Teaching assistant _ help?

[cathy99]

Hi, i've been in sydney for 8 months now, we're here on my husbands 457 visa. I qualified as a teaching assistant in the uk in 2011 but was never employed as one i just volunteered. Anyway i thought i would be able to do it over here but my qualification isn't recognised here. As i didn't have much experience especially in Aussie schools, i thought i might as well do it again to get my cert III in education. So i've started an open college course and do one day a week at a local school but i can't get rid of this niggling thought that there must be a way that i can just do some kind of skills assessment so my uk qualification is recognised here! I've tried looking on the visa website but am finding it confusing so i wondered if anyone out there knows if i can? Many thanks :0)

[Quoll]

Teaching assistants don't usually require any qualifications except a first aid cert and a clean police record - positions are just very hard to get because they are sought after by women wanting school hours work and are offered very much on a "who you know" basis. TBH I wouldn't bother - you'd get better pay working in Maccas or serving grog. If you've applied for jobs and not got them I'd suggest it's probably your temporary visa that's a major issue not your lack of qualifications.

[AJ]

Teaching assistants don't usually require any qualifications except a first aid cert and a clean police record - positions are just very hard to get because they are sought after by women wanting school hours work and are offered very much on a "who you know" basis. TBH I wouldn't bother - you'd get better pay working in Maccas or serving grog. If you've applied for jobs and not got them I'd suggest it's probably your temporary visa that's a major issue not your lack of qualifications.

 

 

Teaching Assistants need a Cert III in Education Support.

[Sammy1]

In Western Australia a Cert III is required to become an Education Assistant, this is the same in many areas across Australia now.

 

Normally qualifications can be assessed by the Overseas Qualification Unit to determine if the qualification is comparable.

 

To be honest I would carry on with your course (if that's your passion) because you are making valuable connections by working/doing a prac in your school one day a week. In my school we use EA's that are known to us and and many of our relief staff have done their pracs in our school.

 

Having said that, in many areas there have been harsh education cuts and the number of EA's has been reduced.

[Alaska]

I am a TA in Brisbane so might be a little different. The Cert III isn't complusory here but it is becoming more encouraged. I had lots of UK quals and over 10 years experience but Quoll is right - it is who you know. I did the Cert IV to show willing and also to get a foot in the door and local experience. This worked really well for me and led to casual work and then a contract at another local school.

I don't really agree with Quoll about the pay, it is ok - around 2.2 times what I got in pounds I believe. Certainly wouldn't want to be working in Maccas instead of my job!

 

ETA: I was on a 457 and noone batted an eyelid for casual or the contract. They only wanted to check my right to work.

[cathy99]

Thank you, yes you do need a minimum of a cert III in education support, a first aid qualification and a working with children check, which is why i chose to re_do the course, i just thought i could take a short cut and get my original uk quali recognised here. I am glad i'm doing the course though as it gets my face known and i'm getting hands on experience, it's just there doesn't seem to be as much demand for them here like in the uk!

 

I've never mentioned i'm on a 457 when applying for a job, so it wouldn't be that. Oh well shall carry on plugging away at it, i might contact another local school to see if i can do a day there as well. Thanks again :0)

[Alaska]

Good luck Cathy. I think that volunteering etc is definitely the way in. Also be vocal about your availability and be as flexible as you can (not incredibly easy I know!)

When I moved I sent lots of emails and made lots of calls to schools but no one replied or called back.

Since volunteering, I have had plenty of work. I have had a further 2 job offers since starting at my current school (my job is quite specialised) so getting your face out there will help tremendously.