Early Childhood Teaching jobs in Australia

Licensing

Licensing by state

This is where the picture splits by state, and it matters. Teacher registration is issued by a state or territory regulator, not nationally, and jurisdictions differ on whether an early childhood teacher working outside a school must register at all. Some — including Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia — require or provide for registration of early childhood teachers in education and care services; others focus registration on school teaching, so an ECT in a long day care centre may not need registration but must still hold an ACECQA-approved qualification. Confirm directly with the regulator in your state before you accept a role. Separately, every early childhood teacher needs the child-related clearance for their state or territory. In several jurisdictions, current teacher registration exempts you from a separate clearance for teaching duties but not for other child-related work — Queensland, for example, requires registered teachers to obtain an exemption card from Blue Card Services to work in an early learning service.

the Australian Capital Territory

Registration with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI), plus Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration from Access Canberra.

New South Wales

Teachers are accredited — not registered — by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), which also accredits early childhood teachers in centre-based services. A separate Working With Children Check clearance from the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian is required and must be verified by the employer.

the Northern Territory

Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory (TRB NT), plus a Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card) through SAFE NT, which is valid two years.

Queensland

Teacher registration is issued by the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Registered teachers do not need a blue card to teach in a school, but a registered teacher working in an early childhood education and care service needs a free exemption card from Blue Card Services; an unregistered early childhood teacher needs a full blue card under 'no card, no start'.

South Australia

Registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia (TRB SA), which registers early childhood teachers; registration requires a current working with children check. Outside registration, a Working with Children Check from the DHS Screening Unit applies.

Tasmania

Registration with the Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania, which operates a specific early childhood teacher registration pathway for teachers in education and care services. Teachers also hold Registration to Work with Vulnerable People through CBOS.

Victoria

Registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), which registers early childhood teachers as well as school teachers. VIT registration exempts you from holding a separate Working with Children Clearance for your teaching duties; for other child-related work you would need a clearance from Working with Children Check Victoria.

Western Australia

Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA) is required to teach in a school. Early childhood teachers working outside a school should confirm registration requirements with TRBWA and will otherwise need a Working with Children (WWC) Check from the Department of Communities.