Early childhood education careers for school leavers

Nothing beats the feeling of knowing that what you do each day is having a real impact on a child, not just in that moment – but for the rest of their life.

Are you in the final years of your schooling journey and considering which of the many career paths to follow? Read on!

Why choose early childhood education as a career?

A career in early childhood is fast-paced, exciting and different every day. As an early childhood Educator, you play an integral role in a child’s development and wellbeing.

Being able to teach a young mind how to achieve a first, and watching their little faces as they make those achievements, can be a real incentive to get out of bed in the morning. This makes  careers in early years learning amongst the most rewarding.

More than this, the demand for quality early childhood professionals is growing, making it a highly attractive path to follow.

What skills do you need?

A number of personal qualities and skills are needed to lay the foundations for a successful career in early childhood education. These include interpersonal skills, such as operating within a team, active listening and clear communication. On top of this, organisational management skills and physical fitness are important. This will help you keep up with the day to day activities that take place in an early learning centre.

What about qualifications?

To start a career in early childhood education and care, you must obtain an approved Early Childhood Education and Care qualification. If you want to pursue a University qualification, there are several study pathways available. These qualifications take several years to complete. So if you are looking to get into the industry sooner, we recommend you consider a traineeship.

With an Oac traineeship you will gain skills and experience during practical, on-the-job paid training. Upon completion, you’ll also achieve a nationally recognised Certificate III qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care. You can consider a traineeship as a stepping stone to a fulfilling career while earning an income.

Where to from here?

For those who are still at school, your careers advisor can provide you more information. They can help you to understand the University qualifications available and which subjects you may want to consider for your final years.

If you are in your final year and would like to know more about careers in the early childhood education sector, we invite you to connect with us through our website oac.edu.au/careers email [email protected] or follow us on social media @onlyaboutchildren.

For more great reading: Why working in early childhood is important during COVID and We say ‘Thank You’ to our teams.