ITAC is an award winning training provider:

Australian Small Business Champion Award

Finalist 2021

The Institute of Teacher Aide Courses is proud to announce that we have been selected as a finalist for the 2021 Australian Small Business Champion Awards. The Australian Small Business Champions Awards is the national award program for small and medium business in Australia. According to the award’s website:

“The Australian Small Business Champion Awards is a prestigious and comprehensive program that supports and recognises small businesses across Australia.

Offering a unique opportunity to highlight Australia's most outstanding small businesses, the awards seek to recognise the hard work that business owners contribute to the local community in generating employment for millions of Australians, as well as their contribution to the Australian economy.

The awards are the pinnacle of business success. They recognise the values associated with successful businesses.”

Management would like to take this opportunity thank our students, staff and partnering schools for all their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm; all of which has helped the company to achieve this monumental award.

Vocational Student of the Year (SA)

Ebony Springall

Qualification: Certificate III and IV in Education Support

Employer: Woodend Primary School

Nothing inspires a child more than an educator who is passionate about learning themselves, something Ebony Springall is testament to.

After months spent assisting her son’s reception class with its morning reading activities, Ebony swiftly realised the ritual had become her favourite part of the day, and her future career path was set.

"Reading with some of the children who struggled with learning difficulties made me want to be able to do something to help, to be able to empower them to succeed and to give them much needed confidence," says Ebony. "I wanted to do something with my career that could benefit these children and make a difference in their lives, and I also wanted to be able to support the teachers to work with students who need extra support due to disabilities, learning or behavioural difficulties."

With encouragement from friends and family, Ebony began to research the Vocational Education and Training (VET) required to become a school services officer, enrolling with the Institute of Teacher Aide Courses to study a combined Certificate III and IV in Education Support.

After completing her course and applying to local schools in her area, Ebony - the first member of her family to achieve a nationally recognised qualification - received multiple job offers, commencing her role with Woodend Primary School within a few weeks.

"Online learning suited my life and allowed me to work and still spend time with my kids, while studying at a pace that worked for me," she says. "I chose to study with the Institute of Teacher Aide Courses because the combined course allowed me to be time effective with my study, and having a Certificate IV gave me a point of difference over the majority of other school services officers."

VET studies equipped Ebony to hit the ground running in her new role and to immediately demonstrate the knowledge and skills she had acquired through her training. Within weeks, she was offered a full-time year-long contract.

"I enjoyed the challenge of VET and put everything into it. It set me up so well for the day to day experiences I have in my job - especially in the areas of behaviour, disability, literacy and numeracy strategies," says Ebony. "I’ve already made huge leaps with students who’ve shown remarkable improvement in behaviour or language."

Having found her passion through her education and training, Ebony now takes every available opportunity to spread the story of her success and encourage others to take their futures into their own hands, find their passion and make it happen.

"It would never have happened for me if I hadn’t taken the leap to upskill myself through training, and I will forever be grateful that I did," she says.

"I look forward to where this career could take me and aspire to be able to help the new generation of students to be the best they can be with all the support they need to achieve.

Vocational Student of the Year (QLD)

Regional winner: Tania Paulson

Qualification: Certificate IV in Education Support

Employer: Anakie State School

As a confident mature-aged woman and working mother, Tania was motivated by her passion for learning and a love of working with children to complete her Certificate IV in Education Support.

Tania's journey has provided a career pathway in education, as well as personal and professional growth. Tania is an advocate for lifelong learning and skills development, which she shares with her family and the wider community of Sapphire.

Equity VET Student of the Year (QLD)

Regional finalist: Tania Paulson

Qualification: Certificate IV in Education Support

Employer: Anakie State School

Small Training Provider of the Year (QLD)

State Finalist

From 800 applications, ITAC was a state finalist (top 3) for the Queensland Small Training Provider of the Year award in 2020 (providers with less on 50 qualifications). Well done to everyone at ITAC and our students, placement schools and mentor teachers!