Childcare worker job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed childcare workers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed childcare workers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Imaginative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Physical
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Organising
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a childcare worker
A childcare worker’s duties can vary depending on the place of work. Their roles and responsibilities are centred around fostering the child’s development through organised activities. A typical childcare worker’s responsibilities include:
- Providing care for toddlers and young children
- Playing games and organising recreational activities
- Planning and implementing educational programs
- Preparing food and snacks
- Encouraging and mediating healthy social interactions
- Monitoring kids’ hygiene
- Supervising kids on play equipment
- Communicating and working closely with a team of carers and parents
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Makes a difference
Childcare workers are professionally and personally fulfilled as they are always focused on making a difference. By directing their efforts towards helping children and giving them nurturing attention, children will grow and feel supported while under your care.
Flexible hours
A healthy work-life balance is more than achievable when you work in childcare. There’s a good balance of full-time and part-time work available, and depending on where you work, you may even be able to choose your own days and hours.
Respected
The work you do as a childcare worker is essential. You provide parents and guardians with trustworthy, expert care when they’re unable to provide it themselves, and give the children in your care fun, exciting activities to help them learn through play.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a childcare worker
According to the Australian Bureau of Labor Statistics, childcarers currently make up 52.4% of the pre-school education industry.
Childcare workers are expected to experience a 19.8% job growth by 2024, to an estimated 165,900 jobs.
Childcare workers can comfortably find both full-time and part-time work, with 47% of current childcare workers working full-time hours.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
A career as a childcare worker opens your eyes to early childhood education’s dynamic and broad industry. Childcare work can help you discover new strengths, interests and passions that can lead you to progress into new directions and exciting opportunities.
Whether you enjoy working with infants, older kids, or all ages in between, there are so many exciting pathways you can choose.
Junior
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education officer
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Education Support (CHC40213)
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Teacher’s aide
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Education Support (CHC40213)
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Childhood educator assistant
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Education Support (CHC30213)
-
Childcare worker
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care ( CHC30113)
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Indigenous Language and Culture Teaching Assistant
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Education Support (CHC30213)
Mid
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Early childhood teacher
Most common qualification: Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Senior
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Childhood education manager
Most common qualification: Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113)
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Outside school hours carer
Most common qualification: Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
If you’re interested in working in the childcare industry, chances are you already have a firm grasp of many of the soft skills that make up a good childcarer. Even if you have some gaps, you can build them up with the right training.
Imagination and creativity
Every child is different, and what might work well for one may not work well for others. Being creative with your lessons, activities, and communication keeps the work interesting and children engaged.
Social perception
Reading social cues, body language, and tone allows for a whole new layer of communication and understanding. This can help minimise issues before they grow unnecessarily.
Great communication skills
Being able to articulate yourself well and collaborate with coworkers, parents, and the kids themselves make your day-to-day work run much more smoothly.
Compassion and patience
Children need to feel heard and nurtured, especially when they’re acting out. Being patient and understanding while trying to see events through their eyes fosters a safe, positive environment.
Friendly
Whether you’re working in a team, communicating with parents or playing with the kids, being kind and approachable encourages better communication and a more positive environment.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
As a childcare worker, you are directly responsible for a child’s health and safety. You must have a firm grasp of the technical skills and knowledge required to work with children. Completing formal training is one of the best and easiest ways to do this.
An understanding of the code of ethics in childcare
A code of ethics determines what behaviour is appropriate and expected of childcare workers. This helps to ensure a moral standard to all interactions between carer and child. In Australia, the ECA Code of Ethics is the framework for working with children ethically and responsibly. All childcare professionals need to understand and adhere to it.
Physical fitness and stamina
From cleaning to playing and everything in between, childcare work requires high energy levels and enthusiasm all day. Good fitness and stamina are essential to make sure you can keep up with the day’s demands.
Ability to monitor and evaluate children
Understanding social cues and behaviours and where they sit in a child’s development is necessary when monitoring children. As a childcare worker, you need to pick up on these changes or habits to ensure everyone is safe and well.
First aid and safety knowledge and practices
While in your care, all children’s safety and wellbeing lies with you — you must be trained in first aid as well as health and safety protocols to minimise the chance of accidents.
Watching every child feel, grow and develop is an amazing experience. Every day is an opportunity for you to learn something new and to be someone that the children in your care love.
Fateema Sabsabi, Campus Director
Only About Children Rose Bay
How to become a childcare worker
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Obtain an Australian Working with Children’s Check (WWCC) and Police Check
A WWCC is an ongoing assessment that determines whether someone is a risk to children and includes a police background check. All workers who intend to work in child-related industries must have a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC). In Queensland, this is called a “Blue Card”. To obtain your WWCC, you can apply through your state or territory’s government website (make sure you have multiple forms of identification handy). You must also pay for a WWCC. The cost varies from state to state.
