A teaching student at sitting down at a campus
A teaching student at sitting down at a campus
Becoming a teacher in New Zealand
Ngā arawātea mō ngā kaiako hou me ngā kaiako tawhito

Opportunities for beginning and returning teachers

Starting out or returning to teaching? The BeTTER Jobs Programme could work for you
A teaching student at sitting down at a campus
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Last updated 22 July 2025

About the programme

The BeTTER Jobs Programme supports beginning teachers (BeT) and returning teachers who have completed a Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme into teaching positions at schools or kura where they are needed most. 

The programme works like a matching service. Eligible teachers complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) to receive weekly notifications about vacancies at eligible schools or kura.

If an eligible teacher successfully applies for a position at an eligible school | kura, then both the teacher and school | kura are funded. This helps support the teacher’s induction into the school. 

There are 130 funded matches for beginning and returning teachers looking for their first teaching position since completing their qualification in 2024.

Financial support

You will receive $5,000 (before tax) per year for up to 2 years if you meet the eligibility criteria, and remain employed at an eligible school or kura. 

Schools | kura will receive $5,000 (excl. GST) for up to 2 years, which can be used to support mentoring and induction of the teacher.

After 2 years in the BeTTER Jobs Programme, beginning teachers may also be eligible for Voluntary Bonding Scheme payments.

Voluntary Bonding Schemes – Education Workforce

We have completed the matching process and all placements for the 2025 Cohort have been filled.
If you have secured employment, you can still submit your Employment Confirmation. You will be added to the waitlist, and if any matched candidates are found to be ineligible, we will offer places to waitlisted individuals in the order they signed up.

Confirming your employment

If you are successful in securing a teaching position at an eligible school, you will then need to complete the Employment Confirmation form. 

You will need to confirm and attest that:

  • you meet the eligibility criteria for the BeTTER jobs programme
  • you are, or will be employed at an eligible school | kura
  • you have registered or will be registering as a trained teacher with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

We strongly recommend confirming your employment as early as possible. There are a limited number of funded matches, and they are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Provide details to confirm your employment
Confirm employment launch

More information

Further information, including programme processes, FAQs and teacher obligations is available in the detailed information document.
View guidance document launch

Contact us

If you have any questions, we're here to help.

See our Contact us page for more information on how to get in touch.

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