Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
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About Early Childhood Education
You'll become
Average Salaries
Early Childhood Education workers may earn between $38,000 and $68,000 per year
Early Childhood Education Courses give students the foundation of education and skills needed to work with children aged 0-5 years-old. Students of Early Childhood Education Courses will be taught both the skills, and the confidence needed, to manage varying types of behaviours, design curriculums, and conduct a variety of lessons – all to the highest standard. Lastly, Early Childhood Education Courses teach students how to manage the diverse needs of students and classrooms by gaining a greater understanding of a variety of different teaching methods.
A unique opportunity to help shape the next generation can be yours, by studying a rewarding early childhood course.
We’re more knowledgeable than ever about the unique needs of the youngest members of society, and as an early childhood educator, you could be uniquely placed to support the emotional, social and physical development of our next generation of thinkers and leaders.
As an early childhood educator, you’ll work in a classroom or childcare setting, facilitating learning and development opportunities for children through carefully targeted activities, exercises and tasks. You’ll play a key role in developing your charges’ social, emotional and physical skills, and be well placed to address gaps and disadvantages in their development before it’s too late to intervene. With the right tools, you may change the course of children’s lives, and in an early childhood education course you’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills and insights essential to providing the best support.
You can study early childhood education as a diploma course, or at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. After completing an early childhood education course, you’ll likely work in a pre-primary, kindergarten or childcare centre, supervising a class or group of children.
Challenging and enriching, a career in early childhood education is a unique opportunity to transfer skills and knowledge, and to make a real impact on other people’s lives. If you want to help people to unlock their potential, a teaching course is for you.
What do early childhood education graduates do?
Most early childhood education graduates pursue employment in school settings – working in kindergarten and pre-primary classrooms – and may also work in childcare centres. As an early childhood teacher, you’ll perform tasks like:
- Designing structured learning plans using a variety of materials and activities to facilitate childrens’ development;
- Teaching the basics of literacy, numeracy and art to children;
- Supporting children’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical development;
- Providing a variety of experiences and activities to develop motor skills and social skills;
- Promoting language development through storytelling, role play, songs, rhymes and conversation;
- Observing children’s nutritional health, welfare and safety and proactively identifying risks and needs;
- Working closely with other staff members and parents to support children’s development and progress; and
- Participating in community and family support programs.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
With further or complementary study, you may also choose to specialise your teaching practise, and work as a:
- Special needs teacher
- English as an additional language teacher
- Curriculum development consultant
- Education policy advisor
Graduates of early childhood education courses usually pursue employment in school settings, working in pre-schools and kindergartens, and may work as a:
- Nominated Supervisor
- Centre Director
- Assistant Director
- Group Leader
- Educational Leader
- Education Assistant
- Child Care Assistant
- Outside School Hours Aide
- Pre-school Assistant
- Family Day Care Worker
- Early Childhood Educator
- Playgroup Supervisor
- Family Day Care Coordinator
- Early Learning Coordinator
- Mobile Services Educator
- Out of School Hours Educator
- Education and Care Services
- Diploma Early Childhood Educator
- Early Childhood Teacher
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Is early childhood education right for you?
You’ll excel working in early childhood education if you:
- Love children
- Thrive in team environments
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Are curious
- Like problem-solving
- Are patient and empathetic
- Have strong organisational and time management skills
- Are a confident public speaker
- Love working with people
- Are committed to supporting others
- Enjoy fast-paced work
- Can keep calm and level-headed in stressful situations
- Are a creative thinker
Job opportunities
The Australia Government’s Job Outlook says early childhood education is a large and growing industry. Approximately 36,000 people are employed in early childcare roles across Australia, up from 13,000 in 2009, indicating the sector has been enjoying strong and stable growth for nearly a decade. Job Outlook predicts 10,000 more roles for early childhood educators will become available by 2020, and considers the sector’s potential future growth to be extremely high.
Average Salaries
According to PayScale, early childhood educators can expect to earn between $38,000 and $68,000 per year, with an average salary of approximately $50,000.
While salary does increase with experience, increases are relatively moderate, and entry-level early childhood educators can expect to earn competitive salaries. PayScale reports more than 75 per cent of early childhood educators have less than 10 years’ experience, indicating people tend not to remain in this role for their entire career.
In the child care sector, a child care facility manager can expect to earn between $47,000 and $53,000 per year, according to PayScale, and a child care worker can expect to earn between $41,000 and $53,000 per year.
Learn how to become a
Industry Bodies
- Early Childhood Australia
- Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority
- Australian Teacher Education Association
- Australian Professional Teachers Association
- Australian Education Union
- Independent Educators Union of Australia
As teaching is legislated and organised at the state level, each state has its own professional teachers’ committee to advocate for its members’ interests:
- Professional Teachers’ Council, New South Wales
- Council of Professional Teaching Associations of Victoria Inc
- Joint Council of Queensland Teacher Associations
- The Council of Education Associations of South Australia
- Professional Teaching Council of Western Australia
- Network of Education Associations of Tasmania Inc
- Northern Territory Join Council of Professional Teacher Associations Inc
- Council of ACT Education Associations