24 Most Fulfilling Jobs That Work With Kids: Which Is Your Calling?

Have you been pondering a job working with kids — working to make a difference and enjoying yourself every day? Well, maybe you should. They’re some of the most rewarding careers out there.

But starting any kind of career can be daunting. It’s not always clear where to start, let alone dealing with questions of “will this be worth it?” or “where can I go after this?”

So, to help you get some idea of the career paths you could take, here’s a roundup of some of the most rewarding jobs working with kids. Working with children is a broad vocation, covering many types of jobs in development, education, support and healthcare — and beyond.

After surveying a wide range of people working with children, we found that these are the eight jobs rated most fulfilling.

Which one inspires you most? Read on to find out more about each role.

(View survey data. All salary and growth data sourced from JobOutlook.gov.au unless otherwise noted).

1. School counsellor

As a school counsellor, you have daily interactions with children of all ages (depending on where in the school system you find yourself). Your mission is to help kids with their emotional development and support them during their education.

In this job you can expect:

To work in this field, you will need to have one of the following qualifications:

• Diploma of Counselling
• Master of Counselling
• Graduate Diploma in Counselling
• Bachelor of Counselling
• Graduate Diploma of Psychology 
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Certificate 
• Graduate Diploma of Mental Health 
• Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
• Graduate Certificate in Educational Wellbeing 

All of the above options allow you to study from home, ensuring you have some flexibility while you study.

2. Youth worker 

As a youth worker, you can expect to find yourself assisting young people as individuals or in groups as they navigate emotional and financial problems. 

In this job you can expect:

To work in this field, you will need to obtain one of the following qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Youth Work
• Diploma of Youth Work
• Diploma of Community Services 
• Certificate in Youth Development and Counselling

These are just some of the courses you can take to become a youth worker. The above options provide online learning, ensuring flexibility while you study. 

3. Teacher’s aide

Becoming a teacher’s aide will have you working exceptionally closely with children of all ages as you work to support educators in the goal of educating the youth of Australia. It is also a very diverse career, as the job can vary slightly depending on the specialisation you may choose.

In this job you can expect:

4. Early childhood teacher (preschool teacher)

As an early childhood teacher, you work with children aged between 2 and 5 years old, helping kids become confident learners and develop skills they will need for the future. 

In this job you can expect:

To work in this field, you will need this qualification:

• Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)

5. Early childhood educator (childcare worker)

A childcare assistant provides care and structured learning for children. They are responsible for supervising children aged between 6 weeks and five years old, usually in a daycare centre.

In this job, you can expect:

To work in this field, you will need to obtain one of the following qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Education Support
• Certificate III in Education Support

Both courses above allow you to conduct your study online, ensuring a flexible learning environment. 

5. Family support worker 

A family support worker assists Social and Welfare workers by providing extra services and support to families. 

In this job you can expect:

To work in this field, you will need to obtain one of the following qualifications:

• Certificate III in Community Services
• Certificate IV in Community Services
• Diploma of Community Services
• Diploma of Mental Health 

All of the courses listed above can be conducted online for a more flexible study schedule, with some providing a blended mix of online and in-class learning.

6. Disability support worker 

As a disability support worker, you provide care, supervision, and support in homes, residential establishments, clinics, and hospitals. You will also have the opportunity to liaise with other health professionals to maximise the individual’s health and wellbeing. 

In this job you can expect:

To work in this field, you will need to obtain one of the following qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Disability
• Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
• Certificate III in Education Support

The above courses are conducted online for a more flexible learning experience. 

Getting your Working with Children Check is easier than you might think, but it can be vital when securing any kind of employment where children are involved.

What you’ll need:

• To prove your identity with documents using your phone
• To fill out an online form 
• Depending on which type of application you are filling in, it will impact the cost, a volunteer application is free, but an employee one costs $121 (to qualify as a volunteer, you must not be paid for the work you do regarding children)
• To give your consent to us passing your info on to do your check

What the check is looking for:

• It looks into your criminal record in all Australian states and territories, including any charges, regardless of the outcome 
• Your professional conduct as determined by the Victorian Institute of Teaching, the Suitability Panel (established under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and the Commission for Children and young people and
• Whether you’re required to report under sex offender legislation 

Find more information on the Working with Children site. 

7. Mental health support worker

• Qualification: Certificate IV in Mental Health
• An average salary of $71,448 

8. School social worker

• Qualification: Masters of Social Work
• Average salary $95,108 

9. Primary school teacher

• Qualification: Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)
• Average salary $93,654

10. Childcare centre director

• Qualification: Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• Average salary $66,144

11. Secondary school teacher (high school)

• Qualification: Bachelor of Education
• Average salary $99,528 

12. Art therapist

• Qualification: Bachelor of Art Therapy 
• Average salary $73,808

13. Occupational therapist

• Qualification: Bachelor or Masters of Occupational Therapy
• Average salary $81,588

14. Child protection officer

• Qualification: Diploma of Community Services
• Average salary $71,448  

15. Child psychologist

• Qualification: Postgraduate degree in psychology, plus a set time of supervised practice
• Average salary $96,564 

16. School psychologist

• Qualification: Graduate Diploma of Psychology 
• Average salary $96,564

17. Paediatrician

• Qualification: Medical degree plus Advanced Training in General Paediatrics from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
• Average salary $258,752

18. Paediatric nurse (registered nurse)

• Qualification: Bachelor of Nursing 
• Average salary $99,268 

19. Special care worker

• Qualification: Certificate III in Community Services
• Average salary $69,732

20. Special education teacher

• Qualification: Bachelor of Education (Special Education)
• Average salary $99,528

21. Nanny

• Qualification: Rates negotiated with employer or nanny service 
• No degree required 

22. Speech pathologist

• Qualification: Bachelor or masters degree in speech-language pathology
• Average salary of $95,004

23. School librarian

• Qualification: Bachelor degree in librarianship or information management 
• Average salary $86,008

24. Play therapist

• Qualification: Certificate IV in Leisure and Health 
• An average monthly salary of $52,936

Working with children isn’t easy. It requires patience and a deep passion for children. They can be stubborn and cranky, but if you ask anyone who works with them daily, they’d also tell you it’s the most rewarding thing on earth. Watching kids learn new things — like seeing them smile after they’ve finally figured out the maths problem they had been struggling to understand — lifts the soul and makes every bit worthwhile. It’s a career choice you won’t regret.