Working in the early childhood sector offers a rewarding career option that enables you to support children through their most critical years of development. This is why passionate early childhood educators are essential to the sector and need to take the necessary steps on how to become a child care worker.
Also known as early childhood educators, child care workers help nurture children as they grow, fostering healthy development, and creating safe, supportive learning environments.
The childhood sector offers various development opportunities through direct care roles and administrative, educational or managerial positions. The field develops constantly while society grows to value early childhood development which leads to many different job outcomes.
Our Guide On How To Become A Child Care Worker
There are key accreditation and certification requirements for professionals looking to enter the early childhood and care (ECEC) sector in Australia.
This step-by-step guide on how to become a child care worker will show you how to become a skilled child care professional whether you want to work in daycare centres, preschools or even in private residences as a nanny. If you love working with children and want to make a real difference in their early years, a career as a child care worker could be incredibly rewarding.
- Understand the Role
- Get your Checks
- Get Qualified
- Gain Hands-On Experience
- Get the Required Certifications
- Explore Career Opportunities
- Choose a Study Mode That Suits You
- Keep Learning and Growing
Step 1: Understand the Role
Before jumping into this career, it’s important to understand what a child care worker does. Your role will go beyond supervision – you’ll be helping children develop social, emotional, and language skills while creating a fun and engaging learning environment.
Daily tasks often include:
- Planning activities that promote learning through play
- Ensuring children’s emotional and physical wellbeing
- Communicating with families to support each child’s development
Patience, creativity, and strong communication skills will help you to thrive in a role as a child care worker.
Step 2: Get your Checks
The following checks must be completed before you can start your course:
- Working with Children check
- Police check
You may also have to register with the Department of Human Services based on your employer’s requirements.
Step 3: Get Qualified
To work in early childhood education, you’ll need a nationally recognised qualification. The most common options to set you on the right path are:
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121): This entry-level course gives you the foundational skills needed for roles like child care assistant.
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50121): A more advanced qualification that prepares you for leadership roles, such as room leader or centre director.
When you’re looking for how to become a child care worker, getting the right qualifications is the essential first step. Explore our child care courses here.
Step 4: Gain Hands-On Experience & Complete Work Placement
Nothing beats real-world experience, especially when working with children. Practical placement is a key part of your training, allowing you to:
- Work in a real child care setting
- Learn how to manage daily routines and engage with other educators and parents
- Develop confidence in handling different situations
Furthermore, every Australian childcare qualification that has national recognition includes a mandatory work placement. To receive your Certificate III you must complete a minimum of 120 hours.
The hands-on work placement provides a valuable chance to develop professional relationships which may result in securing your initial job once your studies are finished.
Don’t worry — Practical Outcomes gives you a helping hand in organising your placement and ensures you feel ready for it. Plus, many of our learners even secure employment through their placements! More on what does a child care course involve or placement opportunities right this way.
Step 5: Get the Required Certifications
Beyond your qualifications, you’ll need additional certifications to work in child care. These include:
- Working with Children Check (WWCC): A legal requirement for anyone working with kids in Australia.
- First Aid Certificate (HLTAID012): Some employers may require this as part of their hiring process.
- National Police Check: Some employers may require this as part of their hiring process.
Securing your First Aid certification (including CPR, Anaphylaxis, and Asthma Awareness) is a wise decision. The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) mandates that any workplace must have at least one qualified staff member or supervisor present at all times so it improves your employment prospects as well.
Plus all three certifications (from nationally accredited first aid course providers) are mandatory for those who want to work in family day care settings so it’s handy to have.
Having these certifications in place before applying for jobs will make you a stronger candidate.
Step 6: Explore Career Opportunities
Once you’re qualified and well into your journey on how to become a child care worker, you’ll have a range of exciting career paths to choose from, with plenty of room for growth too!
These can include:
- Early Childhood Educator: This is a common title for child care workers and applies to those working in child care centres and kindergartens and various similar settings.
- Family Day Care Educator: Running a child care service from home.
- Room Leader: Leading a team and planning activities.
- Centre Director: Managing a child care centre’s daily operations.
- Nanny or In-Home Carer: Providing care in private homes.
Each option offers the chance to make a lasting impact on children’s lives.
Step 8: Choose a Study Mode That Suits You
We understand that everyone learns differently, so it’s important to choose a study mode that fits your lifestyle. Options include:
- Distance training: Study your way from wherever you are, with all the support you need from a dedicated trainer who will guide you from start to finish.
- Workplace training: Learn on the job to gain experience and earn as you go, while studying the theory side of your course online.
Both include online learning in our easy-to-use portal.
Flexible study options make it easier to upskill without disrupting your daily life. Choosing the right study mode will make a big difference when considering how to become an early childhood educator in a way that works for you.
Step 9: Keep Learning and Growing
The early childhood education industry is always evolving, and staying updated will help you advance in your career. Professional development opportunities include:
- Attending workshops and industry conferences
- Studying further, such as earning a Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
- Keeping up with new research and best practices
Ongoing learning helps ensure you continue providing high-quality care and education, while also feeling motivated and inspired in your profession.
