Looking at switching from OSHC to Day care/Kindy. Any advice?

[Forbesyy]

Hi all!

I am currently a 21 year old who is working in OSHC and I'm thinking of making the full jump to Day care and kindy full time, but I have some reservations...

I originally started a high school teaching degree and picked up OSHC on the side and well, I fell in love with the kids. Within a year I swapped to primary, but after a rough placement I dropped the degree.

I currently work at a small service, with only 1-2 other staff members. We're a tight nit group but I love them. I've been working with the service for just over 2 years now and I've moved up to become a RP. I have extensive knowledge of the NQF and MTOP V2 and have a lot of experience with the entire cycle of planning. I'm amazing with the kids and I've never had a nut I haven't been able to crack.

Problem is, I'm working all the hours they can give me, every afternoon and 6 mornings a fortnight. At most I'm doing 27 hours a week. If I could stay in OSHC I would but I see very little upward mobility to a position in which I might get full hours. So, I'm thinking of making the switch.

I'm lucky enough to have a parent at my service who works in the early childhood education sector of a registered training institute who is willing to help me get my diploma. Thanks to my experience and my coordinator who is more then willing to sign me off for most of the course as RPL (I already know considerably more then some of those I've worked with that already have their qualifications), I could get the diploma relatively fast and cheap.

All I want to know is, is it worth it? Being in OSHC, we're experiencing all the same issues with the shortage, the ratios, the inundation of paperwork, especially considering it falls on me a lot as we're a small team. But I'm willing to put up with the stress and the sub par pay because at the end of the day, I feel proud of what I achieve.

I just want to know what your experiences are?

And most importantly, is there a genuine path to moving up within childcare, to something that has a more...livable wage. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to work for not a lot, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life skimping to get by, especially considering the fact I don't have a partner.

I'm in a really lucky position at the moment where I can live with my parents for the foreseeable future, is it worth trying? And considering my experience not just with kids, but with programming as well, how fast can I expect to move up within a company?

One more thing I should mention, I am a male. Considering recent news, thought I should mention it.

Any thoughts or feelings would be great

[Lorina]

Let’s break this down and explore whether the leap from OSHC to full-time daycare/kindergarten is worth it and what kind of future you can realistically build from it.

Is It Worth Making the Switch?
Short answer: Yes—if you're strategic. You’ve already got:

Strong planning and programming skills
Deep knowledge of NQF and MTOP V2
A proven track record with children
A support network (your coordinator and the parent offering RPL help)

That’s a powerful foundation. The diploma will open doors to full-time roles in long day care and kindy, where you’ll likely find more consistent hours and clearer career pathways.

Your Programming Skills = Hidden Superpower

Don’t underestimate your tech skills. Centres increasingly need help with:

Digital documentation systems
Streamlining planning cycles
Training staff on software
Building internal tools or templates

This could make you indispensable and fast-track you into leadership or support roles beyond the classroom.

Being Male in ECE

It’s true—male educators are still underrepresented in early childhood settings. But your presence is valuable. Many centres actively seek gender diversity to enrich their team culture and offer varied role models to children. As long as you’re professional and confident, your gender can be a strength, not a barrier.

Living at Home = Strategic Advantage

This is your launchpad. With fewer financial pressures, you can:

Complete your diploma quickly
Take on full-time work even if the pay starts modest
Build experience and climb the ladder without the stress of rent or bills

You’re already doing the hard part—showing up, caring deeply, and building skills. The switch to daycare/kindergarten is not just viable, it’s potentially transformative.

If you stay curious, keep learning, and leverage your unique strengths (especially your programming background), you could move up faster than most.

Hope this helps!
- Lorina