Education support professionals work in schools and communities as paraeducators, assistant teachers, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, office workers, and secretaries. They deserve decent wages and respect for their important contributions to students’ learning experience.
If you see your teacher friends on social media asking for supplies, please consider donating to their crowdfunding initiatives.
Education Support Officers
Education support officers are employed to provide administrative services and are responsible for a wide range of duties including organising resources, maintaining classrooms and assisting teachers. They also assist with the coordination of excursions, incursions and special events.
They often work closely with teaching staff and have a significant impact on teacher performance. It is essential that schools review and align the roles, responsibilities and practices of classroom support staff.
Positions at this level have accountability for a specific function or area of business and are guided by established priorities, procedures and guidelines with limited scope for decision making.
They provide counselling and guidance to students and confer with pupils about extracurricular, curricular and personal problems; advise on school policies; give instruction in school orientation, curriculums and courses of study; and maintain current information on further education, career options and occupational opportunities. They also administer and maintain pupil records and cumulative records. They may also perform general office tasks such as filing and mail sorting.
Education Support Professionals
Education support professionals, also known as classified employees, make up more than half of the school workforce. They keep kids healthy, safe and engaged so they can learn. They drive buses, clean buildings, prepare meals and bandage scraped knees. Without them, schools wouldn’t function.
ESPs assist teachers in the classroom, help students with special needs and tutor struggling students. They also provide social and emotional support. ESPs work full-time during the school year and receive several weeks of paid vacation during school holidays. They work collaboratively with other school staff members and report to the principal.
ESPs are the backbone of our schools and deserve respect, including their voices being heard at the table. Ensure they’re included at school events, community nights and celebrations to show them that their contributions are valued.
Education Support Workers
Education support workers are the people who work behind the scenes to make education possible. They include cafeteria staff, custodians, and bus drivers. They also include paraprofessionals, more commonly known as teacher’s aides.
The education support worker role is crucial to the success of every student. It requires a high level of interpersonal skills and the ability to work with individuals who have different needs.
It is vital that schools review their current practices and consider how to improve. The Guidelines include 4 key improvement strategies that principals and school leaders can use to evaluate and prioritise their own key areas for improvement in relation to inclusive education and effective use of education support workers.
Education Support Personnel
Known as ESPs, education support professionals keep schools running and functioning by managing school offices, cleaning buildings, preparing food, driving buses, bandaging scraped knees and performing myriad other jobs. They make up the largest share of a school’s employees, and they deserve National ESP Day for all they do.
ESPs are key to helping teachers meet their classroom learning goals for all students, including those who have complex needs, by identifying, addressing and monitoring student learning outcomes. Education support staff are included in meetings between teachers and students (as appropriate), to assist them in developing and using self-regulation and social support programs designed by student support services or other health/community professionals.
ESPs are also central to helping schools recognise and amplify Koorie cultural, historical and social perspectives. They are involved in organising a range of activities for families and the wider community to celebrate Aboriginal culture, history and traditions, as well as providing culturally relevant learning opportunities for students.