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Early Childhood Educator

Work with children and support their learning and development on a day-to-day basis.

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Play a vital role in children’s development

Early Childhood Educators support the emotional, social, and intellectual development of children through educational and recreational activities. Working in a childcare setting, you will develop strong relationships with the children in your care, as well as their parents or guardians, and learn to identify and interpret different behaviours and learning styles amongst the children in your care. Working with children every day, you will supervise and conduct activities designed to further children’s development, and will also be responsible for maintaining a healthy, hygienic, and child-safe environment.

A day in the life of an Early Childhood Educator

Find out what our Early Childhood Education graduates have to say about their careers.

Key stats

Early Childhood Educators provide an important role in supporting the growth and development of preschool-aged children, and report high levels of job satisfaction. Here are some key facts and figures about this career path:

  • $1059

    Average weekly salary

  • 41 hrs

    Average hours worked per week

  • 33 yrs

    Average age of people in this career

  • Multi-region

    Jobs available in metro and rural areas

  • ~165,000

    People employed in this industry

  • 43%

    Of employees are full time

  • Above average

    Unemployment for this industry

  • 5.9%

    Future growth (next five years)

Stats as of April 2024. Source: LabourMarketInsights.gov.au

Core skills of an Early Childhood Educator

Working as an Early Childhood Educator, you’ll have specialised skills in assessing and supporting your clients’ needs. Some of the core skills of Early Childhood Educators include:

Supporting children’s development

Guide and support children in developing key social, literacy, and numeracy skills through specialised activities.

Entertaining and caring for children

Playing games, supervising, and caring for children throughout the day, developing strong relationships.

Working with parents and carers

Developing relationships with parents, guardians, and carers, and identifying and communicating the needs of individual children within your care.

Maintaining a child-safe environment

Supervising hygiene and safety in the childcare environment.

Start here

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

No previous experience is required for this course, meaning it is ideal for individuals who are passionate about child development, and with a desire to make a difference in a child's life.

Employment as an Early Childhood Educator

Once you’ve completed your Certificate III

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The recognised pathway to becoming a fully qualified Early Childhood Educator, which is in demand more than ever across Victoria, with an estimated 6000 educators needed by 2029.

Employment as an Early Childhood Education Supervisor

You may also choose to continue your studies at university to become a qualified Teacher.

For more information about studying to become an Early Childhood Educator, get in touch with one of our Course Coordinators. They'll help you understand your study options and match the right course with your goals.

Why choose GOTAFE?

Community connections

We work closely with the local community and early childhood education industry to make sure your training gives you all the skills you need to succeed in the workforce.

Accredited courses

Get a recognised qualification with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, allowing you to get straight into the workforce after graduation.

Real-life experience

Our courses give you the opportunity to apply theory to practice and develop your skills working in a local childcare centre.

Explore more career opportunities

Not sure this is the right career path for you? Explore our other careers and find the right fit for you.