Certificate of Education Integration Aide course
Certificate of Education Integration Aide course general information
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications are needed to enter the course?
No entry requirements are needed and we encourage anyone that is interested to
apply regardless of the background qualifications.
What are the backgrounds of people who do apply?
Really varied: aides who want formal qualifications; parents of children
with disabilities; people wanting to make a career transition; students
out of school who want to gain further skills and learn more about education
(may want later to enter teaching); ex- teachers who have out of date qualifications
but who want to return to working with children; women who have been raising
children and want to enter back into the workforce in a job that offers
flexibility in working hours.
Will this qualification guarantee me a job as an Aide?
We cannot guarantee a job but the Deakin Course is held in high regard and
many graduates from the course have been successful in getting jobs. It
is a well recognised qualification in both government and non-government
schools.
The number of children with disabilities being enrolled at local schools
is increasing (26,000 in 2006) and so employment opportunities are strong.
The coordinator of the program works with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you are well prepared to apply for jobs and have a thorough understanding of the skills needed to apply for positions.
Is a formal qualification necessary in this field?
Currently it is not compulsory but is likely to be so in the near future.
The reality is though that the successful applicants for jobs do have a
formal qualification.
How is the program taught and assessed?
The coordinator who is the main presenter is very conscious about making
the learning relaxed and friendly so that people who have not studied for
a while feel very comfortable and positive about their learning. There
is a lot of small group work and high levels of activity and discussion
so that people work cooperatively. Assignments and not exams or tests are
used to find out about your understanding. The assignments are highly practical
and there is flexibility about submission dates. Lots of individual support
is offered to help students with their assignments.
Why do the course at Deakin University?
This program is designed and taught by academic staff who work in the School of Education at Deakin so the content of the course is strongly related to current
practices in schools especially in relation to school curriculum and the
latest approaches to learning. The presenters are highly experienced
in the area of disability and have worked both as teachers and school
principals. They have been involved in the training of Integration Aides for
many years and really enjoy working with people entering this
field.
Overall the program is tightly focused upon education and current knowledge
and practices working with children in school settings.
