Teaching assistant

[Guest phoesmummy]

My hubby is a web developer which is on the high demand list. I am also about to start the path at training to becoming a teaching assistant and would love to work in a school. Can anyone tell me if there are teaching assistants in Australia and if theres jobs out there for this kind of thing?

Thanks in advance

Tracy x

[snifter]

My understanding is that teaching assistant jobs are hard to come by and there are lots of people wanting them.

 

Basically it seems you stand more chance if you have a foot in the door as in being a volunteer parent helping out or some such than just applying for posts advertised.

Edited May 24, 2013 by snifter
typo

[Guest phoesmummy]

Thanks Snifter i would say thats pretty similar to over here.

Thanks x

[livinginoz]

Thanks Snifter i would say thats pretty similar to over here.

Thanks x

There are very few teaching assitants in schooIs, some cIasses in the UK had 2 which is the same amount as some schooIs here. Kids with speciaI needs in mainstream cIasses dont have the same IeveI of support as in the UK, you may have more Iuck if you work in speciaI schooIs or cIasses.

[Leeds1877]

Yup. Each school has a couple of SSO which are the Aussie equivalent of a TA. My oh doesn't have any in his class and he has lots of behaviour issues and special needs. (Class not hubby :-))) in the uk many of his kids would have almost one to one support. there are roles out there but they will prob come through volunteering to get your face known and build up contacts. Uk schools have way more support staff than over here.

[Guest Adelaide_bound]

Just as a word of caution on hubbys prospects too - there really isn't a massive demand for web developers here, I think its more Melbourne and Sydney way - my hubby is similar and has found there isn't much here. What does he specialise in, I'll ask oh in more detail for you (I'm very out of date with web site stuff, it was over 10 years ago I did all that and its moved on a bit since lol).

 

Sorry - should have said also, has your oh already got a job and/or started putting feelers out? My oh is a bit different I guess because he doesn't have a linear career path etc....its a long story lol...

 

Ditto about the ta thing as well, think back to UK schools 20 odd years ago - basically mums volunteering etc.

Edited May 25, 2013 by Adelaide_bound

[Lazy Cow]

Hey Tracy,

 

Snifter is pretty much spot on; there aren't many SSO vacancies for teacher's aides and many I know got into their position after helping out at school.

 

That said, there are definitely more chances if you have experience, or some qualifications, in working with kids with disabilities. There is also a drive to improve basic numeracy and literacy skills so being qualified in either, or both, those subjects might increase your employability.

 

This link might help:

 

http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/hr/pages/jobscareers/Ancillary/

 

as vacancies for government school jobs are advertised here.

 

SSO actually stands for 'School Services Officer' so covers anything from groundsmen, finance, library support, lab assistants to teacher's aide and we are seen as ancillary staff.

 

HTH,

 

​LC

Edited May 25, 2013 by Lazy Cow
Stupid typo - perhaps posting in the early hours is not such a good idea!

[tina&steve]

Hi I'm a ecw and a sso and its very hard to get your foot in the door, also they like Australian qualifications more here. I had a nvq in children's services birth to 16 years in the uk but I had to get that changed over to a cert 3 which can be done thought Tafe if you are working this is a lot easier and you can go on to do your diploma. To work for decd you will need a ID number which are very hard to get unless a principle at a school will help you lol. And even then you go in a waiting pool with about 20,000 others waiting . I was lucky I knew someone who worked in a special school and I got in that way as the school really needed good staff. You may be better doing your training here if your thinking of coming out soonish and working in private Childcare. The money isn't great and it's long hours and hard work but I've never had any trouble finding work in Childcare but you will need or training to get a cert 3 to be able to work.