Frequently Asked Questions

General

1. What is unique about First Tutors: Australia?
2. Why is using First Tutors: Australia a better option than going to a tuition agency?
3. Does First Tutors: Australia offer user assistance?
4. Why should I use First Tutors: Australia instead of a recommendation from a friend?
5. I need a tutoring for a subject not listed, can you still help?
6. How do I give feedback?
7. Who uses First Tutors: Australia?
8. I want to recruit several tutors for evening classes. Can you help?

For Students

1. At what point must I pay?
2. How should I pick a tutor?
3. How can I contact prospective tutors?
4. I want the contact details of a tutor I haven't heard back from yet...

For Tutors

1. How do I hear from prospective students?
2. How do I begin giving tuition?
3. How can I update my personal profile?
4. How do I pay my First Tutors: Australia fees?
5. How does the student feedback system work?
6. What if a student suddenly decides they no longer want me to tutor them?
7. What are the necessary qualifications to become a tutor?
8. Does First Tutors: Australia employ tutors?
9. I am an international student, can I still register to tutor on First Tutors: Australia?

General

1. What is unique about First Tutors: Australia?

   First Tutors: Australia is Australia's only website to offer it's users such a degree of choice in tutors, to provide all the necessary information about prospective tutors' qualifications and experience upfront, and to provide a means to communicate with tutors free of charge to establish any necessary arrangements prior to paying our $9.99 introduction fee. This is the only charge made by First Tutors: Australia, and is only requested when a student and tutor have been matched and the match in confirmed by both parties, as this demonstrates the advertising has proved its value. First Tutors: Australia is unique as we give clients access to all the information we can to help them choose the best tutor for them, including the feedback a tutor has received from past clients.

2. Why is using First Tutors: Australia a better option than going to a tuition agency?

   All the facilities on First Tutors: Australia are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which allows patrons to conduct a search or contact tutors when it best suits them. For this reason First Tutors: Australia provides one of the most efficient means of finding a tutor, as there is no reliance on a third party (e.g. an agency) to make contact on your behalf. Also, the final choice of a tutor is entirely up to the client, and the only payment they have to make is a one-off $9.99 for the release of their chosen tutor's contact details. Many agencies charge an extra fee on top of every hour a tutor teaches; at First Tutors: Australia once we receive our fee we leave it up to our tutors and their clients to conduct business as it best suits them.

3. Does First Tutors: Australia offer user assistance?

   Indeed we do. If you are encountering technical difficulties, please contact us via our online support form and we should be able to help you with any difficulty.

   If students or parents are seeking advice on choosing a tutor, have a look at our Which Tutor? section, or if you are about to commence tuition lessons please see our Your First Lesson page.

4. Why should I use First Tutors: Australia instead of a recommendation from a friend?

   First Tutors: Australia invites students to provide feedback regarding their tutors using our inbuilt review facility. Tutors are then able to display any recommendations on their personal online profile. Thus, when using our website, you can see recommendations from not just one client, but all the positive feedback any prospective tutor has ever received, giving you reliable, objective advice to help you pick the right tutor for you.

5. I need a tutoring for a subject not listed, can you still help?

   Please contact us and we'll do everything we can to help you.

6. How do I give feedback?

   To leave feedback for First Tutors: Australia please use our specific feedback form. We very much appreciate all feedback and where appropriate act on it very swiftly.

7. Who uses First Tutors: Australia?
   • Our main clients are parents with children who are experiencing difficulty keeping up in class, both from the independent and state sectors. Once we've been tried and tested we enjoy a lot of repeat custom.
   • We also offer tuition for mature students or those in adult education programs, or simply those who are looking to refresh a skill/subject area or learn a new language.
   • If businesses are looking for training in IT or foreign languages First Tutors: Australia can offer very competitive pricing, and the flexibility to arrange training in and out of office hours, at a location of your choice.
8. I want to recruit several tutors for evening classes. Can you help?

