Students

Minimum Qualifications: Diploma 
Skills: Leadership, Communication, Administration, Planning 
Weekly hours: Average 41 hours 
Salary (starting approx): $1200 per week  

A Childcare Centre Director is the most senior position in an early year’s preschool or long day centre.   

• Recruitment, coordination and supervision of childcare staff
• Developing programs to grow the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of the children
• Ensure the centre and staff comply with safety standards and government regulations. 
• Managing the centre’s finances and procurement of supplies
• Interacting with parents and meeting their need and expectations
• Maintaining order within the establishment
• Accountable for the overall success of the childcare
• In this role much of your time will be spent outside of the classroom. 

Skills and Experience 

• What makes this position different to other childcare positions is management and administration experience. As you will be in charge of numerous staff, you will have a lot of responsibility and centre owners will need a high level of confidence that you can do the role.
• The easiest way to get this experience, is from time as the Assistant Director (or 2IC). As the Assistant Director is required to stand in for the Director from time to time, they will have been exposed to similar experience. Of course you will need to start somewhere, and if you’re an Early Childhood Educator looking to move up in the world, the best place to start is as a Team or Room Leader. Over time you will gain experience coordinating the other Educators in the room and get a feel for being a manager. 
• A good Centre Director will also have a lot of hands-on experience. Those who began as Educators will know how centres operate from the ground up. There’s nothing worse than being told what to do, from someone who’s never done it before. 

Qualifications 

• To be Centre Director you will need at the very least a Diploma of Early Childhood Education (or Children’s Services).   The Diploma is offered at many Registered Training Organisations throughout Australia and is generally completed in 12 months.
• To take the next step, you could also undergo an Advance Diploma of Children’s Service which will provide you with additional skills and knowledge to become a Director. The qualification primarily focuses on leadership skills in the childcare environment.
• Many childcare centres will seek out candidates that possess a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education. It is not uncommon for childcare centre’s to require their newly appointed Director to undertake the Advanced Diploma or Bachelor whilst on the job. 

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care 

Course Duration: 12-18 months
Institution: TAFE, Registered Training Organisations and some universities
Cost: $1500 – $9000 (incl. government subsidies)

This Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care will help you find a balance of stimulating mental and playtime activities to help the children you are teaching develop their mind and bodies. You will  learn everything of a Certificate III holder, but will go more in-depth into the National Quality Standards and EYLF. Upon completion you will have learnt how to educate and engage with children of all ages in line with government standards. 

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor of Education - The Early Years
Skills:, Communication, Leadership skills  
Weekly hours: Average 38 hours 
Salary (starting approx) $1100 per week

Early childhood teachers help children develop language and vocabulary as well as elementary numeracy, and improve physical and social skills 

• Planning activities to develop creativity and an interest in learning, physical skills, social skills and self-confidence using a variety of equipment and materials 
• Using storytelling, drama, music and discussion to develop language and vocabulary 
• Encouraging children to question and explore 
• Listening to children, including interpreting words and actions to determine a child's individual needs 
• Promoting health and safety concepts 
• Observing, assessing and recording each child's development and learning 
• Liaising with parents, other teachers, support staff, health and wellbeing professionals, and early childhood intervention specialists such as speech pathologists and psychologists. 
• A key part of being an Early Childhood Teacher is the ability to relate to, and understand, young children and work with them in groups and individually. 
• Early Childhood Teachers work in kindergartens, childcare centres, special education settings, government and non-government primary schools, and may work in metropolitan, rural or remote areas. 
• Promoting awareness and appreciation of multicultural diversity 

Minimum Qualifications: Diploma 
Skills: Communication, Sensitivity/Empathy/ Leadership skills 
Weekly hours: Average 38 hours 
Salary (starting approx)  $783 per week   

Early childhood educators enjoy and work well with young children, their families and the community. 

• Assess development and participation Early childhood educators monitor and assess the development and participation of the children in order to assist the child’s development and inform and engage parents and cares. 
• Create Lesson Plan design their own lesson and classroom instruction plans based on state-approved and school-approved curriculum. 
• Lead Daily Activities lead daily social, learning, and physical activities for all children in their assigned classes. 
• Monitor Children responsible for the overall health and welfare of the children in their classroom. 
• Encourage and Engage Children keep all children active and engaged while they are in the classroom. 
• Keep Classroom Clean and Stimulating Specialised cleaning services perform most of the heavy classroom cleaning, but the early childhood educator is ultimately responsible for keeping the space clean, organised, and stimulating for children. 
• Attend Staff Meetings 

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care 

Course Duration: 12-18 months
Institution: TAFE, Registered Training Organisations and some universities
Cost: $1500 – $9000 (incl. government subsidies)

This Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care will help you find a balance of stimulating mental and playtime activities to help the children you are teaching develop their mind and bodies. You will  learn everything of a Certificate III holder, but will go more in-depth into the National Quality Standards and EYLF. Upon completion you will have learnt how to educate and engage with children of all ages in line with government standards. 

Minimum Qualifications: Certificate 3 in Childcare 
Skills: Communication, Sensitivity/Empathy/ Leadership skills 
Weekly hours: varies 
Salary (starting approx) $25 per hour

To work under the guidance of teaching staff to undertake activities to help children learn in a safe and friendly environment.  Assist the teacher in the management of pupils and the classroom.  

• constructing learning materials 
• organising play-based learning 
• supporting teachers  
• coordinating with parents 
• supervising play 
• preparing meals 
• changing nappies 

Personal qualities

• Warmth, sensitivity, reliability, and enthusiasm
• Ability to communicate effectively with children
• Good interpersonal skills 

Certificate 3 in Childcare 

Course duration:  6-12 months. 
Institutions: TAFE, Registered Training Organisations, and some universities. 
Cost:  $200 – $3000 (incl. government subsidies) 

A Certificate 3 is the minimum requirement to gain employment as an approved early childhood worker. This is recommended for those looking to begin as an Assistant Educator with a registered childcare employer. You will be taught what it means to provide care and education for babies, toddlers and young children. After commencing the course, you may immediately begin working at a childcare facility.