How to become a childcare educator in Australia
Child Carers provide care and supervision for children in residential homes and non-residential childcare centres.
The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the child carers group are projected to grow 4.5% between May 2025 and May 2035, slower than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Assisting in the preparation of materials and equipment for children's education and recreational activities
- Managing children's behaviour and guiding children's social development
- Preparing and conducting activities for children
- Entertaining children by reading and playing games
- Supervising children in recreational activities
- Supervising the daily routine of children
How to get there
What it usually takes. A Certificate II, III or IV. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the child carers group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 30% a degree or higher, 27% a diploma, 22% a Certificate III or IV.
Apprenticeship or traineeship. Early Childhood Educator is on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List (1 April 2026), with qualifications including Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, Certificate III in School Based Education Support, Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. Find a provider at Your Career or your state's TAFE.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria1 match
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Diplomas and other ways in
NSW and ACT0 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
No match in UAC's list. Some courses, medicine especially, don't publish a cutoff or use their own admissions.
Queensland10 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Diplomas and other ways in
Showing 1 of 10 matches. Search every course.
Western Australia0 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
No match in TISC's list. Some courses, medicine especially, don't publish a cutoff or use their own admissions.
Matched on course names, 11 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Social, Artistic, Conventional.
From O*NET ratings for "Childcare Workers", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a good match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
Early childhood teacher$1,906 Teacher aide$1,342 Secondary school teacher$2,322 Primary school teacher$2,226 Aged care worker$1,761Done this job, or studied for it?
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Apprenticeships: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Apprenticeships Priority List, 1 April 2026.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.