How to Become an Early Childhood Educator or a Childcare Worker? [Full Guide]
Study Childcare Courses in Brisbane.
Are you interested in starting a career as an early childhood educator but unsure where to start?
We hear you.
There is so much information out there. However, it isn't very clear and does not give you the exact details to get started.
No stress!
We have created this guide to help you understand what your career as an educator may look like and what courses do you need to study to kickstart.
So, what do you do as an early childhood educator?
The importance of the job role of an early childhood educator or childcare worker is understated. You will predominantly work with children aged 0 to 5 years to teach and nurture them in their early years.
Most people who wish to enter the industry do not fully understand the depth of the job role. Often the assumption is that it is about playing with the kids and keeping them safe while in the centre.
Well, it is way more than that.
It is about teaching children the fundamental life skills in their early years and helping them understand how to go about in this busy world.
You will be responsible for laying the foundations of learning to give them the best start in life.
What will be my job role?
The typical duties and tasks can be as follows.
You will teach and nurture children in their early years (0 to 5 years). Such as
how to interact and socialise
how to share
how to participate
how to explore and discover
basic personal hygiene
To achieve the above outcomes, you will be using a range of educational resources and materials and make it fun-filled activities.
You will team up with your colleagues to prepare exciting projects and lessons for children; monitor and assess performance, behavior, and social development. You will also observe their health, developmental, or emotional issues.
You will learn to identify and support children with special needs or learning disabilities. And ultimately create a safe and caring environment for children to learn and thrive.
What do I need to study if I am new to the industry?
If you are just getting started in the early childhood education industry, you need to study Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Please note that Certificate III course has been fully updated (CHC30113 to CHC30121), and we strongly recommend that you do not study the old course.
The certificate III course gives you the fundamental knowledge to start working and build on it with hands-on experience.
This qualification requires you to complete 160 hours of vocational placement (used to be 120) in a regulated early childhood education facility.
The vocational placement is the most critical aspect of this course as it gives you a real-world experience of working as an educator.
What if I am already an educator and want to advance in my career?
If you are already an educator and would like to progress your career further, we recommend you study the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
Again, this course also has been fully updated (CHC50113 to CHC50121). We strongly recommend that you study the new course.
The diploma level qualification will teach you how to work at a supervisory level. You will not only be working with children but with other educators in the centre to help them learn the skills.
You will work with the educators and centre director to understand the educational curriculum implemented in the centre and how it can be improved to achieve better outcomes.
You will assist with developing programming documents and policies to achieve organisational goals.
You can also work towards opening up your family daycare or long daycare centre if you have the capital.
Can I study the Diploma directly?
Unfortunately, you cannot study the new Diploma course before completing Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
The old Diploma (CHC50113) did not have any pre-requisites and could have been completed by anyone.
What are the core skills I need before considering a career in the industry?
If you love interacting with children, you should definitely consider a career as an educator.
The ideal candidate will be very patient and calm. In addition, you will have good communication skills and, most notably, a good listener.
The job requires that you’re reliable with a positive attitude and willingness to learn and implement new ideas.
You must also be able to obtain a working with children check to work.
What can be my long-term career goal?
The early childhood education and care industry is one of the fastest-growing in Australia.
With the Australian population on the rise and the increased cost of living, more and more families are working full-time. This has resulted in huge demand for centres and educators.
According to the government data, the industry will likely require 144,000 workers by 2025, up from 130,800 in 2020.
Your long-term goal can be to become a centre manager or director.
You can also consider opening a family daycare scheme that does not require significant capital or a long daycare centre if you have access to the money.
You can also consider a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education to enhance your career further.
How much does it cost to study Certificate III or Diploma of early childhood education and care?
Both courses are on a high-priority list, and most state governments offer massive subsidies to people who would like to study this course.
In Queensland, you can study this course with us using the government subsidy and pay only a small co-contribution fee.
The co-contribution fee is a mandatory cost you have to pay to the provider. We only charge $20 per unit of competency if you meet the funding eligibility criteria.
The total out-of-pocket cost for you can be as little as $255. You can also pay this amount in instalments.
Basic Funding Eligibility Criteria:
You must:
be 15 years or older
not be in school
be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, NZ citizen, Humanitarian visa holder, or any other visa that leads to the permanent residency of Australia such as a partner visa
be living in Queensland
Should I consider studying Online or Face to Face?
The answer to this question depends on how motivated you are and how quickly you would like to get into the industry.
Face to Face learning is always the best method to acquire a vocational qualification as it often requires hands-on practical skills.
However, with the advancement of technology, online learning has become very popular in the last few years.
Online learning is not complex as it used to be and can be as effective as face-to-face if you are using the right tools.
If you have the right attitude and willingness to learn, you can study online and secure a vocational placement within a couple of weeks of starting your course.
It will allow you to apply your knowledge in an actual workplace and open an opportunity for you to secure employment.
Most centres look at your commitment when they consider you for placement. The centres are always looking to teach and hire; however, they want to be fully assured that you are the right person before offering you a position.
We often notice that learners with the right attitude secure placement as early as 4 weeks from starting the course with our online learners.
How can I secure a vocational placement?
As mentioned before, securing your placement is not difficult at all if you have the right attitude and commitment to work.
The centres look for how flexible you are with your placement days and how far you are willing to go to achieve your goals.
If you can show them that you are an eager learner and passionate about the industry, you will have no problems securing it.
We give you proven tips and tricks that work when you start your course with us.
We even help you write a resume and a cover letter to increase your chances of securing a placement.
How do I get started?
If you have taken the time to read our guide and feel confident about getting started, you can complete the inquiry form by clicking below.
We will instantly email you the course details, and one of our student relationship officers will get in touch with you within 24 hours (business days) with more information.
Feel free to call us on 0484 367 128 if you need more details.