Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Qualification Level
Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Early childhood education and care is one of Australia’s fastest growing service sectors. It supports children’s development in the years before school starts. Educators plan learning activities, track progress and work closely with families. They do this across long day care, preschool, kindergarten and family day care settings nationwide.
A 2024 workforce study by Jobs and Skills Australia found the sector needs about 21,000 more qualified staff. This gap is likely to widen as governments open more subsidised early learning places. For anyone thinking about a career change, that demand means real job security.
Most people start with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. This course is listed on the national training.gov.au register. Many then move on to a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care to aim for room leadership or centre management. Both combine study with supervised placement hours in a real service.
Study modes are flexible. Many providers mix online theory with local placement blocks, so you can keep working while you retrain. Many Certificate III and Diploma places also qualify for government-funded subsidies in eligible states. That can cut your out-of-pocket cost by a lot.
Early Childhood Education workers may earn between $65000 and $125000 per year
SEEK’s 2026 career advice data shows early childhood educators earn between $65,000 and $80,000 a year in Australia. Qualified early childhood teachers earn $85,000 to $105,000, and centre directors can reach $105,000 to $125,000 depending on location and experience.
Completing a course in early childhood education and care opens the door to a range of roles across the sector. Graduates commonly find work as a:
Early childhood educators create safe, engaging spaces where young children learn through play and guided discovery. Day to day, this work includes:
With experience, many educators step into roles with broader responsibility, such as:
Whatever the role, everyone in this field shares one goal: giving children the best start before they head off to school.
Early childhood education suits people who genuinely enjoy working with young children. It also suits people who want a career with real purpose behind it. Strong educators tend to bring:
Job opportunities in early childhood education and care keep growing as government spending on early learning rises. Qualified educators are needed across long day care, preschools, kindergartens and family day care. Demand is strongest in growth areas and regional towns.
PayScale’s Australian data puts average pay in the sector at about $66,000 a year. Pay rises well beyond that for educators who move into leadership. Centre director and educational leader roles carry higher pay, which reflects how much a good leader matters in early learning.
Specialising is another option worth a look. There is growing demand in areas such as inclusion support, curriculum design and family engagement. These niche roles often suit educators who want to build deeper skills without moving into full management.
A career in early childhood education and care suits people who want hands-on work with real impact. Whether you are new to the sector or upgrading a qualification, the path from Certificate III to Diploma is well known and widely recognised.
Study modes are flexible enough to fit around work or family life. Many providers mix online theory with supervised placement in a real service. That flexibility, along with steady growth in the sector, makes now a good time to start or grow a career in this field.
A bachelor-level early childhood teaching degree is the most common path. These degrees meet national standards for teaching in long day care, preschool and kindergarten settings.
Early childhood teaching focuses on children aged birth to five and leans heavily on play-based learning and developmental psychology. Primary teaching starts around age five and follows a more formal curriculum.
Yes. You must complete an approved course and register with your state or territory’s education department. Learn more at the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.
Strong. Demand is rising nationally, especially with policy investment in universal preschool access and early childhood development. Leadership roles are also increasing as centres expand their services.
Yes. Many universities offer online degrees with built-in placements at approved centres, which suits both full-time students and people already working in the sector.
