Early childhood educators play a pivotal role in giving Australia’s youngest generation a quality play-based learning experience, including kindergarten/preschool programs, before commencing formal schooling.
If you have a passion for working with children, enjoy being part of a team and want to make a positive difference to the lives of others, then early childhood education may be the right profession for you.
Here are 5 great reasons to consider starting a career in early learning today.
1/ Reliable employment in a sector with strong demand
Australia’s early learning sector employs over 155,000 early childhood educators*.
With over 1.3 million children across over 974,600 families using approved early learning services in Australia, there is a very strong, ongoing demand for qualified, skilled candidates to take on the roles of early childhood educators and teachers. The number of service providers continues to grow annually, and the demand for early childhood professionals is expected to remain strong.
* Sum total of Childcare Workers, Child Care Centre Managers and Early Childhood Teachers in Australia – Job Outlook website
2/ Earn while you learn (train while you are on the job)
New entrants into the early learning profession can start without any existing qualifications in the field, by becoming a trainee/apprentice. Early learning (child care) employers may offer you a position that includes a Traineeship or Apprenticeship, which allows you to obtain a nationally recognised qualification while working and gaining valuable experience in the sector.
Traineeships/Apprenticeships are available to people of all ages and stages of life, including high school students and individuals wanting to start, change or advance their career.
The course involves a managable number of study hours which you can do off-site or at home, along with the on-site work and practical learning at the early learning service.
3/ It offers you a solid career path in a variety of settings
Early learning professionals offers a linear career path which starts at entry-level by becoming a trainee. In the first instance you may choose to work in early learning (centre-based, long day care) service, kindergartens/preschools or outside school hours care.
Once an early childhood educator, you may like to take on further studies to become a lead educator, educational leader, Early Childhood Teacher or Nominated Supervisor. From there you may wish to take on centre support roles, such as a Centre Manager, an Area or Operations Manager, administration, consultative, early childhood training roles or work that oversees quality and compliance.
Professional roles in the early learning sector are varied, so there's always room for you to grow, build on your existing skillsets and expand your responsibilities.
4/ It’s a rewarding role supporting the personal, educational and social development of children
Early childhood professionals support a child’s personal, educational and social progress during a crucial stage of brain development. This includes positive contribution to their social and emotional development, physical development, language and literacy skills, mathematical thinking and scientific enquiry.
Supporting young children in these developmental areas means they are more likely to be well socialised, confident, inquisitive about the world, accepting of diversity, resilient to manage challenges and also to be life-long learners.
5/ You may be able to study for free
If you’re eligible, you can earn your qualification in the early learning sector for free, or from just $1 to $2 per unit, thanks to government funding. Courses available under these initiatives include the CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and CHC50113 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
As funding for these courses varies in each state, we recommend you check in with your relevant state/territory Department of Education (visit their website or give them a call) to find out about the funding available.
Feeling inspired? Next Steps…
Being an early childhood educator means conquering daily challenges. Working with children requires patience and compassion, but it also means enjoying numerous positive and heartening experiences with the children, their families and your team. It’s an extremely rewarding career path for those with a genuine desire to support children in their early years.
If you see yourself enjoying a long career in early childhood education, undertaking a Traineeship/Apprenticeship at an early learning service may be the perfect solution.
To find out more, talk to a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) about the courses available or speak directly to your local early learning service(s) about work and training opportunities at their centre. You will need a Working With Children Check/Police check for this purpose, which can be organised by your relevant state/territory government.
You can read more about the qualifications required to work in an early learning service here, and check whether a particular course is recognised by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) here.