what is a casual childcare educator?

As a casual childcare educator, you assist children with their daily routines at a childcare centre. Your job is to provide a clean and healthy environment for children to learn and play. You supervise children as they play or learn at the childcare centre. Unlike full-time children educators, you enjoy flexible work hours since you only work on demand. As a casual childcare educator, you have no guaranteed work hours, and you can end the employment without notice unless you sign an agreement that requires notice.

Despite the perks associated with flexibility, working as a casual childcare educator has limitations, like the lack of paid leave days and irregular work hours. However, you can work regular hours if you want. As a casual childcare educator, your employment terms are stipulated by the Children’s Services Award 2010, which details the work hours and the conditions attached to your employment. The Childcare Wages in Australia stipulate your casual wages.

Working as a casual childcare educator requires a passion for working with children. You need to be patient and show interest and enthusiasm to connect with children and build trusted relationships.

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average casual childcare educator salary

As a casual childcare educator, you are paid for your hours, and the employer pays weekly or hourly. You earn the same salary as a full-time childcare educator since you perform the same duties. The average remuneration package in the role is $65,000 per year. However, your earnings fluctuate based on various factors. In an entry-level role, you start with a salary of $60,000 annually; with experience, you take home a salary of $70,000 annually.

what factors affect the salary of a casual childcare educator?

As a casual childcare educator, your earnings mainly depend on work hours since you have a flexible work arrangement. You can work a minimum of two hours a day to a maximum of eight hours and enjoy overtime pay if you work over eight hours. Working more hours improves your remuneration prospects.

The size of the childcare centre and your responsibilities also affect your earnings. When you work in a small childcare centre, you have minimal responsibilities since you care for a few kids. In a large childcare centre, you take care of many kids and have more responsibilities. Hence, your earnings increase due to the complexity of your duties.

Want to know what you will earn as a casual childcare (educator)? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

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types of casual childcare educators

Casual childcare educators work in diverse settings, from childcare centres to schools and kindergartens. In a centre-based daycare, you are likely to work the whole day taking care of children whose parents are at work. You also provide occasional care depending on the child centre program. Some casual childcare educators work in preschools or provide before and after-school care to children in kindergartens.

female conversing with child
female conversing with child
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working as a casual childcare educator

Interested in working as a casual childcare educator? Let’s explore the duties, work environments and work schedules of casual childcare educators.

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education and skills

Despite being a casual role, most employers expect childcare educators to have relevant educational qualifications. If you are interested in joining the role, complete a qualification in early childhood education to gain the relevant skills. Find certificate or diploma courses in early childhood education and care or a course approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

If you are a primary school teacher interested in working as a childcare educator during holidays, you don’t require any qualifications provided you have a teacher registration in Australia. Primary and secondary school teachers with ACECQA certification are equivalent to early childhood teachers in Australia. While casual childcare educator is an entry-level position, having some experience working with kids improves your competitive advantage.

casual childcare educator skills and competencies

Some of the qualities and soft skills of casual childcare educators include:

  • communication skills: as a casual childcare educator, you require exceptional communication skills to communicate with parents, children and your colleagues. You explain the children's progress to parents and also communicate expectations and rules to children.
  • organisation skills: as a childcare educator, you supervise multiple children at the same time. It is important to be organised to keep track of the children's activities and prepare the learning materials on time. Organisation skills also help you arrange the classrooms and keep them clean and safe for kids.
  • positive attitude: as a casual childcare educator, you maintain a positive attitude to encourage children to learn and grow. Children are energetic, and you require tact to handle them. You also need patience to maintain a calm demeanour.
  • empathy: as a casual childcare educator, you require empathy to interact with children. You can connect with children and build a trusting relationship if you have empathy and are compassionate. Empathy also helps you provide emotional support to kids.
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FAQs about working as a casual childcare educator

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a casual childcare educator.

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