Empowering Educators, Enabling Learners
As the educational landscape continues to evolve, education support professionals have never been more important, whether they be teacher aides, classroom assistants, or learning support officers. These roles form the foundation of inclusive, supportive, and effective learning environments. But what does it take to be successful in education support? Which skills are crucial in creating a positive difference?
Whether you are starting a career in education support or wishing to advance your career, understanding and developing the right skills are paramount to your success. In this blog, we cover the top skills you will need to succeed in education support and include valuable insights from SkilTrak, a leading student placement and support management platform that connects individuals with training and work opportunities in Education and Allied Services.
The Importance of Education Support
Education support professionals undertake various tasks and roles that are distinct from traditional classroom assistance in the following ways.
• Fostering inclusive education
• Enhancing diverse learning requirements for students
• Supporting classroom management and lesson delivery
• Providing emotional and administrative support
• Providing a link between us as educators, students, and their families
The Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that employment in education and training increased by more than 20% in 2023 compared to 2018, with education support positions among the fastest-growing in recent years. This reflects a commitment to inclusive education, increasing awareness of mental health issues, and increasing student diversity.
The Core Skills You Need
1. Communication Skills
The ability to listen actively, express ideas clearly, and demonstrate empathy is an essential foundational skill. Education support staff need:
• To understand learners' needs and learning styles
• To interact collaboratively with mentors and specialists
• To communicate simply and clearly to students with differing abilities.
SkilTrak anecdotally reports that 86% of host educators indicated strong communication is necessary in Education Support placements, particularly when supporting students with learning difficulties or behaviour issues, in their 2024 placement evaluation.
2. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
All students face challenges, be it academic, emotional, or social. Empathy enables education support staff to:
• Observe when a student struggles
• Provide emotional encouragement
• Assist in successfully developing trust and safety in the learning environment.
Education is about more than delivering a curriculum for students; it is also about embracing a caring, nurturing environment. Emotional intelligence can assist in interpreting verbal and non-verbal signals, identifying classroom stressors, and de-escalating conflict.
3. Adaptability and Flexibility
No two days are the same in education. Support professionals must adapt to:
• Changing student needs.
• Unpredictable behaviours.
• Different teaching strategies or classrooms.
In SkilTrak's Work-Based Training (WBT) programming, employers had identified candidates who demonstrated flexibility during transitions throughout the school term or when supporting students with complex needs were most likely to receive employment at the end of their placement.
4. Patience and Resilience
When working to support students, particularly with learning challenges or behaviours, levels of patience are consistently tested, whilst levels of resilience can be effective in:
• Managing emotionally demanding situations,
• Avoiding burnout,
• Remain positive and professional.
Case example (SkilTrak):
During a SkilTrak placement, a student described supporting a child with ADHD in a regional school with a Year 5 class. The student was calm and consistent in her approach over a number of weeks, and the child's engagement dramatically improved.
5. Technology Skills
Technology is prominent in the classroom today. Education support workers should be familiar with:
• Learning management systems (LMS)
• Digital communication platforms such as Seesaw or ClassDojo
• Basic troubleshooting for student tablets or other learning software
With the transition to digital inclusion in schools, being technologically literate becomes an expectation. SkilTrak’s Digital Readiness Survey found that nearly 63% of host organisations are looking for support staff and entry-level staff with technology skills.
6. Teamwork and collaboration
Support workers are not working in a vacuum. Working collaboratively involves:
• Supporting educators with planning and teaching
• Collaborating with therapists, counselors, and other aides
• Engaging in meetings and professional learning
SkilTrak Collaboration Module:
The SkilTrak app engages real-time collaborations of students, educational organisations, and industry partners towards a collective goal. The app supports tracking individual goals, weekly reflections, and skills development logs. This visibility allows for teamwork and collaboration to be incorporated into the placement experience.
7. Behaviour Management Skills
Understanding behaviour is intricately tied to supporting student learning. Educators should:
• Provide positive behaviour supports, informing and reinforcing students
• Assist in the de-escalation of student conflict
• Support the development of positive peer interaction among students
Many courses now have Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) as a core competency. In SkilTrak placement, over 40% of students placed in a primary school site identified behaviour management as one of the most helpful practical skills they gained during their placement.
8. Literacy and Numeracy Support
Generally, support workers do not lead lessons; however, they often:
• Assist with reading sessions
• Help students understand math tasks
• Provide extra learning time for students in one-on-one or small group situations
Education support staff must, therefore, they must be confident in their literacy and numeracy to support the scaffolding of student learning. SkilTrak recommends support students complete refresher modules before their placements.
9. Cultural Competence
Australia’s student population is incredibly diverse, and support workers should be mindful of:
• Cultural sensitivities
• Linguistic diversity
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
SkilTrak Inclusion Framework:
SkilTrak works to make sure every student knows how to respect cultural diversity and inclusive practices in and across communities with RTOs who offer cultural competence modules.
How SkilTrak Supports Career Pathways in Education Support
SkilTrak provides a clear pathway for people who wish to pursue education, support career pathways, and here's how:
ü Structured Work-Based Placements:
• SkilTrak connects students to verified hosts across Australia with school and education centre placements.
• Host tracking record feedback and reflections are accessible via the SkilTrak app.
ü Skill Tracking & Progress Reports:
• Weekly reflections tracking growth in key competencies (communication, adaptability, teamwork, etc.)
• Digital feedback is available through both supervisors and trainers.
ü Career Mentorship and Industry Insight:
• Hosts provide direct feedback from employers.
• Industry insight into hiring trends and job-readiness for job-seekers.
ü Compliance and Certification Support:
• SkilTrak helps manage placement hours aligned to the national vocational standards.
• SkilTrak connects students to qualifications like Certificate III/IV in Education Support.
Career Outlook and Opportunities
Titles of job roles in this field include:
• Teacher Aide
• Education Assistant
• Learning Support Officer
• Integration Aide
• Special Needs Education Support Worker
Job Outlook Australia states that there will be increased demand for education support workers - 15.2% over the next 5 years - due to funding from the government for inclusive education and the growing number of children with additional needs.
In Closing
Success in education support is not solely about your qualifications; it is also about your heart, your resilience, and your determination to help students succeed. If you are someone who enjoys helping others, being part of their education as an educator, and being a fundamental part of a student’s learning journey, then a career in education support could be very fulfilling.
Platforms like SkilTrak are changing the way future professionals connect to opportunities, manage placements, and develop important workplace skills. By providing real-world experiences and personal development, education support professionals will be ready to change lives, one student at a time.
Skill: How It Matters
Communication provides clarity and trust with students and educators.
Empathy provides a supportive and safe space to learn.
Flexibility provides the ability to service changing needs and environments.
Patience is essential when behaviours and learning are challenging.
Technology skills are needed in modern learning environments.
Teamwork provides collaborative experiences with diverse teams in education.
Behaviour Management, respectful of students, provides support in inclusive classrooms. Literacies and numeracies provide the basis for students to develop core competencies.
Cultural competencies provide the basis for students to participate in inclusive classes.
Interested in a career in Educational Support?
Visit SkilTrak to learn more about how we support future education professionals, our students, RTOs, and the industry, permeating supporting students into careers and connecting education with work.
