Special Requirements

Inherent Requirements

The study and practice of teaching requires respect for diversity, knowledge of theories, legislation, policies and procedures, effective communication, interpersonal, critical thinking and problem solving skills and stamina, to effectively work with children, their families and communities.

To support a potential student’s decision to become a teacher, a series of inherent requirement statements has been developed. These statements specify the requirements of the Western Sydney University teacher education courses for student admission and progression, with aspects associated with the study and the professional practice of teaching.

You need to read the inherent requirements for teacher education courses prior to commencing an Initial Teacher Education Program at Western Sydney University.

• Inherent requirements at Western Sydney University
• Inherent requirements for Education and Teaching

Subject Registration Special Requirements

For a summary copy of the subject registration special requirements please click here

Full details on each subject registration special requirement can be found on this page.

Important information for current and enrolling Pre-service Teachers

• LANTITE (Literacy and Numeracy TEST for Initial Teacher Education) Students
• Working With Children Check
• Working With Children Check Department of Education Verification
• Mandatory Training Courses
• COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination *Early Childhood*
• QuEST - (Quality of Effective School Teachers) Online Interview

LANTITE (Literacy and Numeracy TEST for Initial Teacher Education)

All students enrolled in an initial teacher education course (to teach in a primary or secondary school) in Australia must pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to graduating from their course.

From 2024, students who are required to undertake the LANTITE are expected to attempt the test before the end of the first year of their Australian ITE qualification.

Previously, students enrolled in an initial teacher education course have been allowed three attempts to complete LANTITE. This is now changing. In 2025 onwards Initial Teacher Education students may undertake unlimited LANTITE test attempts.

Note: If you are enrolled in the 1773 Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary), you must pass the LANTITE before enrolling in your final professional experience in a school setting, TEAC7106 Professional Experience K-6, as this course covers both Early Childhood and Primary Teaching. If you are enrolled in the 1774 Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), you are not required to undertake the LANTITE

Need help preparing for LANTITE?

We offer free online support, workshops, and practice tests to help you succeed in the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education. Click here to learn more

2025 Literacy and Numeracy TEST sittings

National Literacy and Numeracy TEST dates currently scheduled for 2025 are listed in the table below.

There will be four test windows held in 2025.

Registrations open between 10am-12pm on the first day and close at 5pm AEST/AEDT (local Melbourne time) on the last day for all test windows.

• The remote proctoring test period ends 3 days (72 hours) prior to the conclusion of each test window. Please see the remote proctoring test sitting requirements for more information about test scheduling.

Further Information

For more information about the Literacy and Numeracy Test (LANTITE), including test registration, remote proctoring, eligibility, and becoming a teacher in Australia, please visit the following websites:

• Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) – for test registration, preparation resources, and test day information
• Australian Government Department of Education – for Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students – for policy information, FAQs, and pathways to teaching

The following special prerequisite tasks must be completed before enrolment.

Working With Children Check (WWCC).

Pre-service teachers enrolled in Master of Teaching and Pathway to Teaching courses, where there are placement requirements, must comply with the NSW Working With Children Check legislation.

What are the requirements?

Each Pre-service teacher, student, volunteer or paid worker, working in child-related employment must apply for a Working With Children Check clearance number. This clearance is valid for 5 years.

In addition to providing the University with your WWCC clearance number details, you will need your clearance number to present to your placement setting.

If you are currently not working anywhere with children you can apply as a Pre-service teacher/volunteer and your check will be free of charge.

If you are currently working with children in paid employment of some sort you must apply as a paid employee and you will need to pay the relevant fee for your clearance number.

For information regarding fees please refer to the Office of the Children’s Guardian website.

For more information about Working with Children Check requirements for Tertiary Practicum Students and relevant DOE contacts please refer to this document: Declaration for Child Related Work - Tertiary Practicum Student

What is the process?

STEP 1: Fill in an application form online

Go to the Office of the Children’s Guardian Website: newcheck.kids.nsw.gov.au
Fill in the online application form. You will be asked whether your child-related work is paid or unpaid. Please make sure the details you provide are EXACTLY THE SAME as the details on your identity documents. If you have submitted the form with a mistake, please redo the form to avoid problems with providing your proof of identity at Step 2.

If you cannot access the online system, call a Customer Support Officer on (02) 9286 7219 for assistance with your application. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive an application number that looks like this: APP1234567

STEP 2: Present proof of your identity

Go to Service NSW with your application number AND proof of your identity (same as for a NSW driver’s license). You must have BOTH of these items for your application to proceed. You cannot complete this process at Student Services Hub.

STEP 3: Present your verification letter to the University

Upon receiving your emailed notification of clearance from Kids Guardian, you need to provide it to Western Sydney University. You can provide your clearance to the University by submitting it via the WesternNow Student Portal. Your WWCC (Working with Children Check) number will be confirmed with the Office of the Children’s Guardian and your student record will be updated.

Working With Children Check (WWCC) Verification

Required for ALL school-based and Early Childhood placements

In addition to completing a Working with Children Check (WWCC), you must have your WWCC verified by the NSW Department of Education.

This verification is completed by submitting the online Pre-service Teacher (PST) Registration Form.

For more information or to access the form, please visit the NSW Department of Education website.

Once you receive the verification email from the Department of Education Probity Unit, upload it to the WesternNow Student Portal.

Complete the following NSW Department of Education Mandatory Training courses:

How to Access Training: Log into the Staff Portal via education.nsw.gov.au, select MyPL from the right-hand menu, search "Child Protection Awareness," and choose the relevant module.

For assistance creating a NSW Department of Education account or for more information, please visit the NSW Department of Education website.

Pre-service teachers must upload their WWCC, WWCC verification email, ASCIA Anaphylaxis, and Child Protection Awareness certificates to the WesternNow Student Portal.

Once enrolled, you must complete and upload the Code of Ethics, Contact Training, Aboriginal Cultural Education, and AntiRacism Policy certificates to InPlace by Week 3.

IMPORTANT: Please retain copies of all mandatory training completion certificates, as students are required to present these to schools on the first day of placement.

COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination *Early Childhood*

As of 1 August 2022, it is no longer a requirement of the Department of Education that all education and care workers and volunteers are double vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to work in a school (some exceptions apply). It is however still a requirement of many Early Childhood Centres.

While being vaccinated against COVID is no longer a compulsory requirement to enrol into a Professional Experience subject in the M.Teach (Early Childhood, Early Childhood/Primary), students must be aware that some settings may require you to show that you have received two or three COVID vaccinations.

If you have any questions or concerns about your COVID-19 vaccination status with regards to any placement subject, please email the Professional Experience Team - EduPEX@westernsydney.edu.au

QuEST - (Quality of Effective School Teachers) Online Interview

Non Academic Capabilities Selection

Students with an offer to enrol in an accredited initial teacher education course are required to complete an online interview to assess your capabilities, in other words, your talents and personal attributes that are relevant to the teaching profession. Western Sydney University refer to this compulsory assessment as QuEST about which you will receive an email prior to the start of the teaching session.

Students in initial teacher education courses who commenced studies prior to 2018, and then discontinued/ceased studies and are readmitted into the course from January 2018 onwards, are required to successfully complete QuEST.

Refer to the Australian Institute for Teaching and Leadership (AITSL) website for more information and the Selection Guidelines: Factsheet

QuEST - Frequently Asked Questions

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