Early Education is part of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing industry (Health Care and Social Assistance). Many workers are female and part-time work is common. Vocational Education and Training is the main entry pathway for a career in Early Education / Child Care.
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.
The number of people working as Early Educators / Child Care Workers is expected to grow from 134,200 in 2021 to 142,100 by 2026. That’s a 5.9% increase or an extra 7,900 jobs. (Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Projections)
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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