Can You Work in a Childcare Centre While Studying?

Are you currently studying and working towards a  career in early childhood education? If so, you’re probably already wondering how study can fit around work and other responsibilities of daily life. Many have asked these questions: is it possible to work in childcare while completing your qualifications? Or do you have to wait until you’re fully qualified?

The short answer is yes, you can work in the industry while studying to become qualified. In fact, it is a smart way to get hands-on experience while you learn, and is actually a core requirement of many courses. However, how and where you work does depend on meeting certain requirements, which we will cover below.

This guide breaks down what’s allowed, what to expect from work placement, and how students studying early childhood education courses in Melbourne can start gaining real-world experience sooner rather than later.

Working While Studying

Under the National Quality Framework, if you are enrolled in an approved course, such as a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, childcare centres can include you in the staff-to-child ratio. Many students in this situation manage to secure paid employment before they’ve finished their studies, and often this translates into direct employment once they have finished their studies.

The entry-level pay rate is around $28 per hour depending on the relevant award. (Source – Fair Work Ombudsman)

Placement while studying requires mandatory hours a student needs to complete, typically around 160 hours for a Cert III. These hours are unpaid as they are a requirement of study. However, some childcare centres offer blended opportunities to have a mix of placement hours and paid traineeship hours.

The “Actively Working Towards” Rule

Under Australian regulations set by ACECQA, you are allowed to work in a centre-based service while actively working towards your qualifications. This means that once you’re enrolled in your Cert III course, childcare centres can legally count you towards their educator-to-child ratio. While undertaking work in a childcare centre and studying, a student must maintain an active enrolment, make progress towards their education and complete all course requirements.

There are some challenges to keep on top of while working and studying in childcare. Time management is possibly the most important. Balancing shifts on the floor with children, reading material for your studies and completing your assignments can be a juggling act. You need strict scheduling and planning methods to achieve this.

You may also find the rate of pay challenging. The placement is unpaid, but the work you do is paid. You may end up doing far more hours than what you are paid for. This can be draining on you, but patience is recommended. Most placements end up in full time work once you have completed your studies.

Study and Work Rules for Diploma in Childcare for international Students

International students studying towards a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care can work in childcare while completing their qualification, but they must abide by the rules associated with their visa. The same conditions apply to international students studying the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

During term time, an international student can only work up to 48 hours per fortnight. During term breaks, however, those hours become unlimited. That said, your job must not interfere with your course attendance or academic results.

In order to work in the childcare sector, every student must complete a Working With Children Check (WWCC), and a National Police Clearance Check.

What Employers Look for Before You’re Fully Qualified

Legally, you must show proof of enrolment into approved qualifications, such as the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education. You need your WWCC and Police checks completed, and most potential employers ask that you have current first aid training.

There are a number of personal attributes that employers would like to see in potential new childcare workers.

• Reliability and punctuality: Centres run on strict staff-to-child ratios, meaning showing up on time is critical.
• Willingness to learn: Childcare centres value students who take feedback well and apply training to daily routines.
• Communication skills: You must talk clearly and professionally with both young children and adult staff members.
• Calm demeanour: Working with groups of children can get loud and fast-moving, so staying relaxed under pressure is essential.
• Understanding safety: Basic knowledge of hygiene, supervision rules, and child protection is expected.

Why Melbourne Is a Strong Place to Study and Work in Early Childhood Education

There’s nowhere better placed than Melbourne to find meaningful, ongoing work in childcare. The early childhood sector is growing all the time, and demand for childcare workers is always there. Victoria’s population is growing, and we have a reputation as a world-class student-city.

Early childhood education is a skill that is on Australia’s National Skills Shortage list. This means there is a great chance for immediate employment once you’ve finished your studies, and your ongoing employability is high.

Melbourne and regional Victoria are both home to some of the best RTO providers in the world. There are many globally recognised universities, numerous TAFEs and vocational training institutions, such as The Performance College, to choose from. They deliver many levels of training and certificates. You can start at an entry level Online Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and if you want more education you can consider continuing through to higher education.

Courses can be taken face-to-face, online or a mixture of both. With The Performance College, our curriculum encourages a lot of hands-on participation. This helps reinforce all the theory that you learn in the course.

From this one course, your career can go almost anywhere. Early childhood educator is your first step, and from here your career can branch out into kindergarten teacher, centre supervisor, even into a career as a nanny, if you want to.

Melbourne has a diverse range of centres to choose from, with long-day childcare, community programs and standalone kindergartens, all waiting for the right person to come along.

That can be you.

Start Your Childcare Career While You Learn

Studying early childhood education doesn’t mean putting your working life on hold. Whether you’re completing your placement hours, picking up paid shifts under the “actively working towards” rule, or navigating visa conditions as an international student, there’s a clear path to gaining real experience while you study, not after.

Melbourne makes that path even stronger. With high demand for qualified educators, a skill shortage that favours graduates, and training providers like The Performance College offering flexible online and hands-on study options, there’s never been a better time to start. Whether you’re working towards a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or considering a Diploma pathway as an international student, TPC can help you build the qualifications, and the experience, to launch your career in childcare.