All you need to know to become a Childcare worker

early_childhood_education_care_gbca

If working with kids is something you would enjoy, being a childcare worker would be perfect for you. A child’s early years are crucial, childcare workers are of great importance as they will be responsible for supporting the child’s development of motor, sensory, and social skills. In the childcare industry, you have the unique opportunity to support and nurture children through the various stages of their development. 

A career in the childcare industry is highly rewarding. Aside from its benefits to the child and society, a typical childcare worker in Australia earns an average annual salary of $55,000[1]. Besides the financial rewards, a career in the childcare industry is also attractive. It is fulfilling because of the strong bonds with each child, and the opportunity to watch them learn and grow. It is in high demand.  

Recommended Read: How Much Do Childcare Educators Earn in Victoria

The job growth is projected to be 10.2% over the next five years,[1] or over 30,000 new jobs[2]. A career in the childcare industry can be easy to access as the entry-level qualifications are quick to complete, with flexible study options available for candidates. There are several pathways to grow while working in the industry.  

Does it sound right fit to you? Then here are the important things to consider in becoming a childcare provider soon: 

Get Qualified! 

The more qualified you are, the more you can work in different settings. This will also allow you to progress even further in your career through to more senior roles. There are different childcare education certifications to choose from, such as: 

Work Placement of 120 Hours 

All nationally recognised childcare qualifications in Australia require a prospective childcare professional to complete a work placement, which is at least 120 hours for Certificate III holders. It is compulsory and should be no extra charge to you. 

At GBCA, we guarantee work placement for our students, offering a great opportunity for them to practice what they learn in the classroom, and to experience what your day is like as a childcare worker. A lot of our students get job offers during work placements.  

First-Aid Certification 

As per the requirements of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA),[2] at least one staff member or supervisor is on-site at all times with a first-aid response. So, while not required, it is always a good idea to get a first-aid certificate. This may include CPR, anaphylaxis, and asthma awareness and response training. With a first-aid certification, employers are more likely to hire you since it will make staff scheduling a bit easier.  

Recommended Read: Top Skills Required to become an Early Childhood Educator  

Police & The Working with Children Check (WWCC)

Last but not least, you will need to obtain two checks before you start your course, one is the Working with Children Check (WWCC), another one is a Police check.  

Getting the qualifications required for childcare education is the first step to success. If you are searching for a starting point, look no further and enrol at Global Business College of Australia (GBCA)! GBCA offers Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).   

Certificate III holders will receive credit exemption of up to 13 units – allowing you to fast-track the advancement of your career in this rewarding industry. 

 

 

References:  

[1] https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/childcare-worker 

[2] https://www.training.com.au/ed/becoming-a-child-care-worker/ 

[3] https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/careers/why-how-to-become-a-childcare-worker 

[4] https://www.gostudy.com.au/blog/a-career-in-childcare-in-australia/ 

[5] https://www.tafensw.edu.au/article/-/blogs/how-to-get-a-job-in-childcare 

[6] https://www.careerfaqs.com.au/careers/how-to-become-an-accredited-child-care-worker-in-australia-careers-in-child-care 

[7] https://www.ihna.edu.au/blog/2016/09/essential-training-childcare-workers-australia/ 

 

How much can I earn as a Childcare educator in Victoria

How much can I earn as a Childcare educator in Victoria

This article was updated in October 2023 to reflect the latest data.

Early childhood education is an industry offering great potential for career growth and financial reward. The wages and salaries of childcare workers in Australia are governed by the Children Services Award (2010) published by the Fair Work Commission, which outlines the minimum wages of early childcare professionals. However, as a high in-demand sector, the shortage of supply of the workforce eventually drives the increase in wages

Salary expectations for early childhood educators 

The starting salary for an Early childhood teacher is from $67,447 per year (or $1,292.58 per week), but will increase steadily as your job experience grows – up to about  $75,0000 – $85,000 per year. The most senior early childhood educators in the State of Victoria are expected to earn  more under a salary deal that was passed by the state government and the education union last 2021. The most experienced educators will see varying salary increases of up to 31% for kindergarten teachers, and 27% for educators. This will cover around 7,000 kindergarten workers and 46,500 public school teachers, regardless of the pay level.  

Recommended Read: Top Skills Required to Become an Early Childhood Educator  

It is expected that by the year 2024, full-time kindergarten teachers who have seven years’ worth of working experience will earn $116,906 every year, up from the current rate of $103,838. As a bonus, diploma-qualified childcare educators are entitled to receive a salary bonus of around $12,000. 

