Department of Education and Training
Leadership, management and
support
A qualification in early childhood provides career opportunities beyond working directly with children,
including leadership, management and support roles.
Leaders, managers and support staff are in demand as they are increasingly needed to deal with the
more complex responsibilities in the early childhood sector. Effective leaders and managers are those
who can see the big picture at a community and national level and are able to identify issues and
challenges, and take action to address them.
Working in an early childhood service
The director of an early childhood service leads the development and implementation of the
educational program and works with the educators to ensure the service has a quality program in
place. They may also supervise, mentor and arrange professional development for educators in their
service. The director usually takes the lead when working with families, teachers, professionals and
other service providers in the wider community to coordinate meeting the needs of children.
Many directors also have management responsibilities that can include administration, developing
policies and procedures, ensuring the service is complying with laws and regulations, managing
finances and budgets, reporting to committees, and making sure that buildings and equipment are
maintained and replaced.
To comply with the National Quality Framework, early childhood services need to employ an
educational leader. Educators in this role lead the implementation of educational programs and guide
other educators in their planning, reflection and practices. The educational leader may be the director,
but can also be any educator with particular qualities and a passion for curriculum.
Opportunities outside an early childhood service
There are a wide variety of opportunities available beyond working in an early childhood service.
These can include:
• coordinating and managing one or several early childhood services
• assisting services to understand and meet the requirements of the National Quality
Framework
• working for an organisation that provides training and support to early childhood services
across a region
• teaching and research roles in universities or training organisations.
You could also lead and manage your own business as the self-employed owner of an early
childhood service.
If employed by government, you could work either in a head office or in the community. For example,
authorised early childhood officers operate in the community to assess services under the National
Quality Framework and monitor their compliance with relevant laws and regulations. There are also
head office roles in government where you could be involved in developing early childhood policy and
legislation.
There are other opportunities in early childhood that require specialist skills and qualifications. These
include either working directly with children who have additional needs, such as a physical or
intellectual disability or a behavioural issue, or supporting and advising staff who work with children
with additional needs.
How to qualify
Leadership, management and support roles in early childhood are often held by qualified and
experienced early childhood educators and teachers.
Further study can give you the flexibility and scope to move within the sector. Having a postgraduate
qualification, such as a Masters degree (e.g. Masters in Special Needs Education), PhD (Doctor of
Philosophy) or a graduate diploma can also open up many opportunities.
You can also enhance your skills by participating in professional development provided by a range of
educational and industry groups.
More information
Visit earlychildhood.qld.gov.au/inspirethefuture to find out more about careers in early childhood.
Miranda Slape
Early Childhood Adviser for Children with Additional Needs, The Crèche
& Kindergarten Association Limited (Sunshine Coast)
“There are more options in Early Childhood – particularly in additional needs.”
Children’s early development and learning are critical periods where early childhood educators can
play an important role. I started at C&K as a teacher and an opportunity came up to be an adviser for
children with additional needs.
“I provide specialist support for educators who are teaching children with additional needs.”
C&K has around 370 kindergartens and 30 long day care services across the state, educating
children from birth to five years old, as well as some OSHC services. In my current role I provide
specialist support for educators who are teaching children with additional needs. I provide educators
with resources and advice and connect them with referral pathways and community agencies that can
provide support and guidance.
There is great satisfaction seeing a child with additional needs participate fully within the program –
whether that includes adapting the program or environment, accessing specialist equipment or a
social skills program. I’ve seen first-hand improved behaviour from children and enriched relationships
between a mother and her child which have resulted in long term benefits. It is crucial that there is a
supportive relationship between the home, the early childhood education service and specialist or
referral partners.
My reasoning for choosing to major in Early Childhood instead of Primary education was the playbased approach to teaching and learning. Early childhood teachers play an important role in the life of
children up to eight years as they are the crucial years for development and learning. This is the time
when children are gaining an understanding of who they are and the world around them.
“Every day is different.”
Some days I’m in the field visiting a service or delivering a workshop. Other days I’m in the office. You
are never on your own – you work in a team. It’s a very social and collaborative role.
“My skills could be used in other career sectors.”
I definitely think that the skills used in this role could transfer to another field. The communication
skills required to do this role would easily transfer into another position and are essential skills when
working in a team. In early childhood you are never working on your own and as a result you learn to
work effectively in a team. If I am visiting a service and observe a child behaving in a certain way – I
have to be able to think on my feet in order to suggest strategies or tools that could be implemented
to support that child.
Deborah Parker
Authorised Early Childhood Officer (Department of Education and
Training, North Queensland region)
“It’s not just finger paints and Play-Doh … it’s very rewarding.”
When my daughter started school, I volunteered at childcare services in my local area and then got
work as a paid assistant. Over the 21 years I’ve worked in the industry, I’ve studied to help me take
up a variety of roles – from field work and coordinating services, to management and mentoring
students with disabilities to help them gain education qualifications.
The training has given me so many strategies – for example, working with children with behavioural
needs, or helping parents who need assistance. It’s not just fingerpaints and Play- Doh – it’s quite
hard work, but it’s very rewarding.
“Over the years I have studied while working in the industry.”
In the beginning I didn’t need any qualifications to be a volunteer or be a paid ‘unqualified’ assistant,
however, over the years I have studied while working in the industry.
I now hold a Certificate III in Child Care, a Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services,
and am trained in first aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis. I studied a Diploma in Community Services
(Disability) and when working in a managerial role I completed formal qualifications to gain my
Diploma in Human Resources. I have attended multiple workshops, forums, symposiums and
conferences as I believe it is important to continually update, refresh and reflect on practice.
All of my qualifications contribute to my current role with the Department. I have also completed the
authorised officer training conducted by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Authority, which
is required of everyone who is involved in assessing and rating early childhood services. And each
year I undertake the Australian Children’s Education and Care Authority’s reliability testing training so
I can continue to assess and rate services against the National Quality Standards.
“I work in a modern office but do a lot of travelling in the field.”
As an Authorised Early Childhood Officer, I work with a team which goes out to assess and rate the
services under the National Quality Framework and monitor compliance under the legislation.
I work in a modern office in Townsville but do a lot of travelling in the field – as far west as the Gulf of
Carpentaria to Mount Isa and as far south as Proserpine and east into the Whitsunday Islands. We
also support indigenous communities to integrate the Early Years Learning Framework. I love it!
“It is fulfilling knowing I was an important person in so many lives.”
I am passionate about quality education and care for children. The sheer joy of watching a little
person light up when then achieve something new is priceless.