Children from birth to school age can access education and care programs through a long day care centre. Long day care generally operates for at least 10 hours a day, Monday to Friday, for at least 48 weeks a year.
Many long day care services offer an approved kindergarten program and some offer outside school hours care for school-aged children. All long day care services caring for children under school age must employ, or have access to, a qualified early childhood teacher.
Roles and qualifications to work in long day care
There are many long day care services across Queensland. They employ thousands of people in a range of roles with different qualifications. These are:
Early childhood teacher - approved Early childhood teacher qualification
- Works directly with children and their families.
- Plans and delivers educational programs.
- Supervises, mentors and coaches other educators.
Early childhood educator - approved Certificate III level qualification
- Provides education and care to a group of children.
- Helps plan and develop the group's educational program.
Early childhood educator - approved Diploma level qualification
- Supports children's learning and development.
- Helps design, plan, implement and evaluate educational programs.
Nominated supervisor (service director)
- Provides day-to-day management of an approved service.
- Ensures the safety, health and well-being of children at the service.
- Ensures the program delivered to children is based on an approved learning framework.
- Works collaboratively with the regulatory authority.
- There are no legislative qualification requirements to manage a long day care service, unless you work directly with the children. Most services, however, will require the service director to have a diploma, degree or higher.
Learn more about: qualifications for centre-based services.