This makes early childhood work more attractive for teachers and educators as it looks to almost double the workforce to 13,000 by 2029 in line with its $5 billion plan to extend 15 hours of free kinder to all three-year-old Victorian children.  

Three factors that can increase your pay  

1. Level of education/ Qualifications 

To get a job as an early childhood educator in most states, it is essential to attain the appropriate qualifications and undergo adequate training. One of the most prominent fast tracks to your childhood educator career is the Certificate III in Early Childhood Care and Education, a course that offers the fundamentals of working with children. Wages start from $23.11 per hour for those who have yet to complete their Certificate, while those who have qualified could expect an hourly pay rate of $25.78+.   

Employees who have completed a Diploma in Children Services, have a much wider knowledge than childcare workers with just a Certificate, and may expect a higher rate and opens up a pathway for you to progress into more senior roles, such as a management position in a childcare centre.  

Recommended Read: All you need to know about becoming a Childcare worker

Childcare workers who have devoted several years studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), will be working in an Early Childhood Teacher role.   

2. Depth of responsibilities and scope of work

If you work as a supervisor or room leader in a childcare centre, you are classed as level 4 under the Children Services Award and are entitled to $30.84+ on commencement of the job. When you complete a diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you may have been appointed the job of an assistant director or Day Care Coordinator and can expect a larger amount of compensation for the responsibilities. Childcare Centre Director or Centre Manager is ultimately responsible for the management of the Childcare Centre and its staff. Centre Director jobs can be advertised with salaries as high as $85,000+.   

3. Work experience

A childcare employee can further increase their wage based on the number of years’ experience they have, providing childcare workers with a path of progression. Lastly, whether you work full-time, part-time or casual can also influence the rate at which you get paid.  

While being a childcare educator is rewarding in the sense that you can have the unique opportunity to work with and help children’s learning and development. Now the Victorian government has made great strides in making early childhood work more lucrative for teachers and educators, it is expected that the workforce will almost double to 13,000 by the year 2029. Today is the perfect time for an aspiring childcare educator like you to kickstart your career in this ever-growing industry.  

Sounds tempting, right? If you wish to enter the workforce as soon as you can, enrol at the Global Business College of Australia (GBCA).  

Our Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) course provide you qualifications you need to enter the sector, and guaranteed work placement to practise what you learn. Interested to learn more, check here for more details.  

 

 

References: 

https://elaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/VECTEA-2020-Schedule-2-Salary-Rates-Final.pdf 

https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/early-childhood-teacher/salary 

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/best-paid-victorian-kinder-teachers-to-earn-more-than-school-teachers-20201126-p56i9e.html 

https://www.kindercareers.com.au/childcare-wages/

What can you do with a Diploma of Community Services qualification?

diploma_community_services_gbca

What is the Diploma of Community Services?   

The Diploma of Community Services is a 52 weeks course that trains community service and social housing workers to manage, co-ordinate and/or deliver person-centred services to individuals, groups, and communities. Workers are usually providing direct support to individuals or groups of individuals.

Workers may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers and/or case management, program coordination or the development of new business opportunities.

The course requires students to undertake 100 work placements, this is to ensure students learn on the job and get the practical knowledge necessary to provide the service to individuals, groups, and communities.

Learn more about the Diploma of Community Services course here  

When you complete the Diploma of Community Services, you will have a nationally recognised qualification that is highly regarded by the sector. The certificate will prepare you for work even in other states, providing you flexibility and work-life balance.   

What does Community Services Worker do?  

Community services workers are responsible for planning, developing and facilitating a range of services that might include, mental and health support, family support, assisting migrants or refugees resettle and integrate with society, and counselling services and programs for children.

 

Recommended Articles: What can I do with a certificate III in Individual Support Qualification? 

 

What typical jobs can I do with a Certificate IV in Disability qualification?  

  • Community Services Worker
  • Group Leader
  • Family Support Worker  
  • Youth Worker

Community Services Worker

Community Support Workers provide care and support to clients so they can become more independent in their everyday lives. They help clients in various ways, such as assisting with personal care including grooming and feeding, household chores such as cooking and cleaning and arranging transportation and recreational activities.

Case or social workers

Caseworkers help people with a variety of social and personal problems. They may help clients deal with financial, family, or health-related issues; assist individuals who are disabled or elderly, or offer advice on ways to improve life situations.   

Family Support Worker  

Family support workers often work through government or social service agencies and deal with families who might be at risk, and they are responsible for promoting stability, well-being, and safety, especially for children.

