How to become a childcare educator in Melbourne

So you want to become a childcare educator.

Finishing your childcare course in Melbourne is a crucial step that will open new doors and get you into the industry.

However, that isn’t all you’ll need to do in order to get qualified!

Since you’re working with children, your actions can have considerable ripple effects through the rest of a child’s life – as such, there are some fairly strict requirements that childcare workers will need to adhere to if they want to enter the industry…

What are the benefits of being a childcare worker?

Plentiful career opportunities

More and more Aussie families are dual-income households – and with both parents working, they’ll need somebody to look after their kids during the day.

And that in turn means plentiful opportunities for childcare workers like you!

Really, there isn’t really much more that needs to be said. If you’re planning for a career and not just a job, you can’t go wrong with the childcare industry.

You’re making a difference

As a childcare worker, you’re not just a babysitter – you play a crucial role in a child’s physical and cognitive development.

Through the activities you organise as well as simply your presence as a positive and nurturing role model, you’re helping to shape the lives of children for years to come.

If you’re looking for work that makes a difference, then childcare may be exactly what you seek.

Advance your leadership and management skills

Not only does the ongoing growth in childcare mean plenty of opportunities – it also means that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to climb the ladder and take your career further.

Whether it’s as a team lead, a centre manager or even opening your very own daycare, there are plenty of opportunities for qualified childcare workers to take their careers even further!

What qualifications do you need to be a childcare worker?

Can you work in childcare without qualifications? 

If you want to pursue a career as an early childcare worker, you need to be certified and qualified to do so.

After all, you have a much larger impact than you might first imagine, which is why the requirements for childcare workers are so strict!

For instance, in Victoria, the Certificate III is the minimum qualification to break into this industry.

As part of this course, it’s mandatory that students also complete a work placement in a real-world childcare facility under supervision from a qualified childcare worker.

It’s a lot of work, we know – however, considering the stakes, it’s something that we believe is absolutely crucial to the sector’s future!

What Early Childhood courses are right for you?

The first step in becoming a childcare worker? The right education and training.

And that means enrolling in and completing a childcare course!

This is a crucial first step to becoming a childcare worker, where you’ll learn all the essential skills you’ll need to train, influence and support children and other childcare workers for their growth and development.

As we mentioned above, the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113) is the minimum requirement, focusing on teaching you the foundations of supporting a child’s holistic development.

This course will teach you the basics of early childhood care for kids of all ages, with a focus on:

• Provide a healthy environment for children to learn and play
• Theories on physical and cognitive development
• Tactics for resolving conflict and emotions
• Child nutrition and dietary requirements

• Developing positive and respectful relationships with children
• Supporting healthy social development

Complete this course, and you can take your training further by enrolling in a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care which prepares childcare trainers for greater responsibilities like leading a work team and providing mentorship to their colleagues. 

Basically, if you’re gearing yourself up for a leadership role, then this course is exactly what you need, with its focus on:

• Using approved learning frameworks to guide their practice 
• Designing and implementing curriculum for child’s learning and development
• Maintaining work health and safety
• Reflecting and improving your own professional practice

Other qualifications

While your childcare qualification will cover most of the essentials, there are still a handful of other things you might need to do before you can really call yourself a childcare professional.

In addition to your Certificate, you’ll need to:

• Apply for a Working With Children Check (WWCC)
• Undergo a police background check (including an overseas criminal record check)
• Complete a mandatory first-aid training course
• Register as an Early Childhood Teacher
• Declare any physical or mental health conditions
• Pass an English language test

Once you fulfil each of these requirements will you be able to call yourself a qualified childcare educator! 

Enrol in Academia’s online childcare courses in Melbourne

As a growing industry, childcare has been identified by the Victorian government as one with increased demand for workers – and as such, they’re offering free childcare courses to meet the growing demand.

As part of Skills First funding initiative, Academia offers government-funded childcare courses to help you break into this industry and become a childcare educator, trainer or home daycare business owner without the burden of tuition.

And thanks to our unique online-offline hybrid system, we offer the option of online childcare courses, giving you more flexibility and freedom in how you study and build your timetable.
Got questions? Call our Melbourne campus on (03) 9671 4755 or click here for more information for Australian students.