US Teachers Working in Australian Schools
American teachers in Australia typically work under one of two arrangements: a fixed-term contract at an international school serving expat families, or direct employment at an Australian state, Catholic, or independent school after having a teaching qualification assessed by AITSL (the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership). Both create superannuation and FEIE questions that a general expat guide won't answer specifically enough.
Contract Type Changes Your Tax Position
International school teachers are usually sponsored on the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) with a fixed multi-year contract, giving a clean, predictable basis for the Bona Fide Residence Test once the first year passes. Teachers hired directly by Australian public or independent schools are typically full local employees from day one, often on a pathway to permanent residency (subclass 189 or a state-nominated visa), which usually makes the Bona Fide Residence Test available sooner.
Superannuation Applies to Teachers Too
There's no teaching-specific exemption from compulsory superannuation, your employer contributes 12% of salary into a fund regardless of school type, and the same foreign trust classification questions covered in our Superannuation & US Tax guide apply in full.
