ATS keywords for a primary school teacher resume
Many employers keep applications in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), where recruiters search and sort them by the skills the role needs. Use these terms where they honestly describe your experience, so your resume is easy to find and easy to read:
Key skills to highlight
- ▸Differentiated planning across the Australian Curriculum
- ▸Positive behaviour support and classroom management
- ▸Formative and summative assessment, and data-informed teaching
- ▸Inclusive education and individual learning plans
- ▸Collaboration with families and support staff
Credentials Australian employers screen for
- ▸Current teacher registration (VIT in VIC, QCT in QLD, TRB/NESA by state)
- ▸Working With Children Check (WWCC) for your state
- ▸Bachelor of Education or equivalent initial teacher education qualification
- ▸First aid / anaphylaxis and CPR where the school requires it
Common mistakes to avoid
- ▸Not naming your state teacher registration and WWCC status, both are non-negotiable screening items.
- ▸Describing activities ('ran reading groups') without the learning impact or data.
- ▸Ignoring the AITSL standards the position description references.
- ▸A one-size-fits-all resume sent to every school instead of tailoring to the role's focus.
Primary School Teacher CV example: before and after
One experience entry, written twice. The numbers are illustrative, the structure is what matters.
Before
Primary School Teacher, 2021 to present. Teach a primary class across all key learning areas and prepare lessons in line with the curriculum. Run reading groups, mark student work, manage classroom behaviour and attend staff meetings. Communicate with parents about student progress.
It never names the state registration or Working With Children Check, so the application can be screened out before the panel sees it, and 'ran reading groups' gives the principal no learning impact, no year level and no data to judge you on.
After
Primary School Teacher | Registered teacher, VIT registration T000XXXXXX (full registration) | Working With Children Check 000XXXXXX, current to 2029
Metropolitan public primary school, 620 students | January 2021 to present | Ongoing full time, Year 3 and Year 4 classroom teacher
- ▸Planned and taught the full Australian Curriculum to a composite Year 3/4 class of 27, using differentiated instruction across three ability groups in literacy and numeracy.
- ▸Used formative assessment and PAT and NAPLAN data to set term targets, lifting the proportion of the class at or above benchmark in reading comprehension from 61 per cent to 78 per cent over two years.
- ▸Wrote and reviewed individual learning plans (ILP) for five students, including two with funded adjustments, in collaboration with the learning specialist, education support staff and families.
- ▸Ran a whole-class positive behaviour support approach aligned to the school's classroom management framework, cutting formal behaviour referrals from the class by roughly half across 2023.
- ▸Led parent communication for the class (interviews, learning goal conferences and weekly updates) and mentored a first year graduate teacher against the AITSL standards.
Same teacher, same classroom. The rewrite puts the VIT registration and WWCC where a screener filters, then swaps activity descriptions for year level, class size, curriculum area and student growth data.
Applying to a public sector employer?
Government, health and education roles are usually decided on selection criteria, which are scored separately from your resume. Read how to address selection criteria, the NSW Health, Queensland Health and state teaching guide, or the APS pitch guide for Commonwealth roles.
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Frequently asked questions
What registration do I need on an Australian teaching resume?
State teacher registration is mandatory and varies by state, VIT in Victoria, QCT in Queensland, NESA in NSW, TRB in SA/WA/NT/TAS. State your registration type, status (full or provisional), and a current Working With Children Check near the top.
Should I map my resume to the AITSL standards?
Where the position description references them, yes. Use the same language as the AITSL Professional Standards and the role's selection criteria so both the ATS and the panel can see the match quickly.
How do graduate teachers stand out with limited experience?
Lead with your practicum placements, year levels taught, and specific units or programs you delivered, plus any data on student progress. Concrete placement detail beats a generic objective statement.
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