My SIL and her partner are both teachers and when I quizzed them on info about getting into teaching they advised me not to become a teacher's aide because the pay is crap and you get all the ****ty jobs to do.

Do you have any kind of degree already? If so, the Grad Dip in Education is only one year full time or equivalent part time. That will make you a fully qualified teacher. I'd skip the teacher's aide stuff and go straight for the degree. You could do it part time. The only time you'd need to be available full time is for prac I think.