If you are passionate about education and want to be involved with inclusion and hands-on support in the classroom, working with students in a school setting can be a rewarding career choice. In Queensland, eligible learners could reduce the cost of completing a nationally recognised qualification through a government-funded teacher aide course.
But government funded training is not always free. The Queensland Government may subsidise all or part of the cost of the training but students may still be required to pay a co-contribution fee. You must confirm funding eligibility, course availability and final student contribution before enrolling.
The CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support is a nationally recognised qualification for people who support teachers and student learning in classroom environments.
Education support workers may assist with learning activities, classroom materials, and administrative or operational tasks. They work under the supervision of a teacher or other education professional and are required to follow established school policies and procedures.
The qualification includes:
These are the national qualification requirements. Individual training providers may apply additional admission, suitability, technology or placement conditions.
A teacher aide course in Queensland can develop skills relevant to supporting students, teachers and classroom activities.
The SITS course includes units covering:
Literacy and oral-language development
Numeracy development
Student health, safety and wellbeing
Responsible student behaviour
Educational program implementation
Support for students with additional needs
Communication with students and colleagues
Legal and ethical responsibilities
Workplace health and safety
Professional reflection
Completing the qualification can help you to move into teacher aide, teaching assistant or education assistant roles. There are no guarantees of employment, and this will depend on the availability of vacancies, the requirements of the employer, screening checks, experience and the suitability of the applicant for a particular role.
Currently, CHC30221 is available through approved government-funded training providers in Queensland. SITS College (RTO 91533) is listed on the Queensland Skills Gateway as an approved funded provider for this qualification. Students should contact the provider directly to confirm whether the course is currently available at their preferred location .
Career Start Queensland is a program to fund eligible Queenslanders to undertake selected Certificate III and other employment related qualifications.
The Department of Trade, Employment and Training maintains and publishes the Queensland Subsidised Training List. This means that the conditions, provider arrangements and qualifications that are funded can vary over time.
For the Career Start general training pathway, applicants generally need to meet the following conditions:
Eligibility rules may draw distinctions between qualifications gained in school and foundation skills qualifications. Other specific exemptions or limitations may apply to a course. The approved training provider will confirm the student’s final eligibility prior to commitment to the course. Check eligibility
SITS currently publishes the following fees for its government-funded CHC30221 course under the Career Start general training pathway:
The funded amounts are co-contribution fees and not the full value of the training. Eligibility, funded places and concession evidence must be verified prior to registration. Fees are subject to change, and applicants should request a written schedule of current fees.
Currently, CHC30221 is listed in SITS with a duration of 12 months. Delivery methods available include face-to-face and blended learning. Delivery regions listed include Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Logan, and Beaudesert.
The published course duration is an estimated time frame, and is not a guarantee of all students completing the course by the date. Completion is dependent upon participation, progress in assessment, placement and meeting all qualification requirements.
Students doing nationally recognised vocational training usually need a Unique Student Identifier, called a USI. The USI produces a government-verified record of training outcomes which are nationally recognised.
Teaching aides in Queensland state schools are required to have a current Working with Children Check clearance, also known as a Blue Card. Placement students should verify with the training provider the Blue Card, identification, induction and school-screening requirements applicable prior to placement.
There are no formal entry requirements for the national qualification. However, training providers should consider the skills that a prospective student already has, including language, literacy, numeracy and electronic literacy, to decide if the course is suitable and if support may be required.
Before selecting a school-based education support course, request clear written information about:
Funding eligibility and co-contribution fees
Full fees and additional costs
Course duration
Face-to-face attendance
Placement assistance
Blue Card requirements
Assessment methods
Student support
Recognition of prior learning or credit transfer
Compare providers based on training quality, delivery suitability, placement support and total costs, not only the lowest advertised price.
Not really. Eligible students may be eligible for Queensland Government funding to help with the cost, although a student co-contribution may still apply. SITS currently provides $15 for eligible concession students and $30 for eligible non-concession students.
The theory component may include blended learning, but the qualification cannot be undertaken fully online as a minimum of 100 hours must be undertaken in an Australian school classroom. SITS currently advocates face-to-face and blended delivery.
A valid Blue Card is required to work as a teacher aide in a Queensland state school. Placement applicants should confirm when the application or clearance must be completed.
Not guaranteed but The qualification may be useful in developing skills relevant to education-support, but employment depends on factors outside the control of the training provider. These include availability of positions, selection processes by employers, screening requirements, experience and individual performance.
