Keep making a real difference in the lives of NSW’s children, families and communities by advancing your career in early learning and expanding your qualifications today.
Early learning teachers and educators help children build a foundation for lifelong learning, health and happiness. As part of the skilled early learning workforce, you can:
make a positive difference for children, families, and communities
plan and deliver play-based learning activities based on evidence
earn money while you study through government support and flexible options
focus on an area of early learning that interests you.
Improving your qualifications can lead to better job security, higher pay, and more control over your work. It also equips you to take on new skills and responsibilities.
At any stage of your early learning career, you can find many opportunities to improve your skills and qualifications. We recommend visiting this page to learn about programs that become available.
Find out more about the Career pathways available to you at all stages of your ECEC career.
There are no prerequisites for a Certificate III, and it can take 6 to 12 months to complete.
The NSW and Australian Governments also offer fee-free training places that will allow you to study at no personal cost.
For general information on pay and conditions for early learning professionals, please visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.
It will take 12-24 months to gain a diploma of ECEC. You will be qualified to be a room leader, assistant centre director, or manage the day-to-day operations of your service.
The NSW and Australian Governments also offer fee-free training places that will allow you to study at no personal cost.
If you are already a diploma-qualified educator, you might want to consider becoming a degree-qualified teacher. Many NSW universities offer early learning teaching degrees, which will allow you to take on greater responsibility in the planning and delivery of quality play-based learning activities for the next generation.
For general information on pay and conditions for early learning professionals, please visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Bachelor degrees typically take 4 years to complete, although there are accelerated pathways available to diploma-qualified educators. Degree qualified early learning professionals can work as early learning teachers, child service leaders, or in early childhood disabilities and policy.
Degree-qualified early learning teachers can also choose to specialise or start their own service. Experienced professionals may also mentor and support others.
For general information on pay and conditions for early learning professionals, please visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.
You can explore more opportunities to develop your career through our professional development webpage.
Find more information about opening and managing your own exceptional ECEC service.
You may be eligible to receive funding to complete the next stage of your career development.
ECEC Vocational Educational and Training (VET) Scholarships, Early Childhood Inclusive Education Scholarships, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Education Scholarships provide financial support for educators and teachers gaining a new qualification.
Visit the scholarships page for more information.
Fee-free pathways are for you if you would like to complete a fully subsidised Certificate III in ECEC or Diploma of ECEC. Find out more at our early childhood education and care information page.
Brian works in an early childhood learning service as a Certificate III qualified educator. He enjoys the flexibility of the role and the opportunity to use play-based learning to teach children about the world around them.
Ready to take on more responsibility at his service, he enrols in a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, which is offered through a local Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that is registered under the Smart and Skilled program. With the support of the NSW Government, Brian doesn’t have to pay any fees to do the course.
Brian’s employer is supportive of his desire to upskill and offers him a full-time contract while he is completing the course. This arrangement allows Brian the security of permanent hours with the flexibility to complete his studies. As a qualified Diploma-level Educator, Brian also receives a higher wage than previously.
The enthusiasm Brian shows in his work inspires his partner, Mike, to study a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care. Brian and Mike have heard about the Department of Education's planned initiatives to support regional services, and they've started making plans to eventually open their own service on the NSW South Coast.
Abby recently migrated to Australia and is looking to enter the workforce. She completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care in New Zealand and decides to upskill now that she’s living in Australia.
As she lives in a rural community, Abby is concerned that access to her course might be limited. Fortunately, TAFE is running a hybrid program that will allow her to complete much of her studies off-campus.
Abby needed to take a break from study while she was on maternity leave and was able to pause her studies with TAFE for a semester. After completing her Certificate III, she’s excited to find a part-time role in an early learning service around the corner from her home. Although she’s starting with just a few shifts per week, she and her manager are working on a long-term plan to eventually transition to full-time work. She’s glad to be able to work in her chosen service and will be able to enrol her son there in the future.
James grows up in northern New South Wales. After completing his HSC, he spends a few years working in retail and hospitality. While both roles are challenging and dynamic, his work leaves him feeling unfulfilled, with a sense that he’s not making a difference in his local community.
In 2018, James enrols in the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and completes his studies at his local TAFE in Ballina. After working in the sector for 3 years and responding to the needs and challenges of the pandemic, he knows this is the field he is meant to work in.
He feels that he’s having a positive influence on the young children, which gives him a sense of pride. Wanting to upskill and take on more responsibility, James enrols into the Diploma of ECEC. This time he will be studying with a different Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
At the end of 2022, the Department of Education launches a program to assist students enrolled with RTO programs to finish their studies. James applies and is successful, receiving $2,000 at the commencement of his Diploma, via the Diploma of ECEC VET scholarship (Diploma of ECEC Scholarship Program Guidelines). He uses the money to supplement his income while he’s at TAFE and unable to work. Upon completion of his qualification, James is awarded another payment of $3,000, which he uses to upgrade his laptop. At the end of his studies, James is offered full-time work with his employer.
We have partnered with TAFE NSW to support early learning educators and teachers to upskill and strengthen their practice.
The ECEC Professional Learning program gives all ECEC professionals across NSW access to high quality professional learning. The program launched in late 2024 and offers early learning educators access to a range of tools and resources designed by sector experts.
