him to take the course and he is looking forward to the work opportunities it has already opened up for him.
More information about the subsidy can be found here.
