5 benefits of working in the childcare industry
Dr Mary Anne Hall • March 1, 2018
Working in the childcare industry can be a fulfilling and rewarding career. It requires dedication, ethics, commitment, and physical stamina! This week, EPEC Education Director Dr Mary Anne Hall, highlights some of the benefits of choosing a career in this dynamic and ever-changing sector.
1. Watching children grow and develop
Working with children brings many rewards. It is a chance to see children flourish in their development and become confident, independent learners. For many educators working in the industry is the realisation of a long-awaited dream. These are the people who make the best educators – they have passion, drive and a willingness to succeed in the industry.
2. Childcare is a growth industry which is set to increase at a rate of at least 20% per year.
Childcare is a growth industry, and in the age of technology whereby many jobs are becoming redundant or obsolete, the childcare sector is set to only grow in size and increase in demand. There will always be an industry need for qualified and capable childcare workers.
3. Flexible working hours
Given childcare facilities usually open for between 10 and 12 hours per day, there is the opportunity for split shifts, and early or later starts. This may work well for people who want to finish at 3pm or prefer a bright and early 6:30am kickoff! Usually these shifts are rotating, however you should have a chance to have some flexibility. This works particularly well for parents who have heavy home life responsibilities. There are also opportunities for diverse roles in the industry. Working as a Family Day Care educator can be a great way for parents who want to work from home, while still earning a good income.
4. It enables career progression
The childcare industry now requires that its workforce have (or be working towards) either a Certificate 3 or a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. This is good for two reasons: it ensures better quality of care for children, and secondly, it gives its workforce more knowledge, which ultimately means better pay and better working conditions for everyone.
5. Fun and enjoyable career
Working in the industry can be pretty awesome. Children really are amazing and watching them grow and play and reach their milestone can bring joy beyond words. Yes, the work is tough, but the pay offs are huge.
Everyone has a different approach to study and here at EPEC Education we encourage our students to find the system that works best for them.
There are now over one million children in Australia going through a family breakdown. This almost always causes stress for children, with over 25% of children experiencing long term trauma as a result. Reduced access to once familiar extended family, the introduction of stepparents and step siblings, and the reduced presence of once consistent parents, can all contribute to children feeling fearful and uncertain. This week, Dr Mary Anne Hall from EPEC Education, provides five ways teachers and carers can assist children in transition while they are at school and at day care.
Supervising children adequately is the most important skill an early childhood educator can have. While having the ability to provide children with a safe and secure environment may seem like an easy task, there are over 1000 cases annually, whereby Australian children are seriously hurt in the early childhood setting. These accidents range from fingers being jammed in doors; dislocation and broken bones; choking; scalds and burns; to children having adverse allergic reactions. These accidents can and do, have dire consequences. This week, Dr Mary Anne Hall from EPEC Education, highlights five factors that should be considered when supervising children.
