How to Become an Education Assistant in WA: Courses, Checks, Pay and Where the Jobs Are
To become an education assistant in a WA public school, you need a Working with Children Check and a Department of Education criminal record screening. Then you either join the EA Employment Register, sign up to Casual Staff Seeker for relief work, or apply for jobs individual schools advertise. A Certificate III or IV in School Based Education Support isn't mandatory for every role, but some require it and it makes you far more competitive. Pay under the current agreement starts at $34.75 an hour, and special needs EAs earn up to $41.37.
Last fact-checked: 30 October 2026. Pay rates, rules and job numbers change; follow the linked source before you act.
What does an education assistant do?
An education assistant (EA), called a teacher aide or teacher's assistant in other states, works alongside teachers to support students' learning, behaviour and wellbeing. In WA public schools the main roles are:
| Role | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Education Assistant: Mainstream | Supporting small groups and individual students in regular classes, often in literacy and numeracy, and in kindergarten and pre-primary. |
| Education Assistant: Special Needs | Supporting students with disability or additional needs, including personal care, behaviour plans and adjusted learning. Common in education support centres and schools. |
| Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer (AIEO) | Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and building links with families and community. Being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is an essential requirement under s 50(d) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984. |
| Specialist EA roles | Auslan, Braille, EAL/D (English as an additional language) and Lead EA positions, which are filled through the same register. |
Education assistant jobs in WA right now
On 29 October 2026 Jobs In Perth tracked 63 live education assistant and AIEO jobs advertised by WA public schools, out of about 450 Department of Education jobs open at the time.
| Jobs | |
|---|---|
| Special needs EA | 35 |
| Mainstream EA | 21 |
| Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer | 7 |
| Perth metropolitan area | 37 |
| Regional WA (Pilbara 9, Wheatbelt 5, South West 4, Goldfields-Esperance 3, other 5) | 26 |
Two patterns stand out:
- Special needs roles are the biggest share (more than half), and they pay more. If you can, get experience or training in disability support.
- It's mostly part-time work. 50 of the 56 EA ads that stated a work type were part time. Most EAs work school hours, which suits parents but means a smaller weekly pay packet.
See every open role on our Department of Education jobs page, or browse teaching and education jobs in Perth.
Do you need a qualification to be an education assistant in WA?
Not always. The Department of Education's EA page lists no mandatory qualification, and its EA Employment Register says only that "some roles may require" a Certificate III or IV. In practice, a qualification helps a lot:
- Kindergarten and pre-primary EAs may need to hold, or be working towards, a Certificate III so the school meets national staffing ratios.
- Schools short-listing from dozens of applicants tend to favour qualified candidates.
- The course includes a work placement in a school, and that's often how people get their first casual shifts.
| Course | National code | WA fee status (2026) | Typical length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate III in School Based Education Support | CHC30221 | Low fee | About 6 months full time or 12 months part time at TAFE |
| Certificate IV in School Based Education Support | CHC40225 (replaced CHC40221 in December 2025) | Fee-free (not for existing-worker traineeships) | Varies by provider |
Check current fees and intakes on Jobs and Skills WA before you enrol. If you're paying a private provider, make sure the course has the current code and includes the work placement.
Checks you need before you can work
- Department of Education criminal record screening. Apply online through the Department's Screening Unit. It costs $46 for paid staff, and you get a Screening Clearance Number (SCN). The Department doesn't accept police clearances from other agencies, so a National Police Certificate you already have won't count.
- Working with Children Check. It costs $87 for paid work. New applications are lodged in person at Australia Post, and the check is valid for 3 years. A receipt usually lets you start work while the card is processed.
- Proof of identity and work rights, such as a passport or a birth certificate plus photo ID.
First aid is useful and some schools ask for it, but it isn't mandatory for all EA roles.
