If you're a qualified teacher looking to diversify your income, enjoy more flexible working hours, or make a greater impact through one-on-one instruction, becoming a tutor is a highly rewarding path. Many educators across Australia are making the shift, either part-time or full-time, into private tutoring. This blog will walk you through everything you need to know to become a tutor as a qualified teacher, including setup, marketing, and best practices to build a sustainable and fulfilling career.
Why Qualified Teachers Make Exceptional Tutors
Qualified teachers bring a level of expertise, curriculum knowledge, and classroom management that is unmatched by casual tutors or university students. Here are just a few reasons why parents and students prefer working with certified educators:
- Deep knowledge of curriculum requirements
- Formal training in pedagogy and differentiated instruction
- Experience managing a range of learning abilities and needs
- Proven strategies for assessment preparation and academic success
This foundation positions you perfectly to offer high-value tutoring services, especially for students aiming to maximise their ATAR.
At Apex Tuition Australia, over the last few years we have seen an increasing trend of parents requesting qualified teachers as tutor rather than tutors. That’s why we launched our professional tutoring service so that are able to help families find qualified tutors.
Step 1: Define Your Tutoring Niche
Before you begin tutoring, identify your subject area, year level, and delivery method (in-person vs. online tutoring). Ask yourself:
- Do I want to tutor primary, secondary, or senior students?
- What subjects am I most confident and passionate about teaching?
- Will I specialise in exam preparation, literacy support, or enrichment?
You should not try and tutor everything. Only tutor subjects you are an expert in. It will lead to a better experience for you as well as the student. Focus is a good thing/
Step 2: Decide Between Freelancing or Joining a Tutoring Company
There are two main options when starting out:
Go Freelance
Starting your own tutoring business gives you full control over pricing, branding, and client relationships. You’ll need to:
- Set up an ABN (Australian Business Number)
- Create a website or tutoring profile
- Handle your own invoicing, scheduling, and marketing
However, this require a lot of administration work from organising tutoring sessions, to managing payments and finance and doing marketing to find yourself students.
Option B: Join a Tutoring Company
Alternatively, you can apply to work with a professional agency like Apex Tuition Australia, which matches qualified tutors with students.
Benefits of joining a tutoring company:
- Clients provided for you
- Administrative support and scheduling
- Consistent income opportunities
- Opportunity to build reviews and a reputation faster
If you're new to tutoring, working with an agency can help you gain momentum more quickly.
Step 3: Set Up the Right Tools
Whether you’re freelancing or working with a company, you’ll need the right tools for delivering high-quality tutoring sessions.
- Video platform: Zoom or Google Meet
- Scheduling tools: Calendly or Teachworks
- Payment solutions: Stripe or PayPal
- Resource storage: Google Drive or Notion
- Online whiteboard: BitPaper or Miro
If you’re tutoring in person, make sure you have a system for tracking travel, expenses, and time.
Step 4: Promote Your Tutoring Services
To rank well in search results and attract students, you need to create an online presence:
Create a Tutoring Website
Your website should include:
- A homepage with your tutoring niche and qualifications
- A “Services” page describing what you offer
- A “Testimonials” or “Reviews” section
- A clear contact form or booking link
Make sure your website looks great so that customers can trust you. Additionally you want to have your website optimised for SEO e.g.
- Add meta tags and image alt text using keywords
- Include internal links to your service areas or blog content
- Publish helpful content (e.g. “How to Prepare for the HSC”) to boost domain authority
Register on Google Business Profile
This ensures you show up for local searches like:
"English tutor near me" or "Maths tutoring in Sydney".
This is particular useful if you have a location you can tutor from as GMB works best with a verified location.
Step 5: Build Trust With Parents and Students
Tutoring is a relationship-based business. To stand out from casual tutors, show parents that you’re a professional educator they can trust.
- Share your teacher registration number or certifications
- Offer a free consultation or trial lesson
- Collect and showcase reviews or success stories
- Build a roadmap so the customer feels comfortable with paying for tutoring
You can also get a Working with Children Check (WWCC) or equivalent clearance for your state, which gives parents added confidence.
Common Questions Teachers Ask About Becoming Tutors
Can I tutor while teaching full-time?
Yes! Many teachers tutor after school or on weekends. Just check your employment agreement or union guidelines to ensure compliance.
How much should I charge as a qualified tutor?
Rates vary, but qualified tutors typically charge $60–$90/hour, depending on subject, experience, and location.
Do I need a tutoring certification?
No formal certification is needed, but your teaching qualification and WWCC are often enough to demonstrate credibility.
Can I choose which students or subjects I tutor?
Absolutely. At Apex Tuition Australia, we match tutors with students based on subject expertise, year level preference, and personality fit. You’ll never be assigned a student you’re not comfortable teaching.
How many hours per week can I expect?
This depends on your availability and demand in your subject area. Most teachers begin with 2–5 hours per week, with many scaling up to 10+ hours during busy periods like Term 3 and 4.
Do I need an ABN to become a tutor?
Yes, all tutors working with Apex Tuition Australia need to operate as subcontractors with an Australian Business Number (ABN). It’s free and easy to register via the Australian Business Register website. Even if you are doing your own tutoring, you should be collecting any income for that under an ABN
Will tutoring interfere with my teaching registration or job?
No—tutoring is a separate private activity. As long as you uphold professional standards and avoid conflicts of interest (like tutoring your own students), there is no issue with maintaining both roles.
What subjects are in high demand?
We have found the most in-demand subjects are Maths and English followed by the Sciences (Chemistry, Biology then Physics)
