The entry requirements to study childcare will vary based on the exact course you want to do. Academic requirements will differ between educational institutions and the level of study you undertake. For the most accurate information, you should view the course information on the institution’s website.
To undertake a bachelor degree, you’ll need to have an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent.
For postgraduate courses, a satisfactory completion of an undergraduate degree is required. However, some institutions may take relevant work experience or research ability into consideration as well.
For Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses, most students will need to have reached a level of study equivalent to the Australian Year 10. Some courses may require extra prerequisite subjects or work experience.
When studying childcare in Australia, there are several skills that will help you be the best childcare professional you can be. While some things can be learned, these are some intrinsic skills you should possess, or be willing to work on:
Keen to help shape the development and learning capabilities of children up to 12 years of age? You’ll likely enjoy a career in childcare. The best childcare workers are patient, have good physical fitness to keep up with children, empathy and a caring nature. Being fun and open-minded can also make you a successful childcare worker, as playing is an important learning tool for children.
There are several pathways to study childcare, from TAFE certificates to university-level degrees. To find the best childcare course in Australia, you need to decide where you want your childcare career to take you, while also taking into account your current level of childcare knowledge and any previous study you’ve done.
Here are some of the different childcare courses available in Australia:
Certificate: A Certificate in Childcare is one of the most popular courses in the childcare field. This course teaches students about the requirements of working in childcare centres, while also teaching you how to care for children’s learning and development.
Diploma: A Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a TAFE course that’s more in-depth than a Certificate. A diploma teaches you how to design and apply the earning frameworks in a childcare centre or facility. With time and experience in the role, you can become a staff supervisor, or supervisor of childcare volunteers.
Bachelor: A Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education is a 4-year University-level course and prepares students to work in either independent, government or private preschools, or advance into leadership roles in early childhood settings.
Postgraduate: If you’re interested in creating and implementing learning frameworks from children aged 0 to 5, a postgraduate in Early Childhood Education is the final level of study, giving you a deeper understanding of childcare work.
There are several career pathways you can enter after studying childcare in Australia, including:
Some of the leading Australian institutes to study childcare include Griffith University, Canberra Institute of Technology, Melbourne Polytechnic and TAFE, as well as online platforms like Open Colleges, Kiarana Colleges and Swinburne Online.
The wages and salaries of childcare workers in Australia are mostly governed by the Children Services Award published by the Fair Work Commission. However, the average annual salary for childcare worker jobs in Australia ranges from $55,000 to $65,000. This will depend on your level of qualifications, years of experience and your employer.
Childcare careers continue to be in demand in Australia in 2022 and beyond. In fact, data from the National Skills commission shows there were more than 7,000 vacancies across the sector in September 2022. If job vacancies continue to grow at this rate, it’s estimated there will be over 10,000 vacancies by July 2023. As such, you can rest assured there is high-demand for qualified childcare workers.
Government funding assists students by subsidising their tuition fees. Schemes vary from state to state, but there are several government funded childcare courses. In NSW, you can receive fully-funded training by the government for a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, or a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. Regardless of where you live in Australia, you are likely to find a wide selection of early childhood education courses with government funding, helping you pay less or no student fees.