Youth Worker

Youth Workers provide a range of specialist support services to young people facing welfare, behavioural, developmental, social and protection issues. they also provide ongoing opportunities for young people to develop skills, experience and self-esteem through training and education programs, youth groups, local community events and outings, as well as formal activities such as arts and crafts, cooking or sports sessions.

  

Kickstart Your in Community Services

Whether you’re wondering how to start a career in community services, you’ll no longer have to ask, “Where can I study a community services course in Melbourne?” At Global Business College of Australia, we have all the knowledge and experience you need.  

 

Ready to get started? 

Sign up for our newsletter to get more information about the Diploma of Community Services, or click apply to get started 

 

Also check: How an Individual Support Course Prepares You for a Job in Aged Care? 

 

 

Top Skills Required to be an Early Childhood Educator  

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care Course in Melbourne - Study with GBCA Online or On Campus

With most Australian parents working, the need for early childhood educators is going to rise over the next few years. In fact, in Victoria alone, more than 6,000 new early childhood teachers are going to be needed state-wide by 2026. If you wish to help and give the next generation the best start in life, then you should be armed with the necessary skills to shape children’s education, social skills and emotional wellbeing. 

Hard and soft skills are both of equal importance for an early childhood educator to become an effective professional in the field.  

An educator who will focus only on possessing hard skills may be able to deliver quality education but would find it difficult to manage a class with varying levels of learning pace, properly plan and deliver lessons, keep students engaged in class and be collaborative, and may have a hard time in collaborating with their peers in the academia such as colleagues and school administrators. Inversely, a teacher who has strong soft skills, but limited hard skills, may not be as competent when it comes to teaching but will excel in other aspects like teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and other facets which are essential for the profession.  

That being said, early childhood educators should receive a well-balanced professional development for them not only to gain hard skills but also to develop their soft skills to make them better professionals that can contribute positively to the field of education. 

Recommended Read: How Much Do Childcare Educators Earn in Victoria

 

Essential Hard Skills for Early Childhood Educators:  

  1. Computer Skills – in today’s ever-progressing technology, computer skills are a must in any industry. These may include typing skills, emails, presentations, social media management, online research, etc.  
  1. Management Skills – this may seem like people skills, but it is half-hearted as management skills include project management, scheduling, logistics, planning, and negotiation.  
  1. Writing Skills – a solid command of the writing techniques will give you the needed boost in teaching. This skillset includes basic writing (grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary), note-taking, letter and email writing, academic writing, editing, data visualisation, etc.   

 

Essential Soft Skills for Early Childhood Educators:  

  1. Understanding Diversity – children come from different home environments and backgrounds, which will lead to different learning needs and styles. Early childhood educators should be able to accept these differences to ensure all students can achieve the identified learning objectives despite their different learning styles.  
  1. Communication Skills – communicating with children requires a different tone to be able to articulate the things that you are saying and adjust it to the level of understanding of childing. The ability to quickly shift gears in terms of communication is also important as a teacher needs to talk to a lot of other people like parents, co-workers, and members of the administration.   
  1. Organisation – since young children thrive on well-founded structure and predictability, being well-organised can help you multitask, respond to the competing needs of students at the same time, and generally keep things running smoothly.  
  1. Creativity – teaching children requires teachers to be comfortable using arts and crafts, games, storytelling, and even exercise as part of the learning process. It is important to keep things fresh and try new activities to adapt to the students’ rather short attention span, keeping them engaged.  
  1. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills – a teacher who handles multiple students at a time should have the ability to handle difficult situations and make decisive actions immediately. In relation to this, a teacher should also think objectively and analyse a situation clearly to come up with a decision that is suiting the circumstances at hand.  
  1. Flexibility and Patience – you may plan a perfect day of learning but remember that everything can be derailed by your students (regularly). It is important for teachers to have the ability to pivot when circumstances call for it, without the need to burst and show emotions unnecessarily. 

Recommended Articles: What can I do with a certificate III in Individual Support Qualification? 

All in all, a comprehensive professional development program is important for aspiring early childhood teachers as it allows them to build on their hard and soft skills, allowing them to learn new techniques and strategies to handle the intricacies of early childhood education. Through professional development, early education teachers can maximise their potential and hone their skills to move up in their chosen careers. 

 

Do you wish to start your career in early childhood education but are unsure where to start in developing the skills needed? 

The Global Business College of Australia (GBCA) offers two courses in early childhood education and care that focuses on nurturing your hard and soft skills for a career in early childhood education. 

