The curriculum of the University Preparation Course: Education Assistant (Special Needs) will develop high level classroom support skills for students entering educational settings as Education Assistants (Special Needs). Skills will be developed over four units of study, which will enable students to work with learners with a wide range of specific learning needs. Students will develop knowledge, skills and an understanding of the classroom, as well as curriculum support skills required to work as an educational assistant with special needs learners in educational contexts from Kindergarten to Secondary level. Specific disabilities to be investigated will include learning, intellectual and physical disabilities. Professional skills and knowledge included in this course will increase students’ academic writing, referencing, and professional presentation skills to support entry to University. The course will include a 2 week block workplace experience in the final unit. Students cannot complete the practicum until all other units have been successfully completed. Students will be placed in an educational setting working with learners with special education needs. 

The University Preparation Course: Education Assistant (Special Needs) is open to school leavers, recent school leavers under 20 years of age and mature age applicants.

School Leavers

(2009 students)

For admission to the University Preparation Course: Education Assistant (Special Needs), school leavers must:

• Meet secondary graduation requirements of the Western Australian Certificate of Education, and
• Meet ECU’s UPC English competency requirements, and
• Have studied a minimum of four subjects which includes a combination of TEE and/or WACE courses (stage 2 or higher) and/or ECU approved Wholly School Assessed (CAF) subjects and achieved a minimum of at least  8 points from these subjects, or
• Have successfully completed a Certificate IV as part of their 12 years of Schooling.

English competency can be achieved by:

English Course:

• You must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50, or
• A final school letter grade of A,B, or C in one English unit studies in Year 12 from 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A or 3B, or
• A final school letter grade of A in both 1C and 1D English units studied in Year 12.
   

TEE English Literature:

• You must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50, or
• A final school letter grade of A,B or C studied in Year 12.
• A final school letter grade of A,B, or C in one Literature unit studied in Year 12 from 2A, 2B, 3A or 3B (for 2011 entry onwards).
   

English as an Additional Language/Dialect:

• You must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50, or
• A final school letter grade of A,B, or C in one English as an Additional Language/Dialect unit studied in Year 12 from 2A, 2B, 3A or 3B.

Point Weightings for TEE, WACE and ECU approved CAF subjects:

TEE Subjects

• Final scaled mark of 70 and above or final school grade of A:                   7 points
• Final scaled mark of between 60 and 70 or final school grade of B:           6 points
• Final scaled mark of between 50 and 60 or final school grade of C:           5 points
  (whichever is higher)

WACE courses

      (Stage 2A, 2B,2C,2D,3A or 3B completed in Year 12) 

• Final scaled mark of 70 and above:                                                       7 points
• Final scaled mark of between 60 and 70:                                                6 points
• Final scaled mark of between 50 and 60:                                                5 points
• Final unit grade of A:                                                                         3.5 points
• Final unit grade of B:                                                                            3 points
• Final unit grade of C:                                                                         2.5 points
   

ECU approved CAF (WSA) subjects

• Final school grade of A:                                                                       5 points
• Final school grade of B:                                                                       3 points
• Final school grade of C:                                                                       1 points
• Note: Final unit grade of A in 1C and 1D English Course:                        5 points
   

Non-School Leaver and Mature Age Students

Non-School Leaver and Mature Age applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria:

• Prior education qualifications which match current non-TEE entry requirements for school Leavers; or
• Minimum score of 115 (post Feb 2010) or 125 (prior to Feb 2010) in English and at least 110 (post Feb 2010) or 115 (prior to Feb 2010) in either the STAT Verbal or Quantitative components, or
• Have successfully completed a TAFE Certificate III; or
• Applied via the Portfolio Pathway.

Apply online at http://www.ecu.edu.au/student/admissions/apply/

This course has four units of 15 credit points each. Each unit will consist of three modules and each module will represent two full days of weekend instruction. Students can choose to complete this course in six or twelve months of study. This course will only be held on Mount Lawley campus. Students will complete written and practical skills assessments in each unit.

The course will include a 2 week block workplace experience in the final unit. Students cannot complete the practicum until all other units have been successfully completed. Students will be placed in a educational setting working with learners with special education needs.