As a degree-qualified early childhood teacher, you can:
- work directly with children and their families
- lead and deliver educational programs in a long day care or kindergarten setting
- supervise, mentor and coach other educators
- manage an outside school hours care service or other service types
- ensure compliance with policies and legislation.
With an early childhood teaching degree, you will also have a qualification that is nationally recognised by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). As an early childhood teacher you can work in a range of services, including
long day care,
kindergartens,
State Delivered Kindergarten programs in state schools,
family day care and
outside school hours care.
Progress your career
Qualified and experienced early childhood teachers often hold leadership, management and support roles in early childhood.
You can enhance your skills by participating in professional development provided by a range of educational and industry groups, and undertake further study to give yourself the flexibility and scope to move within the sector.
Provisionally registered early childhood teachers transiting to full registration
A Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Board policy enables early childhood teachers (ECTs) with provisional registration to move to full registration. This policy recognises:
This policy was effective in Queensland 1 February 2025. To find out more, visit the
QCT website.
A suite of documents is available support ECTs to apply the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Standards).
For more information to support the application of the Standards, visit the
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) website.
The AITSL website also features the mapping tool to support understanding of how the Standards connect with the National Quality Standard (NQS) and Belonging, Being and Becoming: The EYLF.
Financial help for very remote teachers
The Australian Government supports teachers, including early childhood teachers, in very remote areas with Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debts.
There are 2 types of assistance. The government can waive indexation on accumulated HELP debt and reduce accumulated HELP debt.
Early childhood teachers at very remote centre-based day care (CBDC) services may be eligible for this initiative.
Check if your CBDC service is in a very remote area and let your teachers know.
Applications for indexation waivers are open.
Learn more about
financial assistance for very remote teachers.
Contact us
Need something explained further? Please email your query to
ecec@qed.qld.gov.au.