Becoming a Child Care Worker

Most child care workers are employed in organisations like child care centres, educational centres and even hospitals. Others can be employed in private care. Being a child care worker may mean working irregular or ‘shift’ hours; for instance, you might only be required to work in the mornings or in the afternoons/evenings. You’ll need good levels of health and fitness as a child care worker; you can be on your feet for the majority of the day, and you may be required to lift or carry children or equipment. Environments can be very noisy and fast-paced, but if you love kids – this shouldn’t be an issue!

Child care workers in Australia will need to complete, at minimum, a Certificate III in Early Childhood and Care and/or Children’s Services. If you wish to take on a manager or coordinator role in a child care centre or similar, you will need to obtain a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. To move on to the Diploma qualification, a Certificate III will be necessary.

Employers will also need you to carry out rigorous background checks, such as a ‘Working With Children’ check and a criminal record check. A First Aid Certificate will also likely be essential. Depending on where you work, you may also need to register with the Department of Human Services.

Studying child care can also open a range of other options, which can be beneficial if you want to expand your horizons later on or choose a slightly different career path.

For example, a child care qualification can lead to a career as:

Get started today in this truly rewarding career and never doubt your career path again! Check out or great range of child care courses, or, even our education courses and find one that suits you. With plenty of flexible learning options such as the ability to complete your childcare course online, getting a qualification has been made simple.

Still not convinced? Answer our ‘8 Questions to See if Childcare is the Right Career For You’ here.