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Get qualified with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113)
A Cert III is the minimum qualification required of childcare workers. During this course, you learn a range of learning frameworks and technical knowledge that arm you with the essential skills required of a childcare worker. Throughout this course, you learn how to care for children of various young ages. Through supporting play and behaviour management techniques, you learn how you can promote and encourage proper development both socially, physically and intellectually. During a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education, you are required to complete a work placement. Alternatively, you can choose a more comprehensive qualification such as Certificate IV or Diploma in Early Childhood Education. These qualifications can lead to more senior roles within the childcare and early education industry.
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Complete a work placement to gain hands-on experience
Depending on your chosen qualification, your minimum length of work placement can vary. A Certificate III, for example, requires a minimum of 120 hours. This is a fantastic opportunity to make industry connections and get some hands-on experience. Work placement is generally incorporated into your course’s timeline. Sometimes, first aid training is required prior to commencing your work placement. Usually, your education provider helps you organise your work placement via a network of childcare partners. You can boost your employment chances by completing a first aid training certificate and a CPR qualification.
Explore related qualifications
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113)
If jumping into your new career as soon as possible is the goal, a Certificate III takes 12-18 months to complete. A Certificate III allows you to move into a career as a:
- Early learning educator
- Nanny
- Kindergarten assistant
- Outside school hours care educator
- Playgroup supervisor
16 providers offer this course
Certificate IV in Education Support (CHC40213)
Childcare courses are stackable, so you can start with a Certificate III and add more training later. If you want to work with children in a more educational capacity, you can complete a Certificate IV in Education Support. This qualification allows you to work as a:
- Education assistant
- Language worker or literacy worker
- Education assistant (for kids with disabilities)
- Education support worker
- Education worker
- Teacher’s aide or teacher assistant
5 providers offer this course
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113)
By completing a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you can take your childcare career to new professional heights. A diploma allows you to move into a more senior educational role, such as:
- Early childhood educator
- Early childhood services coordinator
- Centre manager (early childhood services)
- Director (early childhood services)
14 providers offer this course
Related subjects
If you know working with children is your passion, but becoming a childcare worker isn’t quite hitting the mark — fear not! There are many related career pathways you can explore and research that may be a better fit.
Reviews
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
- All
- Positive
- Negative
Leanne
Sep 13 2021Helping children grow and develop is great, but being understaffed isn't.
What are the best parts of the job?
I enjoy observing children and being able to extend on these observations. To analyse and continue to offer children experiences that help them develop and challenge ideas. Being able to keep them engaged and allow them to enjoy their interests is very rewarding.
What's the most challenging part?
Being understaffed is the biggest challenge. Having 21 toddlers in one room with four educators, but not all educators being trained to do nappy changes means you have to do more then what’s reasonably expected of one person. Having lots of challenging behaviours within the room, but not having consistent staff that can help and support the educators and children to have a safe and supported experience is hard.
Hiroko
Sep 14 2021I love being part of yound children's lives and watching them grow.
What are the best parts of the job?
No two days are the same in this career. I love being a part of the child's life. It's great being able to contribute to and support their growth and learning. I can watch them grow from a baby to an independent young human. There's nothing better.
What's the most challenging part?
Understanding individual children's needs and being on the same page as parents can be hard. So can supporting children of different backgrounds or children with special needs. Any family problems, like domestic violence, add a lot of stress.
Kim
Sep 14 2021Can develop relationships and watch children grow, but there's not enough support.
What are the best parts of the job?
I love building bonds with families and children, and being present to watch the children grow and learn new skills.
What's the most challenging part?
There's a lack of support for workers, and it's frustrating when families don't understand our profession.
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Job cluster: The Carer
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
People who thrive as childcare workers embody the persona of The Carer.
Carers are compassionate, thoughtful people who naturally seek out opportunities to help people. They’re thoughtful, kind and very personable.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the duties and responsibilities of a childcare worker?
A childcare worker is responsible for providing care and supervising the children, preparing food and snacks, and monitoring their hygiene. Childcare workers also organise recreational activities and games for the children, as well as early learning programs.
How much does a childcare worker get paid?
In Australia, a childcare worker is paid an average salary of $49,556.
What qualifications do I need to be a childcare worker in Australia?
To work in childcare in Australia, it is essential that you obtain a Working with Children’s Check and Police Check. The minimum study requirement in order to become a childcare worker is to complete a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
What are the legal responsibilities of a childcare worker?
Childcare workers are legally responsible to ensure the safety of the children they are caring for. Childcare workers are obligated to a duty of care, which is a duty to take any steps within reason to protect the children under the worker’s care from foreseeable injury.
Why become a childcare worker?
Working in childcare is a fulfilling and rewarding career wherein everyday you are making a difference in children’s lives. A childcare worker helps support children’s social, educational and emotional development, which shapes their future.