Education & Qualifications
If you are considering a career in child care, get as much real-life experience working with children as possible. Volunteer opportunities, such as tutoring or baby-sitting are excellent ways to gain experience, help you develop skills that you will need, and help understand your future career. You will usually have to complete a Diploma of Children’s Services. Entry for the diploma course will require you to complete Year 12 with a pass in English and/or maths. You may be able to do an apprenticeship in Children’s Services. You may also be able to begin some training while you are at school through VET (Vocational Education Training).
Various TAFE colleges have diploma courses available, usually a two year diploma or advanced diploma in children’s services. A degree course will be either a three year full time Bachelor of Education majoring in early childhood education, a Bachelor of Learning Management majoring in early childhood education, a four year fulltime Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, or a Bachelor of Art and Education. Study for the Diploma of Children’s Services can also be obtained by external studies through one of many Recognised Training Organisations (RTO). This allows students to potentially complete study whilst employed within a centre.
The universities offering early childhood education are the Central Queensland University and Queensland University of Technology in Queensland; Curtin University of Technology in West Australia; the University of South Australia; Flinders University (SA) Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University, University of Technology Sydney, and University of Wollongong in NSW; and the University of Melbourne and Monash University in Victoria. An entry score of 76 and above is needed.
To work in childcare within most states you must obtain a Working with Children Check or you may be required to complete a statuatory declaration which determines your suitability to work with children. You will also need a police criminal history clearance as well.
The entry criteria for tertiary institiutions differs from year to year. The above comments are a guide only. To gain specific entry criteria either contact the relevant university or use Hobson's The Good University Guide.
Relevant Universities Colleges & TAFE
Careernav have trolled through all the universities, specialist colleges and TAFE’s across the nation to identify those courses we consider relevant to this career. We have only focussed on the core single degree and its full time period. We acknowledge many combination degrees are available and different students combine different degrees. Course names also differ by university and we have grouped like courses together. We may have missed the odd course being offered, so we recommend for a more detailed guide check with the universities direct or one of the university course guide books such as Hobson’s. Please note Careernav are totally impartial and do not recommend one tertiary institution over another. To view the A to Z of tertiary institutions that offer relevant courses for this career.
Click here to view allPromoting Tertiary Institutions
All tertiary institutions have an open invitation to make available their course outline using the ‘For Institutions’ tab in the footer section of each page. From time to time universities, colleges or TAFE will take up Careernav’s offer to promote their courses and make available ‘Course Outline’ for your consideration. When an icon appears, consider its relevance and download the Course Outline on the one that interests you by clicking “I would like to learn more” at the end of the course profile.
Our Privacy Policy confirms your contact details including your email address will remain in the strictest of confidence. If you would like your email details provided to selected tertiary institutions to talk further about the course you need to click the checkbox. Only then will Careernav invite the tertiary institution to accept your email address and facilitate contact between you and them.
About the Author
.jpg)
The author of this occupation profile is a highly respected within industry but due to time commitments has a little more work to do to complete the profile. Please check back over the next two weeks
Did you know that at just four years old Mozart was able to learn a piece of music in half an hour?