Learn more about our early childhood education courses below:  

 

References: 

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/teachers/profdev/careers/teacher-supply-and-demand-report-2020.pdf 

https://www.vic.gov.au/make-difference-early-childhood-teaching 

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release 

https://www.inspireeducation.net.au/blog/professional-development-hard-and-soft-skills-for-teachers/ 

https://www.careforkids.com.au/child-care-articles/article/341/how-soft-skills-are-taught-in-early-learning-services 

https://www.bluefield.edu/blog/qualities-childhood-educators/ 

https://www.kindermusik.com/mindsonmusic/5-essential-skills-taught-in-early-childhood-education/ 

https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/skills-for-early-childhood-teachers/ 

https://online.csp.edu/resources/article/early-childhood-teachers/ 

https://zety.com/blog/hard-skills 

Why Does The Australian Childcare Sector Demand Bilingual and Bicultural Workers? 

why childcare industry need culturally diverse workers

According to ABS, 30% of all Australians were born overseas, and about 20% of the population speak a language other than English at home. Migration is a positive driver in the population growth of Australia, with Asian countries like China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka in the top 10 countries of origin. This opens a lot of new opportunities for bilingual and bicultural workers, especially in the Childcare education industry.  

 Why does the Australian Childcare sector demand skilled care workers with bilingual and bicultural capabilities?  

 Victoria is one of the most multicultural societies in the world. There are ongoing challenges experienced by people from refugee and migrant backgrounds when they settle in Victoria and try to navigate new and unfamiliar systems. The situation has gotten worse since the beginning of the pandemic. The lockdown has made early childhood education services inaccessible for a lot of families, especially those with culturally diverse backgrounds. Now we are moving into Covid normal, government continue funding the early childhood sector, the industry is expected to grow by 7% per annum, leading to an increase in demand for workers in the foreseeable future. The State of Victoria alone already has approximately 50,000 workers in childcare education, and it needs an additional 6,000 workers in the industry.  

Recommended Read: Top Skills Required to Become an Early Childhood Educator  

 There are many benefits to employing bilingual and bicultural workers in early childhood education services.  

From society and the government’s point of view, it supports multiculturalism. The Victorian Government’s Multicultural Policy Statement, Victorian, includes an action item of ‘[f]unding bilingual workers to support the participation of children from culturally diverse backgrounds in supported playgroups and kindergartens. This is part of a broader aim for early childhood services and schools to build acceptance and understanding of diversity. 

From a community perspective, bilingual and bicultural care workers can engage in the form of trusting relationships with Victoria’s culturally diverse communities. The early childhood workforce is responsive to the needs of culturally diverse communities and can better engage with culturally diverse families and their children. 

Children, can better understand cultural diversity and have a significant impact on shaping the learning and development of children in their early years. There are particular demands to provide additional support to some cohorts of children, including those from migrant backgrounds. This might be supporting children to participate and feel comfortable in services. This creates a need for different specialist workers to cater to children’s specific needs and results in demand for inclusion support staff, such as bicultural workers. 

 More than ever, the early childhood education services need workers who can engage and form trusting relationships with Victoria’s culturally diverse communities. Many organisations seek to employ staff members who are able to build connections with communities beyond language.  

Recommended Read: How Much Do Childcare Educators Earn in Victoria

 There is a need to expand the number of bicultural and bilingual workers in the sector, given their key role in bridging the gap between families and service providers. There are opportunities to grow the bicultural and bilingual workforce in rural and regional areas of Victoria, with the increasing settlement of culturally diverse communities in those areas.  

 One of the key barriers to entry into the workforce for culturally diverse communities is attaining the requisite Australian qualifications and accessing ongoing mentoring and support. 

Interested in establishing a career in early childhood education? Global Business College of Australia (GBCA) gives you the opportunity to become a bilingual and bicultural early childhood educator with its Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) program. These programs are available for both international and domestic students and can be finished between 52 weeks (for Certificate III) and 76 weeks. See this link for more details. 

Recommended Read: Five Main Responsibilities of a Childcare Educator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References: 

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/lsic-LA/Early_childhood_engagement_in_CALD_communities/Report/LA_LSIC_59-01_Inquiry_into_early_childhood_engagement_of_CALD_Communities.pdf 

http://nationalindustryinsights.aisc.net.au/industries/community-services/childrens-education-and-care 

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release 

https://www.skillsaustralia.edu.au/blog/how-the-demand-of-child-care-workers-post-covid-19-will-increase-in-australia/#:~:text=Statistics%20say%20that%20the%20demand,is%20a%20competent%20childcare%20worker

https://www.byfordchildcare.com.au/the-benefits-and-challenges-bilingual-or-multilingual-children-face/ 

http://www.resourcingparents.nsw.gov.au/ContentFiles/Files/diversity-in-practice-tipsheet-5.pdf