The Wellbeing Page 

Selecting an Appropriate Tutor

Some families choose to engage a private tutor for their child(ren). Please read the below guidance regarding steps to take when selecting a tutor.

1. Does the tutor have appropriate qualifications, skills or experience?

• Ask whether the tutor holds an initial teacher education (ITE) qualification that is approved or deemed equivalent by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).
• VIT-approved ITE qualifications ensure the tutor has first-hand experience undertaking professional placements within a teaching environment. This may also help ensure your child is being supported by a tutor who understands teaching methods and can apply these to their learning outcomes at home.

Steps to consider

• Interview the tutor and confirm their relevant qualifications, skills and experience as a teacher or tutor

• Ask the tutor for proof of their qualifications, skills or experience as a teacher or tutor

   

3. Is the tutor registered with VIT?

• The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) is responsible for registering and regulating teachers. This means that the most qualified and suitable tutors will be registered with the VIT.
• All teachers currently registered with VIT are listed on the Register of Teachers.
• Some teachers who are no longer registered, and have been subject to disciplinary action taken by the VIT, may appear on the Register of Disciplinary Action.

Steps to consider:

• Ask the tutor to provide their VIT registration number
• Confirm the tutor’s registration status on the Register of Teachers
• Check the Register of Disciplinary Action to determine whether the tutor has been subject to VIT disciplinary action that has been published on our website.

4. Does the tutor have a valid Working with Children Check?

• Working with Children Check Victoria (WWCCV) screen and assess people who care for children or engage in child-related work (paid or volunteer work involving those under 18 years of age). This includes assessing the person’s criminal history and relevant professorial conduct findings.
• If a person is assessed to be suitable to work with or care for children, they will be granted a Working with Children (WWC) clearance. 
• If you are planning to engage someone as a tutor, you must ensure they have a current WWC clearance, as tutoring is considered child-related work. 
• In Victoria, registered teachers are exempt from requiring a WWC clearance, as the VIT conducts its own suitability assessments. Therefore if you plan to engage a registered teacher as a tutor, they may not hold a separate WWC clearance.

Steps to consider:

• If the tutor is not a registered teacher, ask them for a copy of their Working with Children clearance or their reference number
• Verify their current status with the Working with Children Status Checker to ensure the tutor has a current Working with Children clearance and has been assessed as suitable to work with children.

5. Is the tutor otherwise suitable to support your school-aged child?

• Other individuals and organisations may be able to share valuable information about whether a tutor is suitable to support school-aged children. 
• Sometimes, there is also other publicly available information that may help you decide whether the tutor is suitable to support your child. 

Steps to consider:

• Ask the tutor for the names and contact details from a least two current/former employers or organisations for which they have volunteered
• Contact the current/former employers or volunteer organisations and confirm the tutor’s qualifications, skills and experience, their ability to work with children, and whether they have been the subject of any complaints or disciplinary action
• Search other publicly available information to determine the tutor’s suitability to tutor your child (e.g. news articles).

More information