Hi Everyone, I’m a mum of 2 and am seriously wanting a career change at 35 years old, I keep being drawn to the cert 3 education support so I can become a teacher aide, I’m looking for honest advice as to how hard this is, as in the assignments and modules, I have no issue studying or doing the 100 hours work placements but the submitting work and assignments really scares me! Please offer some support, thank you
14 Replies
I have this certificate and it's SOOOOO hard to get into this job. I have had it since 2019 and been to every school in Brisbane and even surrounding towns looking for a teacher aide job. My advice is only do it if you know for certain there's a job at the end for you.
I have it, the course was not hard but I was already working as an EA so that helped. I think as the other poster said it is really hard to find a full time or even part time position as they are few and far between. You may get lucky and get accepted into casual pools but that means you could be in one place one day and 3 suburbs away the next, then no work for 3 weeks then 2 weeks of work. Basically all over the place.
Don't do it! It's super low paying and the hours suck.
It really depends what you're doing and the type of job you get, there's all different levels and the higher level you are the better the money, then even higher for Special Needs. If you get permanent you get paid through your holidays plus get all the normal leave entitlements. Add to that working for the government has its perks, you're always training and doing courses, everything's done properly you will never have to deal with someone else getting promoted because they're the bosses nephew or something.
I also have this certificate and all I can say is that it's a waste of time. Unless you are already working in a school it is extremely hard to get a job as a TA. I actually wouldn't recommend doing any kind of Certificate as they are worth as much as the paper they are written on.
I did it a little over 12 years ago while working in a different industry. Had a PT TA job before I completed the course (was still working my FT at the same time) and was renegotiating a new contract the following year when I was offered a promotion at my FT job. I live regionally, the school I was at had a dozen kids and the principal was the teacher. Maybe that made a difference.
I have to agree with the others. Unless you already have your foot in the door for a TA position, it is extremely hard to get work in this area. The course itself is fairly straight forward and easy to accomplish.
Hey I work at a school as support staff. This is the absolute worst time to consider this for a career change. The school I work at isn't even accepting volunteers or placements due to covid. There isn't a high demand for teachers aides. I'm 99% sure you would gain nothing but a loss of money doing it.
Hmm I think it might depend on where you live, when it comes to finding work. I live in a smallish town in Fnq and since putting my name down on the teacher aide pool list, I’ve been called every week pretty much all term. Also you don’t need the certificate to do the job. I say approach a few schools in your area and then decide. I did the certificate a few years ago, pretty easy.
I know a girl who works as a teachers aide (in a traineeship). She said only one of the other aides has qualifications. The others have no qualification, which I think is a bit strange but anyway…she’s not struggling at all with the course. Working with the kids on the other hand can be challenging.
You can't work with children under 6 (I think?) without certification but you can in older years. Although if someone qualified applies for your job (they all get advertised every year) then they will get the job over you, they aren't allowed to employ an unqualified person over a qualified. This is how it works in WA anyway.
You don't really need to do the course. I am a TA who hasn't done it, and where I work it's around 50/50 amongst the TAs having done or not done the course. It doesn't have any bearing on how good you are at your job. Of course it will put you ahead if jobs are scarce but where I live they are crying out for TAs.
It is VERY hard to find positions.
I am almost a qualified teacher, and can't even get interviews.
I was able to get a position as I put my name down at so many schools as casual (about 4 years ago), and was lucky to secure a 2 day contract, then 5 days the second year.
Unless you know people that can get you work, I don't think it would help at all. Most of the TAs I work with dont have any qualifications - or are parents.
Definitely depends where you are. I live regionally and they are always looking for TA's. I got hired as a Teacher Aide with no qualifications although now I am currently doing my bachelor's in Education. See if there is a demand in your area and take it from there. Good Luck.