Potential Tutors are required to complete and submit an application form to the Tutor Administration Assistant and attach all supporting documentation (i.e. resume, WWC Card, copies of degrees and certificates). 

Qualifications, experience and requirements 

All prospective tutors and those registered with DSF are required to: 

• Have an appropriate qualification from a recognised tertiary institution  
• DSF Specialist Teachers must have a teaching qualification 
• DSF Tutors must have a recognised qualification from another relevant discipline (e.g. Education Assistant, Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy etc.) 
• Secondary Teachers need to have taught English and/or Maths 
• Have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) and commit to renewing the WWCC as required by the government 
• Have a minimum of two years practical experience or equivalent (e.g. in a classroom, as a therapist, individual tutoring) 
• Have provided the names and contact details of two professional referees who can attest to the applicant’s credentials, professionalism and aptitude 
• Have a current Tax File Number (TFN) from the ATO 

Teachers with less than two years experience may be considered. Their teaching experience will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Tutor Manager. 

On receipt of the application, the professional referees of each applicant will be contacted and applicants will be required to attend an interview with the DSF Tutor Manager and demonstrate aptitude and suitability against a range of criteria.

Following the interview, if deemed to be suitable for a position as a DSF Tutor, applicants are required to complete a minimum of five days of training in current research and high quality, evidence-based programs and strategies recognised as effective for individuals with learning difficulties and disabilities. Further information regarding the relevant DSF courses can be found in the Tutor Guidelines. 

Reflection sheets based on the professional learning courses attended are completed and will be reviewed by the DSF Tutor manager.  Following this, applicants may be required to attend a subsequent session post training with the DSF Tutor Manager to demonstrate skills and knowledge against a range of criteria before a final sign-off is considered.

Once the professional learning component of training has been completed, prospective tutors will be expected to attend a 2 hour Final Tutor Meeting where programming, reporting, assessing, and invoicing and receipting will be discussed. The Final Tutor Meeting is typically the final step before being listed on the Register and is a great opportunity for new Tutors to ask any questions they have. As part of this meeting, Tutors are provided with a range of forms and templates, as well as a ‘Tutor Profile’ form that forms the basis of their online tutor profile. Following payment of Tutor membership and receipt of the Tutor’s signed insurance form and tutor profile, the Tutor’s name, along with their professional profile, is entered on the online Tutor Register.