Becoming a Teacher Aide

Who are Teaching Assistants?

Teaching assistants are dedicated school staff who provide support for teachers and students and are known by a variety of titles in schools and educational systems and sectors across Australia. They help teachers with routine school duties, classroom activities or the care and management of students, including those with specific needs. Teaching assistants may work across multiple year levels and/or classrooms, and support one or more teachers and one or more students. They work in all school contexts, across mainstream and specialised education settings.

- Guidelines for the Optimal Deployment of Teaching Assistants in Australian Classrooms, AITSL, 2025

Teaching Assistant Titles

Each state/territory in Australia uses a variety of titles for teaching assistants.

Inclusion Support Assistant

Education Assistant (Special Needs)
Education Support Officer (Learning Enrichment)
Education Support Specialist
Inclusive Education Assistant
Inclusion Support Assistant
Integration Aide
Integration Assistant
Learning Assistant
Learning Intervention Assistant
Learning Support Assistant
Learning Support Officer
School Learning Support Officer
Teacher's Aide (Diversity)
Teachers Assistant (Special Learning Needs)

Teaching Assistant

Class Assistant
Classroom Support Officer
Education Assistant
Education Assistant (Mainstream)
School Learning Officer
Student Learning Assistant
Teacher Aide
Teacher Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant (Enhanced Learning)
School Services Officer

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer

Aboriginal Community Education Officers (ACEO)
Aboriginal Education Assistant
Aboriginal Education Officer
Aboriginal Education Worker
Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer (AIEO)
Aboriginal and Islander Education Worker (AIEW)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Worker
Aboriginal Secondary Education Transition Officers (ASETO)
Aboriginal Team Teachers
Assistant Teacher
Koorie Education Worker
Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO)

Titles as listed by the Guidelines for Optimal Deployment of Teaching Assistants in Australian Classrooms (2025)

What do Teaching Assistants do?

Teaching Assistants work in a variety of places - primary, and secondary classrooms, and schools for specific purposes. Their key role is to support student learning, under the guidance of teachers.

The role is incredibly varied and can include:

general classroom support
supporting students with disability
supporting students with medical needs
student support (outside the classroom/excursions)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledge
implementing structured interventions (literacy and/or numeracy)
limited delivery of lessons with participating teachers
training and induction of staff
organising and preparing materials and resources
performing administrative duties and records management.

Education Support qualifications are nationally recognised, and can be undertaken at a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

About

The Education Support qualifications form part of the Community Services Training Package. Other community services qualifications include Children’s Services, Youth Work, Mental Health and Disability.

The benefits of a national qualification is that there may be units of competency that are common to a range of qualifications, enabling you to gain credits and upskill without always having to complete all of the units in a course.

The education support qualifications are designed to meet the needs of TAs in a range of education settings, including public and independent schools and community education settings. TAs provide assistance and support to teachers and students under broad-based supervision.

Certificate Qualifications for Teaching Assistants

Name of Certificate: Certificate III in School Based Education Support

Details: This is the entry level qualification for Education Support workers. It is suited to those people seeking a career in education support or just starting their career, working in an education support role.

Entry Requirements: Equivalent Year 10

Name of Certificate: Certificate IV in School Based Education Support

Details: This is suited to education support workers with experience working in a school support role, working at a moderate level of autonomy, and providing some supervision or leadership to other staff or volunteers.