How to Become a Childcare Worker: 5 Things You Need to Know

Love working with kids? Being a childcare worker could be perfect for you. The early years of a child’s life are critical: they develop motor, sensory and social skills and learn about the world. In childcare, you have the chance to support and nurture children through the stages of their childhood development.

Working in childcare is an attractive career choice for many reasons — it’s fulfilling, constantly in demand, and an easy career to get started in. By building on your initial experience, you can grow an inspiring career in early learning and teaching. And with so many childcare providers to choose from we’re confident you can find a course that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

What is a childcare worker?

Childcare workers (also referred to as daycare workers) provide care services for young children when their parents aren’t able to care for them — usually during working hours. They help children through their daily routines, social and educational development, and encourage healthy development with play and activities. They can work in various settings, like after-school programs, nurseries, creches, family daycare, and private homes.

Roles and responsibilities

A typical childcare worker’s responsibilities include:

• Providing care and statisfying basic needs for toddlers and young children
• Planning and implementing early learning educational programs
• Organising games and recreational activities
• Preparing food and snacks
• Monitoring kids’ hygiene
• Encouraging interpersonal skills through mediating social interactions
• Taking legal responsibility for children’s health and safety
• Supervising kids on play equipment
• Working as part of a close-knit team of carers

Safeguarding the health and safety of children is a big part of the job, and you should be familiar with Early Childhood Australia’s Code of Ethics.

What skills do you need to be a childcare worker?

These skills are essential to any child-caring role:

• Verbal communication skills
• Planning and running activities
• Relating to children
• Critical thinking and decision making
• Compassion and patience
• Monitoring and evaluating children
• Problem-solving skills
• Fitness and stamina
• An understanding of the code of ethics in childcare

Working in childcare

Outside of formal childcare facilities, you can be employed privately for in-home care as a nanny in which you may only be required to take care of a few children. In the long run, you may even be able to run your own home or family daycare.

As a childcare worker, you will also work irregular hours. Shift work is typical in childcare as they need people who are available to take care of children both before, after and during school times.

Childcare centres are very noisy, busy places, so be prepared to wrangle some chaos! Because the job is very active, you’ll need to be fit and healthy, with plenty of energy, to thrive in this work environment. You’ll be on your feet all day, there is heavy lifting involved, and the environment is fast-paced.

Childcare workers are employed in a range of different environments, including:

• Child care centres
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Offices
• Outside school hours care
• Preschool education
• Early learning centres and creches

What careers can a childcare course lead to?

Completing a childcare course in Australia opens up a range of career options in the childcare industry.

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care teaches you the skills and knowledge required to work as a childcare educator or assistant. This course covers topics such as child development, safety, nutrition, and learning through play. Graduates can work in a range of settings, including childcare centres, family day care, and before and after school care services.

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

For those looking to advance their career in childcare, a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is the next step. This course gives you the skills required to work as a lead educator, managing and supervising other staff members. This includes managing the day-to-day operations of a childcare centre and designing and implementing educational programs for children. Graduates of this course can work as centre directors, lead educators, or educational leaders.

Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management

In addition to these courses, there are also higher-level qualifications available, such as the Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management. This course is designed for experienced childcare professionals looking to take on management roles. Graduates of this course can work as childcare centre managers, overseeing the operations of multiple centres and leading teams of staff.

If you’re wanting to upskill more in the area of education and pursue high-level jobs, there are a few courses you can complete.

Certificate IV in School-Based Education Support

A Certificate IV in Education Support prepares you for a career as an education support worker in a range of settings, including primary and secondary schools, special education units, and TAFE institutions. This course covers a range of topics, including providing support to teachers and students, facilitating learning and supporting students with additional needs. Graduates of this course are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to work collaboratively with teachers to support the learning and development of students. Some of the roles you can pursue with this course include teacher’s aide, learning support assistant, special education assistant, or education support officer.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

A Bachelor of Early Childhood Education prepares you to work as early childhood educators in a range of settings, including preschools, kindergartens, and childcare centres. This course covers a range of topics, including child development, curriculum planning, and assessment and reporting. Graduates of this course are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to design and implement educational programs that support children’s learning and development

Master of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Another option for those looking to advance their career in early childhood education and care is to complete a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood Education). This course is designed for individuals who already have a degree in a relevant field and are looking to become qualified teachers in the early childhood sector. Graduates of this course are qualified to teach children from birth to eight years old, and can work in a range of settings, including schools and childcare centres.

The Childcare Industry

Massive demand for childcare workers, with an average of 170,100 job openings projected each year from 2021 – 2031

Childcare is a vast industry, employing over 150,000 Australians and growing at an incredible rate of 17% over the last five years. This is most likely due to Australia’s growing population and increasing demand for parents to return to work after parental leave.

This is also a career with flexible working hours, with just over half of workers being part-time. So whether you want to be a casual childcare worker, or you want to dedicate your career to children’s services, you have the choice.

In Australia, New South Wales has the biggest share of childcare workers at 32.2%, closely followed by Victoria with 26.8% and Queensland with 21.5%.

Childcare worker salary and expectations

Most childcare workers work part-time and are paid hourly, at an average of $30.82/hr.

The typical salary for a full-time childcare worker is $60,091, with a range of $51,612 to $81,050. Pay tends to increase with experience and higher qualifications and jumps significantly when people move into more senior roles.

Is being a childcare worker right for you?

Thinking kids are awesome goes without saying if you’re working in childcare, but there are many other important traits to have if you want to become a successful childcare worker.

Although it’s a tough and sometimes testing role, childcare is an incredibly rewarding and fast-growing industry that’s perfect for anyone with a love of children and a good ability to multitask.

You can begin building the starting blocks to your career in childcare by becoming qualified, continually upskilling and gaining hands-on experience in a child-caring role. Become a part of children’s development and help them both learn and grow by diving into a childcare career.