Changing Tourist Visa to Work Visa

[sunshine.ca]

I am a Canadian certified teacher wanting to teach in Australia. I have looked at the visa qualifications for the Working Visas and see that they state that the applicant needs to have a sponsor from an employer in order to apply for the visa.
The schools that I have applied to in Australia are asking that I have a valid visa before I can get a job offer there. It seems I need a job to get a visa and a visa to get a job.
My first question is: if I get a tourist visa would I be able to change it to a work visa once I am in Australia (with or without an offer of work)?
My second question is: I want to move to a smaller city (Brisbane or Adelaide). Does anyone know the situation there for secondary teachers?

 

[ReD_sKiRt]

IMHO, yes, you do need to have a potential employer to hire and sponsor you ...to be able to teach in Aus. It will be much easier for you to have a job lining up before arriving Aus cuz the potential employer will do up your visa for you, I think. Some down side if you were holding a tourist visa coming into Aus without a job offer, as there maybe "no work" condition apply in ya visa.

Not sure about the situation on the secondary school...but I do know that teachers (esp. qualify & Good one) are always on high demand over here.

All the best to yoU!