How to Become a Childcare Worker

A genuine love of children is a must for anyone thinking about becoming a child care worker. For people with a passion and interest in the care and education of children, a career in childcare can be deeply rewarding. Education and training requirements. To become a child care worker you usually need to complete a certificate or diploma course in childcare. To enrol in a certificate course, you usually need to complete at least Year 10 at high school, and to enrol in a diploma course you need to complete a Certificate III in Children’s Services. New government regulations stipulate that from 2012, all childcare workers may need to complete at least a Certificate III qualification and half of all staff in long day centres and preschools may need to complete at least a diploma in early childhood education You can also become a child care worker by completing a traineeship in children’s services or outside school hours care.

The requirements for entry into traineeships can vary but employers generally require trainees to complete Year 10. Additional childcare training requirements In addition to relevant training and education, to become a Child Care diploma, you will also need a police clearance and approved childcare first aid certificate. In some States and Territories, you may also need to carry out a Working with Children Check, which is issued by the relevant Sate Government department. Employment opportunities Child care workers typically work in community, government or privately run child care centres, kindergartens and creches. They may also work in hospitals, women's shelters and neighbourhood houses. Child care workers can also be self-employed by registering as a family day care provider in their own home. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the in the number of child care and family care centres, creating high demand for fully qualified child care workers. As such, there is a lot of opportunity for fully qualified, experienced and dedicated child care workers to progress and become centre co-ordinators or managers. Once employed, child care workers may be given the opportunity to further develop their skills under the Community Services Training Package, which can help advance career prospects within the industry.