How education assistants are hired
1. EA Employment Register
The register is a standing pool that schools use to fill permanent and fixed-term EA jobs: mainstream, special needs, Auslan, Braille, EAL/D and Lead roles. Apply once through WA Government Jobs. The current register is open until 30 June 2027. Being on it doesn't guarantee work, so keep applying for advertised jobs as well.
2. Casual Staff Seeker
Casual Staff Seeker is the Department's system for booking casual relief staff in non-teaching roles. Schools send booking requests by SMS and you accept the ones you want. You need your SCN, your WWC card or receipt, and ID to register. Relief work is the most common way to get known at local schools, and permanent jobs often go to EAs a school already knows.
3. School-advertised jobs
Schools also advertise individual EA positions on WA Government Jobs, often with a short application: a resume plus one or two pages on how you meet the criteria. Our guide to selection criteria for WA Government jobs covers how to write that part, with examples.
Education assistant pay in WA
Public school EAs are paid under the Education Assistants' (Government) General Agreement 2025. These are the rates quoted in live Department of Education ads in October 2026:
| Role | Hourly rate | Weekly pay at 25 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Education Assistant: Mainstream (Level 1/2) | $34.75–$39.05 | $869–$976 |
| Education Assistant: Special Needs (Level 2/3) | $36.87–$41.37 | $922–$1,034 |
| Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer | $39.78–$41.37 | $995–$1,034 |
| Lead Education Assistant | $43.28 | $1,082 |
Weekly figures assume 25 hours, a common part-time school-hours load. Casual EAs get a 25% loading on top. Rates for new agreements can change, so check the ad for the current figure.
Independent and Catholic schools set pay under their own agreements, so compare carefully if you're applying across sectors.
Step-by-step: how to become an education assistant in WA
- Apply for your Department of Education criminal record screening ($46) and Working with Children Check ($87). Start now, because processing takes time.
- Enrol in a Certificate III or IV in School Based Education Support. The Certificate IV is fee-free in WA in 2026.
- Register with Casual Staff Seeker and apply to the EA Employment Register.
- Use your course placement and relief shifts to build relationships with local schools.
- Apply for school-advertised jobs. Special needs roles have the most vacancies, and regional towns often have fewer applicants.
Interested in teaching later? Many EAs move on to teaching degrees. See teacher salaries in WA. For other school-hours work, browse part-time jobs in Perth.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a qualification to be an education assistant in WA?
Not for every role. The Department of Education lists no mandatory qualification for all EAs, but some roles, including many kindergarten positions, need a Certificate III or IV in School Based Education Support, and qualified applicants are more competitive.
How much do education assistants earn in WA?
In WA public schools, mainstream EAs earn $34.75–$39.05 an hour and special needs EAs $36.87–$41.37 an hour, per Department of Education ads in October 2026. Most EA jobs are part time.
Is the education assistant course free in WA?
In 2026 the Certificate IV in School Based Education Support is on the WA fee-free list (except existing-worker traineeships), and the Certificate III is low fee. Check Jobs and Skills WA for current fees.
What is Casual Staff Seeker?
The Department of Education's online system for booking casual relief staff in non-teaching roles such as education assistants. Schools send booking requests by SMS.
What's the difference between a teacher aide and an education assistant?
Nothing, apart from the name. WA public schools use 'education assistant'; Queensland and other states often say 'teacher aide'.
How long does it take to become an education assistant?
The checks can be done in a few weeks. A Certificate III takes about 6 months full time or 12 months part time at TAFE, but you can do relief work while you study once your checks clear.
Sources
- Department of Education WA, Education and classroom support roles
- Department of Education WA, National criminal history check (screening)
- Department of Communities, Working with Children Check: application and renewal
- WA Government Jobs, Education Assistant Employment Register
- Jobs and Skills WA, Certificate III in School Based Education Support
- Jobs and Skills WA, Certificate IV in School Based Education Support
- WAIRC, Education Assistants' (Government) General Agreement 2025