Special kind of challenge

Course: Graduate certificate in educational studies (emotional disturbances/behavioural disorders)

For educators looking for a niche field where jobs abound, consider special education; there's a continuing shortage of qualified teachers for this important role.

"There are a lot of different ways special education professionals work. They might focus particularly on kids with an issue like autism, and work collaboratively with a classroom teacher; or they might have a class of their own made up of children with special needs. Others work in a special school, where there are kids up to 18 years old with a range of emotional or behavioural disorders or other challenges to learning, including intellectual disability," says associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Michael Arthur-Kelly.

Duration: One semester full-time or part-time equivalent.

Time: Expect to study around 30 hours a week if attending full-time.

Where: University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus and the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children's Renwick Centre in North Rocks. Also available online.

When: Next intake Semester 1, 2014.

newcastle.edu.au