Ultimate guide: A career in early childhood education and care

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Interested in learning more about what a career in early childhood education and care entails?

Stay with us as we guide you through all you need to know about this career path, and getting started on making a positive impact. Let’s go!

Give children a better start in life

Deciding which career path to take can be both exciting and scary. After all, you want to make sure you are making the right decision for you! However, if you do decide to end up studying early childhood education and care, you can be certain that your work will truly make a difference. How do we know that? Well, for one thing, there is a body of evidence on how important education is in the early years in establishing self-esteem, resilience, healthy growth and capacity to learn.

Research shows that quality play-based learning is one of the most powerful ways to support children’s early learning and development, with the benefits lasting into the school years and beyond.

The early childhood education sector needs dedicated individuals like yourself to ensure that children get the very best start in life. So settle in, and let’s see what your career in early childhood education and care could look like.

You’ll be in demand

Demand for trained early childhood educators is growing for a number of reasons:

• There are more parents working, hence more children who need quality education and care
• Government support of the sector, through subsidised funding for education and training

Recent research recognises the societal benefits of quality education in these early years. But there is a lot of work to be done to ensure that early education is accessible, sustainable and of high quality. Which is why the Victorian Government announcing the 3-year-old kinder Best Start, Best Life program, the biggest reform in Victoria’s early child-hood education history, has been great news.

In 2020 the Victorian government paved the way to deliver salary increases and improved career progression. This recognises the importance of early childhood teachers and educators, and aims to attract and retain a highly-qualified and dedicated early childhood workforce.

Choose from a range of career choices

There are several options available when considering a role in early childhood education, depending on the environment. You may work as:

• educator in either family or long day care
• kindergarten assistant
• after school care educator

As you advance your career, you could become a Lead Educator, Centre Director, work in operations or be responsible for implementing the curriculum. This is your chance to play a key part in the growth and evolution of the early childhood education and care sector in Australia with the knowledge that you have good job prospects ahead.

How do I know this is the career for me?

Job security, recognition, opportunities for growth—all key career path considerations which early childhood education careers offer. But here’s the thing. No matter the prospects and opportunities, a career is only truly fulfilling if it enables you to draw on your strengths and get the best out of others.

We’re committed to empowering people to make career choices that give them meaning. So, is a career in early childhood education right for you? And are you right for it?

Download our ultimate guide and learn more about starting a rewarding career in the early childhood education and care sector!

 

Did we leave any questions unanswered? Call 1300 799 610 or email myfuture@practicaloutcomes.edu.au to find out more!