Your Guide to Finding Teacher Aide Jobs

Teacher aides work alongside classroom teachers to support student learning, with much of the demand in disability and inclusion support. Most roles ask for a Certificate III or IV in School Based Education Support plus a Working With Children Check, and requirements vary by state and school. Casual rates in government schools commonly sit between about $38 and $51 an hour, and the workforce is growing by around 6,800 jobs a year. This guide covers what the role involves, how to qualify, what you’ll earn and where to find work, including current openings on ClassCover Jobs.

What does a teacher aide do?

Teacher aides support the classroom teacher and help students get the most out of their learning. The title changes depending on where you are. NSW public schools call the role School Learning Support Officer (SLSO), Victoria advertises for education support staff and integration aides, Queensland says teacher aide, and Western Australia uses education assistant. The work is the same at its core.

On a typical day you might:

• Work with students one-on-one or in small groups to help them understand and complete lesson tasks
• Support students with disability or additional needs, including personal care, communication support and behaviour plans
• Prepare classroom materials and help set up learning activities
• Help the teacher keep students engaged and on task
• Supervise students in the playground, at lunch and on excursions
• Record observations and report back to the teacher on student progress

Much of the growth in the role sits in inclusion support. Schools receive funding to support students with disability, and teacher aides are the people delivering that support in the classroom every day.

How do you become a teacher aide?

The pathway is straightforward and most people complete it within a year:

1. Study a qualification (or start one). The Certificate III in School Based Education Support is the standard entry point, and many people study while working or volunteering in a school.
2. Get your Working With Children Check. Every state requires one for paid child-related work, and schools will ask for your clearance number up front.
3. Prepare your resume and cover letter. Lead with your check, qualification, and any experience supporting children.
4. Apply. Set up job alerts so you see new roles the day they’re posted.

Each step is covered in detail below.

What qualifications do you need?

There is no national licence or registration for teacher aides. The national training register lists no occupational licensing or legislative requirements for the entry qualification, so the door is open to career changers.

The standard qualification is the Certificate III in School Based Education Support (CHC30221). It covers 15 units and includes at least 100 hours of work placement in a real classroom, which doubles as your first professional experience and reference. The Certificate IV in School Based Education Support (CHC40221) goes deeper into supporting students with disability and additional learning needs, and suits people aiming for inclusion support roles or higher classification levels.

No education department makes the certificate compulsory for every role, but most schools list it as expected or highly regarded, and holding one lifts both your chances and your starting pay classification. Some schools will consider applicants with relevant experience (childcare, coaching, tutoring, volunteering) who are willing to study while they work.

Do you need a Working With Children Check?

Yes. Every state and territory requires a check for paid child-related work, and each runs its own scheme. In NSW it’s the Working With Children Check through the Office of the Children’s Guardian, which costs $112 for paid workers, is free for volunteers, and lasts five years. In Queensland it’s a Blue Card. If you’re elsewhere, search your state government site for its scheme.

Apply before you start job hunting. Processing can take weeks, and a current clearance on your resume tells schools you’re ready to start. Many schools also ask for a current first aid certificate, so it’s worth adding one while you wait.

How much do teacher aides get paid?

Median weekly earnings for education aides in Australia are $1,342 (Jobs and Skills Australia, February 2026). Since 69% of the workforce is part-time, hourly rates give you a clearer picture:

• Queensland public schools. Under the Teacher Aides’ Certified Agreement 2025, casual teacher aide rates from 1 November 2025 range from $39.62 to $51.49 per hour, including the 25% casual loading.
• NSW public schools. SLSOs are paid under the Crown Employees (School Administrative and Support Staff) Award. The published award schedule lists short-term (casual) SLSO rates of $38.42 to $44.63 per hour, and the department notes that schedule is under review, so check its current pay pages when you apply.
• Victorian government schools. Education support class salaries are set under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, with current rates published on the department’s salary rates page.
• Catholic and independent schools. The safety net is the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award. The Fair Work pay guide operative 1 July 2026 lists casual support services rates of $33.05 to $36.39 per hour. Awards set minimums, and schools with enterprise agreements often pay above them.

Your classification level rises with qualifications and experience, which is another reason the Certificate III or IV pays for itself. Curious how this compares with classroom teaching? See our teacher salary guide.

Where are the teacher aide jobs?

Around 137,900 education aides work in Australian schools, and the workforce has been adding roughly 6,800 jobs a year. Victoria holds the largest share of the workforce (28.2%), followed by NSW (22.1%) and Queensland (20.3%), so opportunities exist in every state.

All three school sectors hire teacher aides:

• Government schools are the largest employer. Roles are advertised through department recruitment portals and on job boards.
• Catholic schools often recruit through their diocese, so it’s worth checking diocesan careers pages alongside job boards.
• Independent schools advertise directly and often move quickly on strong applicants.

Demand is strongest in disability and inclusion support, where funding has driven steady growth in classroom support roles. Casual work is a big part of the picture too: schools book casual support staff through ClassCover for day-to-day cover, so a complete ClassCover profile puts you in front of schools in your area even before a permanent role comes up.

How do you apply for teacher aide jobs?

Start with the platforms where schools are already looking. ClassCover Jobs is an education-only job board with new support staff and teaching roles posted daily around Australia, and you can set up job alerts so you’re among the first to apply.

Then get your application materials sorted:

• Use our free teacher aide resume template and lead with your Working With Children Check, qualification and availability.
• Read our guide to writing a good cover letter and resume, and tailor every application to the job ad by addressing the listed duties directly.
• If there’s a school you want to work at, approach it directly. Schools keep lists of casual support staff, and a professional introduction can put you on one.

How do you stand out from other applicants?

Schools shortlist quickly, so make their decision easy:

• Have your paperwork ready. A current Working With Children Check and first aid certificate on the first page of your resume removes friction.
• Lead with additional-needs experience. Inclusion support is where demand is highest, so any experience with disability support, behaviour plans or personal care belongs up front.
• Treat your placement like an audition. The 100 placement hours in your certificate are a chance to earn a reference and often a first booking.
• Keep your availability clear. Schools booking casual support staff choose the people they can see are available. Keep your ClassCover availability up to date and you’ll stay front of mind.
• Choose referees who have seen you with students. A teacher or coordinator who can speak to how you work with children carries more weight than any generic reference.

Start your search

Browse teacher aide and education support roles across Australia on ClassCover Jobs. It’s free for job seekers, and the same profile connects you with schools booking casual support staff through ClassCover, so one profile covers both the job hunt and day-to-day casual work.