For some school leavers and for those returning to the workforce after maternity/family leave, childcare can be an appealing option. Working with children can be delightful, the work is very satisfying, and the hours can be great if you are studying or juggling your own children and family life.
There are many ways to qualify for work in a childcare centre, from short vocational courses, apprenticeships, diplomas and degrees. Different qualifications will receive different salary levels but there are two ‘must-have’ qualifications you must have in order to work in a childcare centre.
The first is your “Working with Children” check. This is a compulsory nation-wide background check that is conducted on anyone who wants to work with children in a full time, part time, casual, or volunteer basis. More information on the Working with Children check can be found on the Office of Children’s Guardian website.
The second is a first aid certificate. While this qualification is not strictly compulsory, it will certainly be looked upon favourably in the job application process.
There are a variety of first aid courses available – from basic first aid to specialised courses that are tailored to different situations. Childcare First Aid (official name: Provide an Emergency First Aid Response in an Education and Care Setting – HLTAID004) courses are specifically for those working with children and cover accidents and situations that are common to children.
If you are looking for work in childcare and want to include first aid on your CV, make sure the course you choose has the following:
- Approval by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
- Is nationally recognized.
- Is comprehensive and covers all aspects of childcare first aid – for example, CPR, anaphylaxis, asthma, incident reporting, fractures and burns.
Childcare is a growth industry in Australia and many opportunities exist. Successfully completing a Childcare First Aid course will help you get the job you want in this area.
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Edway Training regularly runs approved, nationally recognised Childcare First Aid courses in Sydney, Parramatta and Liverpool. Our face to face training comprehensively covers all aspects of first aid for children of all ages. For further information and to see our class schedule, please follow the above link.
