Why Study Early Childhood Education?

Considering studying early childhood education? Besides being an incredibly rewarding career getting to nurture kids in their first years of development, people with a certification or diploma in early childhood are high in demand. By studying early childhood education and care (ECEC), you are helping to kickstart your career the right way.

Keep reading for more information about how studying early childhood education can benefit you and where it can take your career. 

Benefits of Studying Early Childhood Education

You can kickstart your career.

Studying early childhood education and attaining a diploma or certification is a good way to stand out when applying for childcare jobs, especially for entry-level positions. Employers can see you are serious about a career in early education and are ready to hit the ground ready once you get started. 

Someone who has studied early childhood education has the skills and knowledge to work hands-on in a childcare environment. If you’re looking to progress your career, taking the next step in your studies can give you those additional skills employers want you to have before managing teams or even running your own child care centre.    

It’s a rewarding career.

As an early childhood educator, you will play an important role in the first years of a child’s development and learning. Depending on the age of the children you care for, you’ll get to nurture them and their development, seeing them as they learn to speak, write and count, use fine motor skills and play with others. It’s incredibly rewarding to see and be able to experience first-hand.

By studying early childhood education, you will have the tools and experience to be able to best guide children on their learning and development journey. You’ll find great satisfaction seeing kids take the next steps in this journey, particularly those who you may have helped overcome delays or challenges.

The certification is in demand.

A 2024 study found there are more than 21,00 qualified early childhood educators needed in Australia to meet demand. With such high demand, it doesn’t take long to find a job in child care once you have attained a qualification, or if you need to relocate elsewhere in the country.

To help encourage people to study early childhood education, the Australian Government is funding a wage increase through a worker retention payment. There has never been a better time to study child care education. 

There are plenty of growth opportunities.

Your first early childhood education course and job is just the beginning of where you can go. There are so many different roles you can start in and progress into, utilising further study to progress your career. Some roles are more hands-on with children, while others involve managing educators or child care centres, and more.

Most people start their career in early childhood as a child care centre assistant, moving into an educator or child care worker position. From there, you can choose your own pathway, whether that’s managing, owning a centre or progressing your study for a more advanced role.

Study options can be flexible.

One of the best parts about studying early childhood education is the flexible study options many training providers offer. This includes flexible study options like online classes, which allow you to work and study, or manage other responsibilities while you kickstart your career. 

Where a Career in Early Childhood Education Can Take You

There’s a common misconception that you need years of training & experience to progress in an early childhood education career, however, with plenty of career opportunities available, studying a qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care can provide you with the skills & knowledge needed to take the next steps in your career.

Some of the many career options you could pursue are:

• Child care centre assistant
• Early childhood educator
• After-school hours care assistant
• Family day care provider
• Child care worker
• Early childhood education and career assistant
• Centre manager (children’s services)
• Authorised supervisor (children’s services)
• Group coordinator or team leader (children’s services)
• Family day care coordinator
• Childhood education manager
• Outside of school hours coordinator
• Playgroup coordinator
• Assistant director of early childhood services
• Reliever in early childhood programs.

Knowing your study options can help you find the right pathway for your dream career in early childhood education.

Study Early Childhood Education and Care with Aurora Training Institute

At Aurora Training Institute, we provide early childhood education and care (ECEC) courses in Townsville, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast. Our diplomas and certificates include:

• CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

If a career in early childhood education is in your future, enquire about our next course openings.