Teacher’s Aides work in classrooms supporting teachers to deliver lessons by preparing resources, supervising, looking after students’ wellbeing, helping them work towards their learning goals, as well as carrying out a variety of other general tasks.
If you enjoy working with children, are patient, organised and fun-loving, this career could be a great fit for you.
About you:
- Patient, trustworthy and approachable, whilst remaining professional and responsible
- Able to be understanding and encouraging, communicating ideas in different ways and on different levels
- A problem-solver with a creative streak, great at conflict resolution with a good sense of humour
The job:
- Organise, maintain and prepare classroom resources for each lesson and tidy up between activities
- Help individuals or small groups of students with activities, additional learning support, or testing
- Provide one-one-one assistance to children with special needs, disabilities, or those who have English as their second language
- Carry out basic administrative tasks including photocopying, filing, distributing information and ordering supplies
- Attend staff and parent-teacher meetings if required
Lifestyle Impact: Low
- Part Time opportunities: Very high – 79% of Teacher’s Aides work part time (Source: joboutlook.gov.au).
- Average hours for full-time workers: 40 per week.
- Teacher’s Aide salary (average): $60,000 per year (Source: seek.com.au). *Salaries can vary with experience.
- Future career growth: Very Strong (Source: joboutlook.gov.au)
- Working from home is not an option for this career, but many jobs are school hours and term times only.
Teacher’s Aides are most in demand in these locations:
Queensland employs the highest number of employees in this role, but Teacher’s Aides work and are in demand in most parts of Australia.
How to become a Teacher’s Aide in Australia
Formal qualifications aren’t always necessary for this job, but it could help you find a job more easily, applications are often highly competitive. Also, once you secure a job, you may be eligible to earn a higher salary bracket if you have some qualifications.
Step 1 – Successfully complete Year 12 – good grades in English and Maths could be useful.
Step 2 – Consider undertaking a qualification relevant to education, or look for a traineeship. For example:
- Certificate III in Education Support
- Certificate IV in Education Support
- Diploma of School Age Education and Care
A Certificate III is the entry-level qualification that covers the basics including literacy and numeracy. A Certificate IV or Diploma could provide you with more opportunities to work with children with disabilities or special needs.
Step 3 – Although formal qualifications may not be required, before applying for jobs you’ll need to check if you’re eligible and may also have to apply for:
- A driver’s license
- National police check
- Working with children check
- First Aid Certificate
- Anaphylaxis training
And you may have to take (and pass) a psychometric or aptitude test.
Step 4 – Get some work experience and decide if you would like to upgrade your qualifications and become a teacher.
Find out more here –
https://www.australianteacheraide.com.au/
Similar Careers to Teacher’s Aide
Early Childhood Educator or Carer
OSHC Co-ordinator
Special Needs Teacher
Find out more about alternative careers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need qualifications to become a Teacher’s Aide?
No, you don’t always need a formal qualification to become a Teacher’s Aide but it could help you find work faster and get paid at a higher level.
Where do Teacher’s Aides work?
Teacher’s Aides work in Kindergartens, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and other training or education organisations. They are not home-based jobs, so you’ll need to be on site to work (possibly with some travel required depending on your role).
How long will it take to qualify as a Teacher’s Aide?
You could secure a job after leaving high school without any additional qualifications and start working straight away.
A traineeship could take up to two year to complete, you’ll need to complete all the necessary course material and practical (paid) hours. (Note: You could be eligible to start a traineeship while you’re still at school).
A Certificate III takes 9 -12 months to complete, a Certificate IV takes on average 11 months of full-time study, and a Diploma could take up to 2 years.
What is the difference between and Teachers Assistant and a Teacher’s Aide?
Aides are responsible for general classroom tasks, whereas Assistant Teachers are qualified to provide instructional teaching support, they can take over when the lead teacher is absent.
