A career in Education Support and Assistance can be extremely rewarding. You’ll make a positive impact on children and young people as you help them reach their learning goals. Whether you plan to work as a teacher aide in a primary or secondary school or want to take on other roles such as tutoring, this area of work offers many opportunities. You might also choose to specialise in a particular sector such as assisting children with special needs or working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Working in Education Support and Assistance is a great career pathway if you enjoy working with young learners. You’ll need to be patient and able to communicate well with students from a range of backgrounds. Educational support staff work closely with teachers and other educators so it’s important you can function well as part of a team. You should be able to understand individual needs and circumstances and be flexible when carrying out your daily work.
If you’re interested in a career in Education Support and Assistance, the following courses can help you get started:
Certificate IV in Education Support
A Certificate IV in Education Support is designed for people planning to work as a teacher aide in an educational setting. This course will give you the practical skills to work in a primary or secondary school or take on a role in a community education centre. You’ll learn strategies for working with a range of students including those with disabilities or learning difficulties.
Certificate IV in School Age Education and Care
A Certificate IV in School Age Education and Care is an ideal qualification for people employed in a vacation care or before and after school care program. You’ll learn to work with school-aged children and explore strategies for managing their care and wellbeing. This course covers practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
Diploma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
A Diploma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education will give you the knowledge and skills to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in a range of settings. You’ll cover curriculum areas including English, maths, science, digital technologies, community history and culture. This course includes a work placement so you’ll gain valuable real world experience.
An Education Support and Assistance qualification could lead to a range of careers including the following job roles:
Teacher Aide
A Teacher Aide works with students in an educational setting such as a primary or high school or community education facility. You’ll work alongside teachers and other educators to support students in their learning activities. Teacher Aides might work with individual students or take a small group of learners for a particular activity. You might work with students with special needs or you may help prepare learning materials.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Worker
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Worker assists Indigenous students in a school or other educational setting. You might work with small groups of children or provide general assistance in a classroom. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Workers may also support individual students who need extra support during classroom activities.
Student Experience Officer
A Student Experience Officer
provides assistance and advice to individual students in an educational setting. You might help with study programs or connect students with other relevant support services. Student Experience Officers might discuss decisions such as subject selection or post-school options and may provide guidance on other issues students may be facing in their life.
Getting started
If a course in Education Support and Assistance interests you, it’s important you find out information from a range of providers before you enrol. Providers usually vary in the way they deliver their programs so you’ll need to gather information to make sure you’re finding the best course for your needs. Find out about course duration, costs, any prerequisites and the content the course will cover. Once you have all the information you can compare details and decide which course is right for your needs.