What is a Child Care Worker?
Child care workers supervise and support young children who need care when parents or guardians are unavailable during work hours. Child care workers help children complete their daily routines while encouraging their social and educational growth through play and structured activities.
Childcare professionals work in many different environments such as daycare centres and preschools as well as after-school programs, family daycares and private residences.
Roles and responsibilities
The responsibilities of a childcare worker include providing basic care for young children while developing educational programs and organising fun activities.
Daily tasks include preparing food and snacks, maintaining kids hygiene standards, monitoring play on equipment and promoting social skills through interactive facilitation. Child care workers work closely with supportive team members to deliver exceptional care to the children they oversee.
What skills do you need to be a child care worker?
While learning how to become a child care worker, you’ll need the right mix of interpersonal and practical skills. Being an effective communicator helps you work with both children and parents while structured activity planning supports children’s growth.
Successful care for children involves cultivating meaningful relationships through patience and compassion and requires you to solve problems and think critically in real time.
Energetic kids will also require stamina to keep up with their activities, and monitoring their progress ensures their development is successful. A comprehensive knowledge of childcare ethical standards will direct you toward delivering optimal care.
Working in child care
Potential employment settings for childcare workers include childcare centres, schools, hospitals, offices, preschools, and early learning centres.
Numerous childcare workers take positions in outside school hours care and private nannying to offer home-based care for limited groups of children. A number of childcare workers decide to create their own home or family daycare after gaining enough experience.
Caregiver positions typically require flexible scheduling since workers need to provide coverage during early morning hours, throughout school days and after school hours.
What Careers Can a Child Care Course Lead to?
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Anyone planning to work or learn how to become a child care worker throughout Australia needs to complete the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121). During this course, students develop skills needed for baby and toddler care and young child support while learning to design educational play activities.
Graduates will be prepared to work in early childhood education settings including child care centers and preschools where they support children in becoming confident and capable learners.
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50121) strengthens your capacity to deliver superior education and care for young children while simultaneously developing your management proficiencies.
Completing this diploma prepares graduates to tackle daily early childhood sector challenges and lead mentorship and support activities for staff and volunteers effectively.
Diploma of School Age Education and Care
The Diploma of School Age Education and Care prepares its graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead education programs for school-aged children during after-school hours and vacation periods.
Diploma completion allows graduates to access multiple career paths including positions as Out of School Hours Care Coordinator, Area Manager, Educational Leader, and Out of School Hours Educator.
The Child Care Industry
Massive Demand for Child Care Workers
The increasing demand for qualified Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals across Australia provides extensive job opportunities primarily in regional locations.
The requirement for nearly 21,000 educators generates high demand which leads to excellent job opportunities and stable career paths for those who graduate. Regional communities struggle with workforce shortages because of scarce training programs which results in high demand for skilled educators.
The childcare sector presents immediate job prospects as well as growth opportunities and long-term stability for new workers who join while government funding expands and family relocation continues.
Child care worker salary and expectations
Childcare worker wages in Australia are set by the Children’s Services Award from the Fair Work Commission that defines minimum pay based on job levels and responsibilities.
Supervisors and room leaders with diploma qualifications earn a minimum of $30.84+ per hour at Level 4 while those with certificates take on similar positions at reduced wages.
Although the Award establishes minimum wage requirements certain centres pay above this threshold and junior positions usually receive pay near standard rates.
Is Becoming a Child Care Worker Right for You?
Do you genuinely enjoy spending time with kids?
Working in child care means you’re spending lots of time with kids which makes it rewarding but it also includes difficult moments. Children can display unpredictable behaviour that at times can be demanding and frustrating to handle.
Being in child care is right for you if you find joy in the chaos and challenges of being around children.
Are you committed to continuous learning and professional growth?
Staying in the know about child development and safety standards is a top priority for ongoing child care workers.
You need to dedicate time to continuous learning which includes things like participating in training sessions and obtaining the right certifications such as first aid.
Are you someone people can rely on?
Parents rely on child care professionals to ensure their children remain safe and healthy. Child care workers must be dependable and responsible in their professional conduct at every moment.
Part of learning how to become a child care worker, requires being a trustworthy figure. Your actions need to reflect punctuality and careful handling of children’s needs.
Take the First Step Towards Learning How To Become A Child Care Worker
Invest in your personal development and future opportunities by choosing a career path in childcare.
The expanding need for skilled workers makes this career path both stable and significant because it allows professionals to impact the development of future generations. A career as a childcare worker provides daily opportunities to create meaningful impacts while building a fulfilling professional life.
Choosing childcare as a career path provides meaningful work that creates long-term impacts while delivering personal development and professional growth opportunities.
Want to learn how to become a child care worker and love what you do? A career in early childhood education may just be the perfect fit. Call 1300 799 610 to learn more about our courses or leave a web enquiry to receive more information directly from our team via email.
