Most educators looking for work in early childhood head straight to SEEK, Indeed or Jora, refresh the page every morning, and wait. Fair enough. That is what we are all taught to do. As a journalist, I always try to find sneaky ways or hidden vacancies.
This will surpise you 🙂 A lot of the best positions are filled before anyone writes an advertisement.
Centres often fill vacancies from their own pool, from so-called sister cenres, director’s network; and … through a recommendation, a placement student who impressed everyone, a casual relief educator who already knows the room, or someone who simply introduced themselves a few months earlier. This is what I mean by the hidden job market. It relied on relationships and timing, and you can absolutely get into it. Your goal is to become the first person a director thinks of when a position opens up.
1. Make a list of services you would love to work at. I usually start with the local exceeding or even excellently rated services.
Start before there is a vacancy. Research the services that actually match your values, then get to know them properly. Read their philosophy, look at their programs, notice how they talk about children. Drive or walk past and observe some practices.
✓ Long day care ✓ Kindergartens and sessional services ✓ Montessori or Reggio-inspired centres ✓ Bush kinders and nature programs ✓ Community-based services ✓ Not-for-profit organisations
2. Introduce yourself
Most directors respect an educator who is initiative and engaged in the job search. Send a short, warm email with your resume attached, your availability, your qualifications or expected completion date, and a couple of honest lines about why their service interests you.
3. Use your placement network
Professional experience is one of the strongest pathways into your first job, and the connections outlast the placement itself. Stay in touch with your supervising teacher, the educational leader, the director, the educators you worked beside, and your university peers. Do not burn the bridges!
From my experience, placement is one of the best ways to get hired.
4. Join relief agencies
Casual work builds your experience and your confidence at the same time. It also puts you in front of directors across many services, which means people know your name and your practice before a permanent role ever opens.
Early Childhood Australia events, local network meetings, council professional learning, conferences, workshops, university networking evenings. These rooms are full of educational leaders, and vacancies get mentioned out loud long before they get advertised.
6. Build your professional job portfolio
Your reputation starts well before your first permanent position. Keep your resume current, your LinkedIn profile updated, your Working With Children Check ready, and your references organised so you can move quickly when something comes up.
I always bring my folio or ipad with photo evidence to the important interviews.
Here is my video on how to create your portfolio
7. Tell people you are looking
So many opportunities arrive through ordinary conversations. Mention it to friends, family, lecturers, placement mentors, previous employers and classmates. Someone usually knows a service that needs an educator. That’s how I found my first job actually.
8. Be specific about what you want
“I’m happy to do anything” is too vague. Let’s use the manifestation approach here and calibrate our brain to help up to find the best opportunity for us.
Try something closer to this. “I’m looking for a graduate Early Childhood Teacher position where I can keep developing my practice in play-based learning and build strong relationships with children and families.”
That sentence gives someone a real picture, and real pictures stick. Your brain also loves it! 9. Follow up
Contacted a service and heard nothing back? Send a polite follow-up a week or two later. It reads as professional and interested, and it puts your name in front of them a second time.
One last thing
Your next job might never appear on a job board at all. It might begin with a placement, a casual shift, a recommendation, a conversation at a workshop, or one short email to a centre you have admired for months.
Make yourself visible while the vacancy is still hypothetical. That is where the hidden market lives.
Starting a career in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is an exciting and rewarding journey. But before you step into the world of nurturing young minds, you need to get qualified.
For most aspiring educators, this means earning a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (Cert III ECEC)—the entry-level qualification required to work in childcare.
The two main ways to achieve this qualification are:
A Traineeship – You study while working in a childcare centre, earning a wage as you complete your qualification.
Working Towards – You secure a job in a childcare setting first and complete your Cert III studies independently (often online or part-time).
While both paths lead to the same qualification, they come with different benefits and challenges. So, which one is right for you? Let’s explore both options to help you make the best decision.
What is an Early Childhood Traineeship?
A traineeship allows you to earn while you learn. You’re employed by a childcare centre that supports your structured training, combining hands-on experience with coursework.
Pros of a Traineeship ✅
✔ Paid Learning – Unlike unpaid student placements, Traineeship provide a wage while you gain experience. ✔ Structured Support – You get guided training from experienced educators. ✔ Government Incentives – Some states offer financial support, such as payments every six months for study milestones. ✔ Job Security – Many trainees secure long-term employment with their centre.
Potential Downsides ❌
✘ Lower Wages Initially – Trainees typically earn $19–$22 per hour, although mature-age trainees may start at $24–$30 per hour. ✘ Fixed Training Duration – Most traineeships take 12–18 months to complete. Your pay may not increase until you finish. ✘ Not All Employers Follow Award Rates – Some trainees have reported being underpaid, so it’s important to check your entitlements.
💡 Tip: Before signing up for a traineeship, make sure employer follows the award rates set by Fair Work Australia. Check the latest pay rates here.
What is “Working Towards” a Cert III?
If you prefer more flexibility and higher pay from the start, you can find a job in childcare first and complete your studies separately.
Pros of Working Towards Your Cert III ✅
✔ Higher Starting Pay – Many “working towards” educators earn $27–$30 per hour, significantly more than trainees. ✔ More Study Flexibility – You can choose how you study, whether part-time, online, or through a blended program. ✔ Faster Career Progression – Once you finish your Cert III, you might already qualify for a pay raise or a promotion.
