OSCA 432231

Teaching Assistant

Overview

  • Employed persons

    80,200

  • Employment status

    22.2% Full time

    77.7% Part time

  • Median age

    46 years

  • Employment by sex

    88.1% Female

    11.9% Male

    Highly female dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    4.8%

  • Main employing industry

    Education and Training

Indicator Teaching Assistant Total employment
Employed persons 80,200 12,049,400
Median age 46 years 40 years
Full-time share 22.2% 64.2%
Part-time share 77.7% 35.8%
Female employment share 88.1% 48.5%
Male employment share 11.9% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly female dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 4.8% 2.2%
Main employing industry Education and Training Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Teaching Assistants work under the guidance of teachers and other education professionals to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for students. Employed in primary and secondary schools, as well as in schools for specific purposes and other education settings, to facilitate student learning and engagement.

What the occupation involves

  • Facilitates student learning in the classroom under the direction of a teacher
  • Provides targeted support to individuals and groups of students
  • Cares for students' social, emotional and physical needs
  • Promotes positive behaviour and wellbeing
  • Assists students to access the curriculum and participate fully in learning
  • Assists teachers and students with sporting activities and school excursions
  • Supports students in participating in extra-curricular activities

Common occupation titles

  • Education Assistant
  • Education Support Officer
  • Learning Support Officer
  • Student Support Officer
  • Teacher Aide

Specialisations

  • School Services Officer
  • Student Liaison Officer

Note: Specialisations are examples of roles in within this occupation and are not separate OSCA occupations.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 3
equivalent to a mid-level Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification (Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least 2 years’ on-the-job training).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

Registration or licensing is required.

OSCA structure

Community and Personal Service Workers (4)

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Teaching Assistant Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Education and Training 96.7% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Public Administration and Safety 1.0% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Health Care and Social Assistance 0.9% Construction 8.9%
    Other Services 0.3% Education and Training 8.8%
    Administrative and Support Services 0.2% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Arts and Recreation Services 0.1% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Accommodation and Food Services <0.1% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing <0.1% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Construction <0.1% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services <0.1% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      24.3%

    • Victoria

      21.1%

    • Queensland

      27.0%

    • South Australia

      7.9%

    • Tasmania

      3.7%

    • Northern Territory

      1.2%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      1.6%

    Teaching Assistant Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 19,500 24.3% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 16,900 21.1% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 21,700 27.0% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 6,300 7.9% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 10,600 13.2% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 3,000 3.7% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 940 1.2% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 1,300 1.6% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Teaching Assistant

    Total employment

    Age group Teaching Assistant Total employment
    15–24 years 11.4% 14.3%
    25–34 years 12.3% 22.7%
    35–44 years 22.5% 22.3%
    45–54 years 30.3% 20.4%
    55–64 years 19.8% 15.3%
    65–74 years 3.5% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.2% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Teaching Assistant Total employment
    Female 88.1% 48.5%
    Male 11.9% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

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      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

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