Early Childhood Education plays a vital role in supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing during their early years. Early Educators create nurturing, engaging environments that support children’s social, emotional and cognitive development while working closely with families and communities.
Many roles offer part-time or flexible working arrangements, and Vocational Education and Training (VET) is the main entry pathway into a career in Early Childhood Education.
Explore the topics below to learn everything you need to know about becoming an Early Educator.
Some duties you can expect to undertake as an Early Educator include:
Assisting in the preparation of materials & equipment for children’s education & recreational activities
Managing children’s behaviour and guiding children’s social development
Managing time and activities
Entertaining children by reading and playing games
Supervising children in recreational activities
Supervising the hygiene and daily routine of children
Communicating with parents
There is moderate growth predicated for the Early Education industry.
Early Childhood Education and Care is a national priority workforce area. Demand for qualified early educators continues to grow, driven by population growth, increased workforce participation by parents, and the expansion of early learning services.
Jobs and Skills Australia has identified ongoing workforce shortages across the sector, with strong demand for qualified educators across long day care, family day care and outside school hours care services.
There are several key skills and attributes that Early Childhood Educators need to be successful in their role.
A passion for working with
and relating to children
Lots of patience and compassion
Flexibility in relation to
working hours
Willingness to take on a
range of activities and tasks
as required
Plenty of energy and
enthusiasm on a daily basis
Good level of health and
fitness
A relevant qualification or Traineeship is required to start your career as an Early Educator / Child Care Worker.
At a minimum, Early Educators need to complete:
It’s also highly recommended that you obtain:
If you wish to take on the role of Manager or Coordinator, you will need to also obtain:
Traineeship
A Traineeship is another great pathway to enter a career as an Early Educator. This enables you to gain practical experience in the industry, learning from senior staff members and working directly with children. A Traineeship means you can study and work at the same time, receiving formal and on-the-job.
A qualification in Early Childhood can open up a range of opportunities and can lead to a career such as:
Contact us on 1800 007 400 to discuss our training and employment opportunities.
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