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Types of careers in the early childhood sector

An overview of the types of careers in the early childhood sector, and what qualifications you may need.

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This page includes an overview of the types of careers in the early childhood sector, and what qualifications you may need.

Education and care

Early childhood teacher

Early childhood teachers support the learning, development, health and wellbeing of young children, including babies and toddlers.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Qualifications

To become an early childhood teacher, it takes 4 years of tertiary study. This includes at lease one year of teacher education study.

The most common qualifications are:

Registration

All Victorian early childhood teachers are required to be registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. Teachers who do not register will need to have a valid legal exemption.

See the Victorian Institute of Teaching for more information about the registration process.

Early childhood educator (formerly assistants)

Early childhood educators were previously known as kindergarten or child care assistants or workers. The new title reflects the importance of play-based learning in early years growth and development.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Qualifications

There are a range of qualifications and training opportunities that will open the door to a career as an early childhood educator. These include VET qualifications in education and care such as:

Other pathways include pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, traineeships or school based apprenticeships in children’s services.

Information on the training and qualifications of staff in Victorian Children’s Services is found on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website.

Educational leader

An early childhood educational leader works with educators and children to develop a program of activities and experiences that support learning.

The leader must have knowledge and experience about the way children learn. Their role is about promoting positive educational philosophies.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Qualifications

Qualifications will vary according to the exact role, but could include:

Health

Maternal and child health nurse

MCH nurses:

Maternal and child health nurses work in metropolitan, regional and rural locations in a range of settings:

Qualifications

To practice in Victoria, maternal and child health nurses must:

Before starting maternal and child health studies, at least one year’s experience as a midwife is preferable.

Midwives have traditionally undertaken a three-year university degree in nursing and then completed a postgraduate qualification in midwifery to be eligible for registration. More recently, three-year university degrees in midwifery and double degrees have commenced in Victoria.

Suitable qualifications (depending on interest/area of specialisation include:

National registration

A national registration and accreditation scheme for nurses and midwives began on 1 July 2010, and a new National Law (the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009) came into effect to regulate the profession.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is now responsible for setting standards and policies for the regulation of all nurses and midwives registered in Australia. It will be supported in this task by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

The NMBA has taken over the functions previously managed by the Nurses Board of Victoria.

For more information about how the national registration scheme operates, see:

Physiotherapist

Physiotherapy is a professional medical treatment focussed on restoring function after disease or injury.

Physiotherapists may work as part of a health care team, independently in private practice, within the school system or as industry consultants in metropolitan, regional or rural locations.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Qualifications

To practice in Victoria, physiotherapists must:

Completion of Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance may provide some credit to the degree program.

Speech pathologist

Speech pathologists assess and treat children and adults who have a communication disability.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Qualifications

To practice in Victoria, speech pathologists must hold on the following:

Entry can be from Certificate III and IV in Allied Health Assistance. Completion of Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance may provide some credit to the degree program.

Management

Early years manager

Early years managers, formerly known as kindergarten cluster managers provide professional leadership and management for community based kindergarten services.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Find out more about early years management.

Children’s services manager

Children’s services managers work in a variety of early childhood services, including long day care, family day care, occasional care and kindergartens.

Roles and responsibilities include:

Education & training

Updated 26 March 2026

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