What childcare job description templates do you offer?

We provide 10 free childcare job description templates covering childcare educators, early childhood assistants, before/after school care workers, nursery assistants, room leaders, childcare centre cooks, family day care educators, vacation care workers, centre directors and educational leaders. All templates include duties, skills, qualifications, and award classifications aligned with Australian early childhood standards.

Do I need different job descriptions for different childcare roles?

Yes, childcare roles vary significantly in duties, qualifications and responsibilities. A Certificate III educator has different requirements to a Diploma-qualified room leader or centre director. Our templates are tailored for each specific role while maintaining consistency with the Children's Services Award 2010.

Can I customise these templates for my childcare service?

Yes, all templates are fully editable. You should adjust duties to match your specific service type (long day care, family day care, OSHC), add your service philosophy, and tailor qualifications to your needs. The templates provide a compliant foundation to build from.

Which modern award applies to childcare workers?

Most childcare workers are covered by the Children's Services Award 2010 (MA000120). This award covers employees in children's services including long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, and preschools. Some roles may fall under other awards depending on the specific employer.

What qualifications do childcare educators need in Australia?

Under the National Quality Framework (NQF), childcare educators must hold approved qualifications. Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the minimum for educators counted in ratios. Diploma-qualified educators are required for certain positions, and early childhood teachers (degree-qualified) are required for some services.

Do all childcare staff need Working with Children Checks?

Yes, Working with Children Checks (or equivalent) are mandatory for all people working with children in early childhood services. Requirements vary by state: NSW has the Working With Children Check, Victoria has the Working with Children Check, and other states have similar requirements. Checks must be current and verified by employers.

What staff-to-child ratios apply in childcare?

Ratios are set by the National Quality Framework and vary by age group. Common ratios include: 1:4 for children 0-24 months, 1:5 for children 24-36 months, 1:11 for children 3-5 years in centre-based care, and 1:15 for school-aged children in OSHC. Services must maintain these ratios at all times.

Do I need to include pay rates in job descriptions?

It's not legally required, but including indicative pay rates can attract more applicants and set clear expectations. You can reference the applicable classification level (e.g., "Level 3.1 under Children's Services Award") or provide specific hourly rates.

What training requirements apply to childcare staff?

Beyond qualifications, childcare staff typically require current First Aid certificate, CPR training, anaphylaxis management training, asthma management training, and child protection training. Some services also require food safety training and safe sleep training.

How far in advance must I provide childcare rosters?

Under the Children's Services Award, rosters must be provided at least 7 days in advance. Changes within this period generally require employee agreement unless due to unforeseen circumstances. Use rostering software to ensure compliance and improve communication.

What penalty rates apply to childcare workers?

Penalty rates vary by day of week and employment type. Higher rates apply for Saturdays (125-150%), Sundays (150-175%), and public holidays (200-250%). Early morning shifts before 7am also attract loadings. Casual staff receive a 25% loading. Use award interpretation tools to calculate rates accurately.

What breaks are childcare workers entitled to?

Under the Children's Services Award, employees working more than 5 hours are entitled to an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes. Programming time (non-contact time) is also required for educators to complete documentation. Services must ensure ratio compliance during breaks.

How do I manage staff across multiple rooms or age groups?

Clear job descriptions set baseline expectations. Combine these with room-specific procedures, regular team meetings, and supervisor oversight. Use HR software to track qualifications, certifications, and professional development across your team.

FREE JOB DESCRIPTIONS

100% free childcare job description templates

Complete job description templates for Australian early childhood services. Covering educators, room leaders, directors and support roles. Aligned with the Children's Services Award 2010. 100% free, fully editable and ready to download.

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Childcare job descriptions for australian services

Australia's early childhood education and care sector employs over 200,000 workers across long day care, family day care, preschools and outside school hours care. From certificate-qualified educators to diploma-holding room leaders and degree-qualified teachers, the sector requires skilled professionals at every level.

Most childcare workers are covered by the Children's Services Award 2010 (MA000120), which sets minimum pay rates, penalty rates, and conditions based on qualification levels and responsibilities. All staff must meet National Quality Framework requirements including Working with Children Checks and approved qualifications.

These templates provide compliant, industry-standard job descriptions that you can customise for your service. Each template includes duties, required skills, qualifications, mandatory training requirements and award classification guidance.

Early childhood educator working with children

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Click any role to view the full template and download as PDF

EDUCATORCERT III

Childcare Educator

Certificate III qualified educator providing care and education to children in early childhood settings. Implements EYLF programs and documents learning.

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SUPPORTENTRY-LEVEL

Early Childhood Assistant

Entry-level support role assisting qualified educators with daily activities, supervision, room setup and hygiene tasks. Ideal for those studying towards qualifications.

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OSHCSCHOOL AGE

Before/After School Care Worker

OSHC educator supervising school-aged children (5-12) before and after school. Plans activities, provides homework support and manages breakfast/afternoon tea.

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NURSERYINFANTS

Nursery Assistant

Specialist role providing nurturing care for babies and toddlers (0-2 years). Responsible for bottle feeding, nappy changes, sleep routines and sensory activities.

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LEADERSHIPDIPLOMA

Room Leader

Diploma-qualified senior educator leading a room team. Coordinates daily operations, mentors staff, develops programs and ensures quality documentation.

