Italian Assistant Teachers

The Comitato Assistenza Italiani (CO.AS.IT.) was founded in 1968 with the aim of coordinating, promoting, and developing a variety of services to support the Italian immigrant community in Australia, including initiatives in the social, legal, cultural, professional, recreational, and educational fields.

Through the continuing commitment of its staff, Co.As.It. has become a leading organisation for the promotion and teaching of Italian language and culture in Victoria and across Australia. The Language Assistants Programme was established to promote the study of Italian language and culture.

The programme is open to graduates who completed a second-cycle degree no more than 12 months before applying and meet the following requirements:

• Italian citizenship
• Age not exceeding 30 years (the candidate must NOT have turned 31 at the time of the visa application, as required by the Australian Department of Immigration)
• Knowledge of English at least B2+ (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent)
• One of the following qualification combinations:
  • Bachelor’s/Master’s degree or equivalent from the old system, obtained at the Unviersità Cattolica + Level I Master in “Teaching Italian L2” from Unviersità Cattolica
    or
  • Hold a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree or equivalent from the old system, obtained from another university + Level I Master in “Teaching Italian L2” from Unviersità Cattolica
    or
  • Hold a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree or equivalent from the old system, obtained at Unviersità Cattolica + Certification for teaching Italian to foreigners L2 (Cedils, Dils-PG, Ditals).
    NOTE:
    • Priority will be given to applications from candidates with certification.
    • Applications from candidates without certification will be considered ONLY if, at the time of application, the candidate declares their availability to obtain one of the required certifications before the start of the Programme. The candidate must commit to providing proof of certification before starting the visa application process.

• Written References: At the time of application, candidates must provide two written references: one personal and one professional. For the latter, a reference from a university professor is also acceptable.
• Interest in the programme: Candidates must demonstrate a genuine interest in teaching a foreign language and in working with students in a primary or secondary school. This requirement is essential, as it is part of the criteria needed for the visa application process.

Programme dates: 13 April 2027 – 3 December 2027
Application deadline: 12 October 2026

Role of Language Assistants

Language assistants work both in schools and, if required, in collaboration with the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre.

In schools, they assist the local Italian teacher but are not authorized to take autonomous control of an entire class.

The aim of the programme is to provide local teachers with the support of an Italian graduate capable of bringing contemporary Italian language and culture into Australian schools.

The schools—government, Catholic, or private—are located throughout the state of Victoria, not only in the state capital, Melbourne. It is therefore essential that language assistants are willing to work in regional centers as well as in Melbourne. School assignments will be arranged by CO.AS.IT. and communicated to the assistants before they apply for their visa.
 

Time

Linguistic assistants are employed in schools from Monday to Friday at their assigned schools and, when required, also support the CO.AS.IT. Resource Centre. School hours are generally from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm. Meetings may take place before or after school hours. The total working week is 38 hours.

Compensation

Linguistic assistants are paid $A 1,550 gross per week.
 

Employment Period

The employment period with CO.AS.IT. in Melbourne runs from mid-April  to mid-December 2027, corresponding to the second, third, and fourth terms of the Victorian school year.

The first days in Melbourne are dedicated to orientation and integration.

The employment relationship may be terminated by either party, for serious reasons, with fifteen days’ notice.

Travel expenses

Linguistic assistants will be responsible for the cost of their flghts.

Food and Accommodation

Food and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the linguistic assistants. Schools participating in this programme are committed to help the linguistic assistant integrate into the local community in terms of accommodation and transportation.

The schools are committed to providing accommodation for the assistants during the first 4 weeks of the programme.

Co.As.It. covers accommodation during the initial induction days at Co.As.It.

Documents

Before beginning the visa application process, selected candidates must provide an Italian criminal record certificate and a certificate of pending criminal proceedings. Language assistants are responsible for the cost of obtaining both documents.

To undertake the placement, language assistants must obtain a specific visa through an online application. The visa permits them to work only for CO.AS.IT. Melbourne for the duration of the programme. The assistant is responsible for the visa cost.
 

3

Complete the online application:
upload the required documentation and pay the non-refundable application fee of €35

Apply now

The selection process will be managed by the CO.AS.IT. Association on the basis of the applications received.

Selected students must take out the "Student Safety Package" which includes insurance cover and an emergency app. The cost for this is € 150. 

The insurance, provided in partnership with AXA, includes:

• travel insurance;
• health insurance;
• third-party liability insurance;
• workplace accident insurance.

Cover begins seven days before the programme starts and ends seven days after it finishes.

In addition, all students on Cattolica International mobility programmes are required to:

• register on the Farnesina website
• keep up to date on the international situation via official channels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in particular refer to the Safe Travel site.