   Given the nature of our business it is very likely we can! Please contact us to discuss your needs further.

For Students

1. At what point must I pay?

   We charge a one-off $9.99 introduction fee only when tuition arrangements have been confirmed and both you and the tutor are ready for your contact details to be exchanged. It is entirely free to search for, browse and contact tutors. The tuition fees as quoted on tutor profiles may be subject to negotiation and are to be paid directly to the tutor. We ask that all clients honour any arrangements they make for a first lesson. If you then choose not to continue with a tutor then at least that tutor's fees have been covered, which will prevent any future conflict. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more details regarding contacting tutors and paying your fee

2. How should I pick a tutor?

   Look through our article, Which Tutor? for advice on choosing a tutor and planning your tuition schedule.

3. How can I contact prospective tutors?

   Once you have registered with First Tutors: Australia you will have access to the private members area, which enables you to discuss any specific requirements you have with prospective tutors. When a tutor has accepted your request for tuition we exchange contact details - subject to the payment of our $9.99 introduction fee - and you will then be free to contact each other directly.

4. I want the contact details of a tutor I haven't heard back from yet...

   We would recommend that clients always wait until they have heard back from their prospective tutors before paying to release their details, as a tutor may be unavailable at your requested time or unable to meet your personal requirements. Tutors are notified as soon as any enquiries have been made, but as we are not an agency we cannot make them respond. We would always suggest members contact more than one tutor.

For Tutors

1. How do I hear from prospective students?

   When a prospective student sends you a tuition enquiry you will receive an immediate notification via e-mail that invites you to log in to your private members forum and reply to the request. We advise you to act quickly as it is likely the student has contacted more the one tutor. Please be aware if tutors do not respond to students (neither accepting, declining, or responding to their requests), their tutor profiles will be suspended so other tutors can benefit from the available opportunities.

2. How do I begin giving tuition?

   When both you and a student (or their parent) have confirmed you are satisfied with the arrangement we will exchange your contact details, enabling you to contact a client directly to arrange the first lesson. To give the best impression it is best to get in touch asap!

3. How can I update my personal profile?

   After registering on First Tutors: Australia you will be able to log in to your members area at any time, day or night, Monday to Sunday, to make any required changes to your profile or update your fees.

4. How do I pay my First Tutors: Australia fees?

   First Tutors: Australia is totally free for tutors, you'll never pay us anything!

5. How does the student feedback system work?

   Within a month of exchanging your and the student's details we will ask them to give a short statement about their tutor. The tuition industry is highly reliant on referrals and our feedback system allows tutors to display any positive feedback they receive on their profile, thus attracting more enquiries. This is fairer then some websites which ask tutors to pay extra to receive a more prominent position on the website to attract more attention. Of course, as a tutor you will have the opportunity to respond to all feedback.

6. What if a student suddenly decides they no longer want me to tutor them?

   The most common reason for this is that the tutor has left to much time between receiving a students contact details and arranging a first lesson. If this is the case please ask your student to contact us. However, we would point out that this scenario rarely occurs as most students spend a lot of time choosing a tutor, and don't want to go through the whole procedure again.

7. Do I need a criminal history or national police check to be a tutor?

   No, although it may make you more appealing to some parents, and it will always help to have references available for parents to see.

8. What are the necessary qualifications to become a tutor?

   First Tutors: Australia prides itself on the diverse range of tutors we attract. We recognise that different clients look for different qualities in a tutor, and so welcome academics, teachers, students, those on gap years or other professionals. The only essential qualification to become a tutor is a proficiency in the subject to plan to tutor.

9. Does First Tutors: Australia employ tutors?

   No. Our tutors all work on a self-employed basis.

10. "I am an international student, can I still register to tutor on First Tutors: Australia?

    Whilst we don't object, we would recommend checking the terms of your visa to ensure you are allowed to work in Australia on a self-employed basis.

If you have any further questions, or find the answers provided unclear, please get in touch with First Tutors: Australia here.