Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Hello All,

First thanks for such a great resource and hope you can help out with a few questions on the proceedures to become a childcare worker.

Am writing on behalf of my girlfriend (soon wife) whom is an Indonesian National. Once we are married and she is resided in Australia she has shown interest in childcare as a profession. Nita is 28 yo, nearly 8 years experience as a domestic helper (caring for elderly, babies and young children) with 6 years in Hong Kong. Though she has done short courses of a few months they are not recognised qualifications but alot of practical experience has an excellent attitude to children and her job responsibilities. Nita has reasonable English (which she is continuing to learn), conversational Mandarin and fluent in Indonesian and Cantonese.

I have read some information here and I would like to know some comments for her to become a childcare worker in Australia.

Reading a bit of information online looks like a Certification III is required and takes around 18 months. I also read she could become an Assistant Childcare worker or apprenticeship (either full or parttime) while obtaining her Certification. Is that correct?

Providing that her English is acceptable I think the timeline could be:-

1. become an Assistant Childcare worker.
2. Study for 18 months - part time.
3. obtain certificate and become a fully fledged Childcare worker.

Is this correct in my thinking?
Any pitfalls or suggestions?
What hourly wage would be accepted at each stage (say for Gold Coast location)?
Is it a worthwhile profession for a 'New Australian' and has anybody had experience or know of someone whom has done this?

She is worried about her English. It is actually OK but sometimes her pronunciation is not the best but she is continuing studying now English.

Sorry for the twenty questions but just interested to develop our future.

A certificate 111 doesn't usually take 18 months. At TAFE I think it takes 12months or less, or you can do cert 111 as a Traineeship. She could also get Recognition of Prior Learning for her skills, which would take some unit off the certificate. It can be hard to get a job completely unqualified, unless it is a traineeship. Online cert 111s can be done in as little at 6months, although it depends upon how your wife's written english is. (It is not a literacy test, but you need comprehension skills). Getting Outside School Hours care jobs unqualified is easier as the hours are only part-time and she could study for her cert 111 while working in OSHC. Wages for trainees are lower, but fully qualified cert 111 get from $16ph up, more for casual workers but that is about the award wage. Some places pay more. I work in OSHC and an assistant unqualified gets $19 per hour as a casual, but the hours are 3.15 to 6pm, and some programs run in the mornings as well. So a plan might be study cert 111 and work in OSCH or long day care at the same time.

Thanks luckya for a quick reply. I understand what you mean and does give me an idea on what to expect.

One question, what does OSHC mean? Not quite familiar with the acronyms.

Outside of School Hours Care.

Thanks so much to luckya and L.A., give me alot of information to go over with her.