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SUPPORTFOOD SERVICE

Childcare Centre Cook

Prepares nutritious meals and snacks for children. Manages menu planning, dietary requirements, food safety compliance and kitchen operations.

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FDCHOME-BASED

Family Day Care Educator

Home-based educator providing care for small groups (up to 4 under school age) from approved residence. Implements EYLF programs independently.

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OSHCSEASONAL

Vacation Care Worker

Seasonal role supervising school-aged children during school holidays. Plans engaging activities, excursions and themed programs.

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MANAGEMENTDIRECTOR

Childcare Centre Director

Senior management role responsible for overall service operations. Leads staff team, ensures NQF compliance, manages families and oversees finances.

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LEADERSHIPCURRICULUM

Educational Leader

Senior educator leading curriculum development across the service. Mentors educators, ensures NQS Quality Area 1 compliance and drives quality programming.

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Award coverage for childcare workers

Understanding which award applies to your childcare staff

Children's services award 2010

MA000120 is the primary award covering employees in the children's services industry. This includes childcare educators, room leaders, centre directors, family day care educators, OSHC workers and support staff working in long day care, family day care, preschools and outside school hours care.

The award sets minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and conditions for childcare employees across different classification levels based on qualifications and responsibilities.

National quality framework

The NQF sets consistent standards for early childhood education across Australia. It establishes qualification requirements, staff-to-child ratios, and quality standards that all approved services must meet. Compliance is monitored through assessment and rating against the National Quality Standard.

All staff must have appropriate qualifications, Working with Children Checks, and meet ongoing professional development requirements.

Classification levels under the Children's services award

The Children's Services Award classifies employees into levels based on qualifications and responsibilities:

Level 2: Support worker without approved qualifications, or studying towards Certificate III
Level 3: Qualified educator holding Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Level 4: Diploma-qualified educator or room leader with additional responsibilities
Level 5: Senior educator, educational leader, or coordinator role
Level 6-7: Centre director or service manager with overall service responsibility

Ensure you correctly classify employees to meet award compliance. Use award interpretation software to calculate accurate pay rates.

Who should use these templates?

These job descriptions are designed for Australian early childhood services

Long day care

Family day care

Preschools

OSHC programs

Vacation care

Childcare chains

Common childcare hiring challenges

Clear job descriptions help address these issues

Qualification requirements

Ensuring staff hold approved qualifications for their role

Shift pattern expectations

Early starts, split shifts and ratio coverage unclear

Programming expectations

Documentation, observations and EYLF requirements

Pay expectations mismatch

Unclear award rates and classification levels

Physical demands

Lifting, bending and active play requirements

Room or age group fit

Matching staff skills to nursery, toddlers or preschool

Well-written job descriptions attract candidates who understand and want the role.

What's included in these templates?

Every childcare job description template includes

Detailed duties and responsibilities

Required skills and attributes

Qualification and training requirements

Award classification guidance

Working conditions and hours

Physical demands and environment

All templates are fully editable and designed for Australian early childhood industry compliance.

Why clear job descriptions matter

Without clear job descriptions

Unqualified candidates applying for educator roles
Expectation mismatches about shift patterns
Confusion about programming and documentation duties
Time wasted on poor-fit interviews

With clear job descriptions

Qualified candidates with right certifications apply
Clear understanding of hours and room placement
Role expectations aligned from day one
Faster, more efficient hiring process

Legal disclaimer

These templates are designed to reflect Australian workplace standards and early childhood industry practices at the time of publication. They are provided as a general guide only and do not constitute legal advice.

You should review and tailor each template to suit your service type, qualification requirements, modern award, enterprise agreement and specific requirements. Always verify NQF compliance with your regulatory authority. For complex situations, seek independent legal or HR advice.

Why childcare job descriptions matter

The early childhood sector is highly regulated with strict qualification requirements. Clear job descriptions ensure candidates understand the qualifications needed, training requirements, and specific duties expected. This helps attract qualified applicants and reduces compliance risks.

Childcare work requires specific skills in child development, programming, documentation and family communication. Well-structured templates help candidates self-select based on accurate role expectations, reducing turnover and improving retention.

Whether you're hiring your first educator or expanding a large childcare team, these templates provide a professional, compliant foundation that saves time and improves hiring outcomes.

FAQ

Childcare job description FAQ

We provide 10 free childcare job description templates covering childcare educators, early childhood assistants, before/after school care workers, nursery assistants, room leaders, childcare centre cooks, family day care educators, vacation care workers, centre directors and educational leaders. All templates include duties, skills, qualifications, and award classifications aligned with Australian early childhood standards.
Yes, childcare roles vary significantly in duties, qualifications and responsibilities. A Certificate III educator has different requirements to a Diploma-qualified room leader or centre director. Our templates are tailored for each specific role while maintaining consistency with the Children's Services Award 2010.
Yes, all templates are fully editable. You should adjust duties to match your specific service type (long day care, family day care, OSHC), add your service philosophy, and tailor qualifications to your needs. The templates provide a compliant foundation to build from.
Most childcare workers are covered by the Children's Services Award 2010 (MA000120). This award covers employees in children's services including long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, and preschools. Some roles may fall under other awards depending on the specific employer.

Simplify childcare staff rostering and payroll

Once you've hired your team, manage them efficiently with RosterElf. Handle complex multi-room rosters, calculate award rates automatically, track qualification expiries, and simplify staff communication — all in one platform built for Australian childcare services.

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