Potential Downsides ❌
✘ Less Structured Support – Unlike traineeships, there’s no dedicated mentor guiding you through the process. ✘ Balancing Work & Study – You must be self-motivated to complete coursework while working full-time. ✘ No Guaranteed Job Security – Unlike trainees, employers aren’t required to invest in your development, meaning job stability might depend on performance.
💡 Tip: If you’re considering this path, check out ACECQA’s guidelines for “actively working towards” your qualification. Read more here.
Traineeship vs. Working Towards—Which is Better for You?
Your best option depends on your personal priorities and learning style.
Factor
Traineeship
Working Towards
Starting Pay
Lower ($19–$22/hr)
Higher ($27–$30/hr)
Study Support
Structured training
Self-paced learning
Flexibility
Fixed schedule
More flexible
Job Security
Strong (employer invests in training)
Depends on performance
Career Progression
Slower (fixed traineeship period)
Potentially faster
Ask yourself:
💰 Do you need financial stability now? → Working Towards might be better.
📚 Do you prefer structured training and guaranteed support? → A Traineeship may suit you.
🕒 Do you want a faster career path? → Working Towards offers quicker pay increases.
Final Thoughts: Choose the Path That Works for You
Starting a career in Early Childhood Education is a big step, and both pathways have their advantages.
If you need guidance, structured learning, and job security, a traineeship is a great way to enter the industry.
If you want to earn more from the start and are self-motivated, working towards your Cert III while employed might be the smarter option.
Regardless of which path you take, make sure you understand your rights and pay entitlements. If you’re unsure, talk to your employer or a registered training organisation (RTO) for advice.
💬 Have you taken one of these paths? Share your experience in the comments!
Traineeship or Working Towards? Choosing the Best Path to Start Your Early Childhood Education Career
Starting a career in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is an exciting and rewarding journey. But before you step into the world of nurturing young minds, you need to get qualified.
For most aspiring educators, this means earning a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (Cert III ECEC). It is the entry-level qualification required to work in childcare.
The two main ways to achieve this qualification are:
A Traineeship – You study while working in a childcare centre, earning a wage as you complete your qualification.
Working Towards – You secure a job in a childcare setting first and complete your Cert III studies independently (often online or part-time).
While both paths lead to the same qualification, they come with different benefits and challenges. So, which one is right for you? Let’s explore both options to help you make the best decision.
What is an Early Childhood Traineeship?
A traineeship allows you to earn while you learn. You’re employed by a childcare centre that supports your structured training, combining hands-on experience with coursework.
Pros of a Traineeship ✅
✔ Paid Learning – Unlike unpaid student placements, traineeships provide a wage while you gain experience. ✔ Structured Support – You get guided training from experienced educators. ✔ Government Incentives – Some states offer financial support, such as payments every six months for study milestones. ✔ Job Security – Many trainees secure long-term employment with their centre.
Potential Downsides ❌
✘ Lower Wages Initially – Trainees typically earn $19–$22 per hour, although mature-age trainees may start at $24–$30 per hour. ✘ Fixed Training Duration – Most traineeships take 12–18 months to complete. Your pay may not increase until you finish the program. I once had a student who took over 2 years to complete her certificate 3. ✘ Not All Employers Follow Award Rates – Some trainees have reported underpayments. It’s important to check your entitlements.
💡 Tip: Before signing up for a traineeship, ensure your employer follows the award rates set by Fair Work Australia. Check the latest pay rates here.
What is “Working Towards” a Cert III?
Prefer more flexibility and higher pay from the start? You can find a job in childcare first and complete your studies separately.
Pros of Working Towards your Cert III ✅
✔ Higher Starting Pay – Many “working towards” educators earn $27–$30 per hour, significantly more than trainees. ✔ More Study Flexibility – You can choose how you study, whether part-time, online, or through a blended program. ✔ Faster Career Progression – Once you finish your Cert III, you might already qualify for a pay raise. You might also qualify for a promotion.
Potential Downsides ❌
✘ Less Structured Support – Unlike traineeships, no dedicated mentor guides you through the process. ✘ Balancing Work & Study – You must be self-motivated to complete coursework while working full-time. ✘ No Guaranteed Job Security – Unlike trainees, employers aren’t required to invest in your development. This means job stability might depend on performance.
💡 Tip: If you’re considering this path, check out ACECQA’s guidelines for “actively working towards” your qualification. Read more here.
Traineeship vs. Working Towards – which is better for you?
Your best option depends on your personal priorities and learning style.
Factor
Traineeship
Working Towards
Starting Pay
Lower ($19–$22/hr)
Higher ($27–$30/hr)
Study Support
Structured training
Self-paced learning
Flexibility
Fixed schedule
More flexible
Job Security
Strong (employer invests in training)
Depends on performance
Career Progression
Slower (fixed traineeship period)
Potentially faster
Ask yourself:
💰 Do you need financial stability now? → Working Towards might be better.
📚 Do you prefer structured training and guaranteed support? → A Traineeship may suit you.
🕒 Do you want a faster career path? → Working Towards offers quicker pay increases.
Choose what works for you
Starting a career in Early Childhood Education is a big step, and both pathways have their advantages.
If you need guidance, structured learning, and job security, a traineeship is a great way to enter the industry.
If you want to earn more from the start, and you are self-motivated, working towards your Cert III while employed might be the smarter option.
Regardless of which path you take, make sure you understand your rights and pay entitlements. If you’re unsure, talk to your employer, TAFE or a registered training organisation (RTO) for advice.
💬 Have you taken one of these paths? Share your experience in the comments!
