The CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support covers similar topics to the CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support. In both courses, ITAC students learn best-practice, industry-relevant and research-based skills – everything that schools demand of their support staff and more.

We train our graduates to become invaluable, essential members of the school community so they can make a big difference to the educational outcomes of their students.

Teacher aides can work with small groups to support the teacher in a range of school settings.

Some of the strategies and techniques that you will study in ITAC’s research-based, best practice courses include:

• active listening
• explicit instruction
• worked examples
• cooperative learning
• feedback techniques
• formative and summative assessment
• linking to prior knowledge
• consolidation
• goal setting
• deliberate practice
• modelling
• shared and guided learning
• scaffolding and chunking
• language development
• literacy and numeracy support
• behaviour management techniques
• developing resources
• health and safety
• a range of operational classroom skills and practices.

The higher-level CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support covers these skills as well as many more advanced skills such as cognitive load theory and the zone of proximal development.

Teacher aides learn to implement instructional strategies such as scaffolding, questioning skills, and systematic prompting.

The best course to become a teacher aide, teacher assistant or integration aide in Victoria is a nationally recognised qualification such as the CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support.

Some integration aides hold the CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support, however we recommend the higher qualification for adult learners particularly those who have experience with children. The CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support gives you maximum employability and you are qualified for any position in any Victorian school.

The CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support is essential for anyone seeking to work as an integration aide to support students with disabilities and disorders. As the majority of teacher aides work with special needs students, this qualification makes you very employable.

We also recommend our unique Teacher Aide Combo to all of our online students in Victoria. This program combines both the CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support and the CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support into a single streamlined program, plus there are considerable time and money savings.

Whichever course or provider you choose, be sure to enrol in an integrated course which you can read about here.

In brief, the CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support is for those in Victoria who do not plan on working with students with disabilities or disorders. The CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support covers very similar topics but has a focus on supporting these students.

Both courses cover the important skills and strategies required to effectively work as a teacher aide in Australian schools such as:

• behaviour management techniques
• teaching strategies
• operational skills
• legal and policy requirements
• background knowledge such as the Australian Curriculum
• professional skills such as rapport building
• expectations, roles and responsibilities
• programs such as intervention and remedial programs
• many others.

The CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support and the CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support is available in Victoria to those looking for a career as a:

• teacher aide
• teacher assistant
• integration aide
• learning support officer
• education support worker
• special needs education assistant.

Graduates of either of these courses (or the very popular Teacher Aide Combo.) may find work in a range of school-based settings including:

• kindergarten/kindy
• pre-primary
• early childhood
• middle school
• high school
• senior schools
• various other schools and programs where the services of qualified and well-trained integration aides are required.

For more information about becoming a support worker in an Victorian school, please read this detailed article on how to become a teacher aide. To learn about how much teacher aides get paid in Victoria click here.

An ITAC student on her placement. Could this be you in a few months?

You can easily learn more about the types of schools available in your area by searching for government schools here or non-government schools at Independent Schools Victoria or the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria.

With approximately 1 million children enrolled in Victorian schools, there are plenty of opportunities for people with the right qualifications and a desire to begin a career as a teacher aide or an integration aide. The independent sector alone has nearly 7000 support staff despite representing less than 15% of Victoria’s student population. Victoria hs around 2254 schools (which includes 1539 government schools, 496 Catholic schools and 219 independent schools).

Students in Victoria can enrol in an online teacher aide course with ITAC at any stage of the year. ITAC is the leading provider of teacher aide courses in Australia and our students are now working in many schools across Victoria. ITAC courses are structured, self-paced and fully supported programs designed for busy adult learners. Key elements of studying an online course in Victoria includes:

• attending live webinars
• watching pre-recorded webinars and lectures
• completing activities such as e-learning modules
• reading learning materials such as the learner guide
• completing theory assessments.

All of these activities are fully supported by our team of dedicated and experienced trainers who are only a phone call or email away. Students can attend live webinars which are held regularly or they can even attend one of our many face-to-face tutorials in selected areas – all of these support services are at no additional cost.

To become a teacher aide in Victoria you will need to complete a qualification such as the CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support. Students seeking to work in a special need’s school will need to complete the CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support. Another important step is to obtain your clearances to work with children. This is usually completed during your course.

We find that many students find work in the school where they completed their placement - often beginning with casual appointments. Casual work is a great way to get your ‘foot in the door’ and it's how the majority of graduates start their career.

To become a teacher aide in Victoria you will also need to:

• enjoy working with children
• enjoy being in a team environment
• have a desire to help people
• have patience and a calm demeanour
• be willing to continually improve your skills
• demonstrate professionalism
• be able to develop rapport with staff and children
• have a good grasp of the English language in order to support children’s language learning.

You will also need to be well spoken, articulate, and be a ‘people person’ – after all, this is a people industry and you will be surrounded by people all day long.

The CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support and the CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support require a 100-hour placement in a local registered school. This often equates to around 16 days of voluntary work in a classroom (full days).

The placement for both the CHC30221 Certificate III in School Based Education Support and the CHC40221 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support can be completed in blocks or over a period of time such as 1-3 days per week. Most students complete their placement 2-3 days per week.

During placement, students work under the mentorship of an experienced classroom teacher and complete a series of structured activities in order to develop their skills in areas such as numeracy and literacy support, behaviour management and operational tasks.

Teacher aides in Victoria undertake a range of tasks depending on the needs of their students.