How do Childcare Centre Educators Become Qualified to Teach My Child?
by Sesame Lane Admin on 24/10/2019 12:39:46 PM
Who is teaching my child? Entrusting your child with a childcare centre can feel like a big step for parents. As such, it’s only natural to want assurance that your child is in the hands of safe and competent educators. Read on to learn more about early childhood education (ECE), including:
- Regulation and quality assurance
- Qualification requirements
- Who can work with children
- Childcare educators of today
Who Regulates Childcare Centres in Australia?
In Australia, childcare centres are regulated by state and territory authorities. Additionally, these governing bodies work with the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) - “...an independent national authority that assists governments in administering the National Quality Framework (NQF) for children's education and care.”
ACECQA undertakes a number of useful services, including:
- Answering enquiries relevant to children’s education and care
- Publication of resources, research, and reports
- Assessment and approval of individual and organisation qualifications
- Provides training and support to state / territory regulatory authority authorised officers
- Awards quality assurance ratings
What are the Qualification Requirements for Childcare Centre Educators?
The NQF requirements for educators working in a childcare centre with children aged preschool and under, are:
Do childcare centres need to have a degree qualified early childhood teacher?
Yes. However, the specific requirements for a centre are based directly upon the age and number of children in attendance. For example, in a centre with less than 25 children:
- Access to an early childhood teacher is required for 20% of operating hours
- This can also be achieved with an ICT solution (useful for centres in rural / remote areas)
You can find more detailed information about the early childhood teacher requirements for childcare centres on the ACECQA website.
Are There Restrictions to Who Can Work With Children?
Yes. For protection and risk minimisation to children, it is essential that anyone working in childcare be vetted and approved. The Queensland Government uses the Blue Card System to this effect. Also known as the Working With Children Check, this involves:
- Blue card screening | to determine eligibility and involves upfront disqualification of unsuitable individuals
- Police checks | and ongoing monitoring, including up-to-date police information on blue card holders
- Annual reviews and monitoring | of child and youth risk management strategies to be upheld by every childcare service provider
Is anyone exempt from the Blue Card System?
Yes. Police officers and registered teachers in Queensland are not required to apply for a blue card. If carrying out any regulated services to children not included in their professional duties, they must apply for an exemption card.
What are the Statistics on Childcare Centre Educators?
According to The Good Universities Guide, some facts about early childhood educators include:
- Average workweek of 35.9 hours
- 23.6% of early childhood educators are employed in Queensland
- Only 4.8% of educators are male; the remaining 95.2% female
- The most common age bracket is 25-34 yrs (27.2%), followed by 35-44 yrs (19.1%)
Sesame Lane | Your Government Approved Childcare Centre
At Sesame Lane, we offer the Government Approved Kindergarten Program across all of our Long Day Care services. This program is run by a degree-qualified teacher, and is based on the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (ELYF). We believe in engaging children through play-based learning that nurtures and encourages their natural desire to explore and discover life.