To work as a casual teacher in NSW you need three things: a NESA-recognised teaching qualification, a valid Working With Children Check, and accreditation with the NSW Education Standards Authority. Once you’re accredited and approved to teach, you can join school casual lists and start accepting bookings. Casual teachers in NSW public schools currently earn $466.44 to $582.38 per day, depending on accreditation level. This guide walks through every step, plus pay rates, PD requirements and how to get booked more often.
How do you become a casual teacher in NSW?
Becoming a casual teacher follows the same path as becoming any teacher in NSW. You complete a recognised qualification, get accredited, then choose how you want to work. Here are the seven steps.
1. Complete a NESA-recognised teaching qualification
Most teachers in NSW hold one of two qualifications: a four-year undergraduate teaching degree, such as a Bachelor of Education, or an undergraduate degree in another field followed by a graduate-entry teaching degree, such as a Master of Teaching. NESA requires active accreditation for every teacher working in a NSW school or centre-based early childhood service, so your qualification needs to meet its academic requirements.
If you completed your qualification in a country where English is not the main language, NESA also sets English language proficiency requirements you’ll need to meet before you can be accredited.
2. Obtain your Working With Children Check (WWCC)
Every teacher in NSW needs a valid WWCC before starting any child-related work. You apply through the Office of the Children’s Guardian. A check for paid work costs $112 and stays valid for five years, with ongoing monitoring during that time.
3. Apply for accreditation with NESA
With your qualification and WWCC sorted, apply for accreditation with NESA. New graduates typically start at Conditional or Provisional accreditation and work towards Proficient. Accreditation carries a $100 annual fee, which is tax deductible and GST-free.
For a detailed walkthrough of each accreditation stage, read our guide to navigating the accreditation process in NSW.
4. Get your approval to teach
To be employed as a casual in a NSW public school, you also need an approval to teach from the NSW Department of Education. Catholic and independent employers run their own approval and employment processes, so check the requirements with the school or diocese directly.
5. Create your ClassCover profile
ClassCover is the booking platform chosen by the NSW Department of Education for its 2,200+ schools, and it’s used by many Catholic and independent schools too. It’s free for teachers. Download the app, complete your profile and start connecting with schools in your area. Once a school adds you to its list, booking requests come straight to your phone. Create your free ClassCover profile here.
6. Complete your mandatory training
Casual teachers in NSW public schools need to stay current with a range of mandatory training modules, accessed through the NSW Department of Education staff portal. Once your training is complete, the green tick on your ClassCover profile shows schools you’re up to date before they book you.
7. Plan your professional development
All accredited teachers in NSW, including casuals, complete 100 hours of professional development each maintenance period. The requirements changed in 2024, so read the PD section below before you plan your hours.
How much do casual teachers get paid in NSW?
Casual teachers in NSW public schools are paid a daily rate based on their accreditation level. As at 9 October 2025, the NSW Department of Education lists these rates:
- Casual Teacher 1 (Graduate): $466.44 per day
- Casual Teacher 2 (Proficient): $523.04 per day
- Casual Teacher 3 (Highly Accomplished or Lead): $582.38 per day
These rates are set under the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award and are reviewed periodically, so check the Department’s salary page for the current figures before you rely on them. Pay in Catholic and independent schools is set by separate agreements and can differ.
For context, full-time teacher salaries in NSW public schools range from $90,177 for a new graduate to $129,536 for an experienced teacher. For a full comparison across states and school types, see our teacher salary guide.
What are the PD requirements for casual teachers in NSW?
Accreditation requirements apply equally whether you teach full-time, part-time or casually. To maintain accreditation at Proficient level or above, NESA requires 100 hours of professional development in each maintenance period.
The rules became simpler in August 2024. NESA removed the Accredited and Elective PD categories, so the old requirement to complete 50 hours of NESA-accredited PD no longer applies. All 100 hours now need to relate to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, and you log them in your NESA online account as you go.
The practical challenge for casuals: schools generally pay for their permanent staff to attend PD, while casual teachers cover their own. ClassCover Learn offers over 170 hours of on-demand, online teacher PD for $99 per year, so you can complete your hours at your own pace and around your bookings.
How do you find casual teaching work in Sydney and NSW?
There are two main routes, and they work best together.
Connect with schools in your area
After creating your teacher profile on ClassCover, use the Find New Schools page to browse schools near you, filtering by postcode, school name and more. When you find a school you’d like to work with, send a request to join their list. Keep an eye on your School Invites too: schools that see your profile can invite you to join their pool of casuals.
The more school lists you’re on, the more booking requests come your way. Keep your availability up to date so schools can see when you’re free, and respond promptly to requests. Reliability is what gets you rebooked.
Browse casual teacher jobs on ClassCover Jobs
ClassCover Jobs lists casual, part-time, full-time and contract teaching roles across Sydney and NSW, with new opportunities posted daily. It runs off the same profile you use for bookings, so applying takes minutes.
What should you put in a casual teacher resume?
A strong resume gets you onto school lists faster. Four things to include:
- Contact details. Phone number and email address, clearly displayed at the top. To stand out, add a link to your ClassCover Teacher Portfolio.
- Availability. For casual work, state your general availability up front so the person hiring can see at a glance whether you fit their needs.
- Work history. Summarise your recent, relevant experience. Prac placements and casual days both count, especially early in your career.
- Qualifications and PD. List your qualifications and any PD courses relevant to the roles you’re applying for.
Download our free casual relief teacher resume template to get started.
Ready to start casual teaching in NSW?
Once your accreditation and approvals are sorted, the fastest way to get in front of schools is a complete ClassCover profile. It’s free for teachers, with no commission taken from your pay. Create your profile and start connecting with schools in your area today.
Start booking teaching work on ClassCover
Create your free Teacher Profile and connect with schools near you.
Create Teacher ProfileFAQs: Casual Teaching in NSW
To work as a casual teacher in NSW you need to be accredited with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), hold a valid Working With Children Check, and have an approval to teach with the relevant employer (such as the Department of Education or a Catholic or independent school). Once approved, you can join schools’ casual lists and start accepting bookings.
Casual teachers in NSW are paid a daily rate based on their accreditation level, starting at $466.44 per day for graduate teachers and rising to $582.38 per day for the most experienced. Rates are set under the NSW public schools award and reviewed periodically.
Yes. All teachers in NSW, including casuals, must hold current NESA accreditation to work in a school. You also need a valid Working With Children Check before you can accept any bookings.
The best way to get regular casual work is to be on as many schools’ casual lists as possible and to keep your availability up to date so schools can see when you’re free. Reliability, prompt responses and a complete profile all help you get rebooked.
ClassCover Jobs is the place to search and apply for full-time, part-time and contract teaching jobs in NSW.Â
Casual (or relief) teachers work day-to-day on an as-needed basis, temporary teachers hold a fixed-term contract for a set period, and permanent teachers have an ongoing position. Many teachers use casual work as a flexible entry point before moving into temporary or permanent roles.
