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Childcare Coordinator *

This is an ideal career for intuitive thinkers. A child care coordinator (Centre Manager in some states) is responsible for managing the direction and activities of child care centres and services. You are in charge of hiring, training and supervising child care staff; planning and implementing programs for children; organising equipment for activities; maintaining a safe and healthy child care environment; keeping client records and financial accounts; ensuring the centre or service abides by government procedures and policies; ensuring compliance with all other regulatory bodies and communicating with staff, children and parents.

• Snapshot
• Description
• Qualifications
• Career Progression
• Companies & Culture

Typical Career Progression

	Position	Salary	Experience	Education
Start Position	Unqualified	$30,00	1year	Year 10 – VCE
1st Promotion	Certificate III Currently Cert III is not viewed as a “qualified” person	$34,000	2 years	Diploma or Degree course
2nd Promotion	Diploma Qualified	$41,000	3 years	Any required first aid certificates
3rd Promotion	Assistant Director	$43,000	4 years
4th Promotion	Director	$50,000 +	5 years +

**The above table is to be used as a guide only

Typical Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Unqualified	Work with children under supervision
Certificate III	Assists the qualified staff in caring for the children, and developing and implementing the program Observations of children both individually and group. Discussions with parents about their child’s day. Looking after the individual needs of children.
Diploma or Degree Qualified	Can work without supervision with all children . Is responsible for planning and implementing appropriate developmental programs.  Must keep accurate developmental records of the children. Must be able to plan, assess and evaluate children’s progress Assists director with staff rosters and interviewing of staff. May be required to supervise and train other staff. Dealing with staff issues. Showing new parents around centre. Administration duties. Still in charge of a room at assistant level.
Assistant Director	As above and assisting director in day to day running of the centre.
Director	As above excluding room duties. All administration duties, including dealings with State regulatory bodies such as Centrelink, National Childcare Accreditation requirements, parent complaints, payments and bookings.

**The above table is to be used as a guide only

Career Path Options

The position of a child care coordinator is often viewed as the final step in a career path in child care. You are fully qualified, with many years of practice as a child care worker and now have the experience of the overall management of the centre. Other career options within the child care field to consider are child care worker, nanny, early childhood teacher, or even a youth worker.

About the Author

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