Why teaching is a good career choice
By Open Universities AustraliaPublished on
Teaching could help you find purpose and make a genuine difference in the lives of young people. Here's how.
We all owe a massive debt to teachers. Even if you hated your time at school, you can probably still remember a kind or supportive teacher who helped you make it through.
As a profession, teaching offers both stability and variety – and the chance to make a real impact on the lives of the young people you teach.
If you’re wondering if teaching could be the right career path for you, here’s what you may like to consider before signing up to an education degree.
Why become a teacher?
Teaching is an incredibly rewarding profession. It can have its tough days but knowing that you’re in a position to make a genuine impact on your students at a formative stage of their lives is a pretty special feeling.
Whether by helping a student overcome a personal challenge or making an otherwise dry topic fun and engaging, you have a fairly unique opportunity to bring your own personality to the job and make a positive difference as a teacher.
Carrie, who studied to become a primary school teacher online through us, describes it well in the video above when she says:
It can be a really tough day and you still go, 'Yeah, I can't wait to go back tomorrow.'
Something you may not have considered is that you can also find a lot of career variety as a teacher. It can be a chance to explore and learn more about your own passions through the subjects you teach, whether that’s languages or psychology or tech. The chance to share that with other people can help deepen your own love of learning.
The benefits of being a teacher
There are plenty of benefits to becoming a teacher. Here are just a few:
High-demand profession
Australia needs more teachers. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's 2025 Occupation Shortage List, teaching is among the professions experiencing skills shortages, particularly in early childhood education. So, when you graduate, you'll be entering a profession that needs you, with the potential to take your career across Australia.
Guaranteed holidays
As a teacher in Australia, you will have about 12 weeks of paid holidays per year. If you have your own kids or plan to in the future, being able to take time off to spend with them is an enticing prospect.
Clear salary progression
Another benefit of teaching is knowing how your salary can grow over time. Teachers generally follow structured pay scales, with regular increases as they gain experience and opportunities to earn more in leadership roles. How much you earn depends on where you teach and your qualifications. Learn more about teacher salaries in Australia.
Work with supportive colleagues
In the difficult moments you may have as a teacher, the people next to you will be your biggest support system. You’ll likely become part of a tight-knit school community and make strong, long-lasting bonds with your colleagues.
Creativity and innovation
While you will have to keep up with paperwork, data and education department reporting requirements, teaching can also be an unexpectedly creative career. Many teachers find developing lesson plans and thinking about how to express course content to students in fresh and interesting ways can be another rewarding aspect of the job.
Ability to make a positive difference to young people
At the end of the day, teachers love what they do because of the positive influence they can see they’re having on the young people they teach. Working out how to get through to students and helping them with the complex challenges they face can be tough but, when you do, it will feel like nothing else.
Read more about a day in the life of a teacher.
How to get started studying teaching online
Start by browsing online education and teaching courses to explore your options.
If you're unsure which direction to take, our guide to primary vs secondary teaching can help you decide which age group you'd prefer to teach.
You can also explore the fastest way to become a teacher to understand your study pathways, including options for those who already have a degree.
Want help choosing a teaching course? Book a Choose a Course consultation. A student advisor can give you no-cost, unbiased guidance on the options available through Open Universities Australia.
