The hidden fee tens of thousands of Aussies are hit with every year – just to do their job

A teacher has revealed the hidden costs she and her tens of thousands of colleagues face every year just to keep them doing their jobs.

Teachers — whose starting salaries are around $75,000 — may have to spend money on stationery every now and then, but those aren't the only costs they face.

As in some other industries, teachers must pay annual registration fees to work.

Some education graduates say this is unfair, just after leaving university, where they may have taken unpaid or lower-paid internships during their education.

Nicola Markovic, a teacher in South Australia, said she was forced to cough up $465 before being allowed into classrooms.

“As someone who just finished four years of student wages, almost $500 is a lot of money for me and it required a transfer from my already dwindling savings account,” she shared. Yahoo News.

Ms Markovic had to pay for two years of registration: one for the renewal date of January 31 next year, and also for the year after that.

The $465 fee includes a total of $245 for both years of registration, a $195 application fee, and a $25 criminal background check.

“It seems like it's designed to get people who make the least money to pay the most money so they can start making money,” Ms. Markovic said.

The Teachers Registration Board in South Australia receives no government funding and is paid for by registration fees.

Each state and territory has different rates for teachers, but they all charge something.

New South Wales has an annual fee of $100.

Queensland graduates must pay between $167.85 and $183.80 when they first apply. After that, annual renewals cost $100.70.

Victorian teachers pay $152.88 and then $114.40 when they renew.

In Western Australiagraduates pay a fee between $140 and $178. They then must pay two separate annual fees of $95 and $56.

Teachers inside Tasmania pay an annual fee of $169.29.

The Northern Territory charges $101 per year, and graduates pay an additional $54 the first time.

The Australian Capital Territory charges teachers $115 to renew their registration each year.

Teachers must pay an annual registration fee to be allowed to work (file photo)

There is a teacher shortage in parts of Australia and this is only expected to worsen in the coming years, with fewer and fewer people choosing to pursue teaching training.

In Victoria, more than 2,250 vacancies were published on the state Department of Education website earlier this year.

Education Minister Jason Clare told the newspaper Guardian Earlier this year it emerged that over the past ten years the number of young people taking up teaching had fallen by approximately 12%.

“Of those who do start teacher training, only 50% complete it,” he said. 'And of those who finish, 20% leave after less than three years.

“Teachers do one of the most important jobs in the world and we need more of them.”

In response to the decline in teacher numbers, the federal government has rolled out its National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, which will provide $40,000 scholarships to 5,000 young people who want to become teachers.

Paramedics and nurses are among other professions that also have to pay an annual registration fee to work.