To make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, please consider the essential skills and knowledge below. You must: 

• Want to manage the day-to-day operations of a regulated outside school hours education and care service, including planning, managing, and implementing programs.
• Be a recent graduate of CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
• Like to work with primarily school-aged children (4-12 years old) and people.
• Have a kind, adaptable nature to cater to a diverse range of school-aged student needs.
• Be tolerant, patient, and willing to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, across various age ranges - children, colleagues, and parents.
• Have good observational skills to identify changes in behaviour, abilities, and environment.
• Have strong communication, writing, and active listening skills to liaise and work with a variety of individuals.
• Be able to handle the physical demands of manual tasks involved in child education work, including shifting educational and play equipment.
• Have effective planning and problem-solving skills with the ability to respond to immediate safety risks.
• Understand the importance of maintaining personal and professional boundaries.
• Be open-minded and non-judgemental.
• Be able to work independently and within a team.
• Be able to take directions and follow instructions.
• Be willing to learn skills to supervise staff and volunteers.
• Demonstrate professional ethical behaviour.

This course contains material of a sensitive nature, including trauma, mental health challenges, family and domestic violence, risk of suicide and/or other crises, which may be upsetting or triggering for some individuals. Please ensure you have sufficient support networks for the duration of your study. Support is also available through South Regional TAFE Student Services, who can direct you to our (including Counsellors, Aboriginal Services, Disability Services, and others.)

Time Commitment: You will need to allocate appropriate time to complete this course. This includes attending classes on-site and/or online as outlined in the study mode; undertake independent study outside of class hours, including private study, assessment preparation, and research to successfully complete this course; and complete the mandatory work placement as scheduled in your Work Placement Agreement.

You will need to complete:

• Mandatory supervised work placement, in a Regulated Education and Care Outside School Hours Care / Vacation Care Service. South Regional TAFE will arrange this suitable work placement within the industry for you.
• Working With Children Check (WWCC), prior to work placement. Only required if you are over 18 years old. This will incur an additional cost. To find out more about a WWCC click here.
• National Police Clearance, prior to work placement, if requested by the workplace. This clearance will incur an additional cost. To find out more about this clearance click here.
• Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) through the Department of Education WA, prior to work placement, if the after-school care facility is affiliated with the Department of Education, WA. No other police clearances will be accepted. Only required if you are over 18 years old. This clearance will incur an additional cost. To find out more about this clearance click here and WA Department of Education Confidential Declaration Form.
• Attendance at the work placement regularly and reliably.
• Travel to and from the suitable work environment to complete work placement.
• Work placement at times that may be outside of standard South Regional TAFE student hours.

Below are some of the important personal skills you will be required to develop and demonstrate during training. These skills are highly valued by industry:

• Respectful Communication and Empathy: connect with people from different backgrounds; share ideas effectively; build trust and strong relationships; converse school-aged children, parents and colleagues in English.
• Behaviour: good ethical behaviour; ability to stand and concentrate for long periods of time; fortitude to cope with the unpredictability of childcare.
• Attributes: dexterity; sensory abilities (sight, sound, touch) that enable observation of another person.
• Teamwork: collaborate respectfully with colleagues; be receptive to feedback.
• Problem Solving: find solutions; engage with challenges; ask questions; clarify and respond appropriately within your scope of practice.
• Initiative: motivation and proactivity; seek help when necessary.
• Leadership & Business Skills: Lead and manage effective workplace relationships; provide guidance to colleagues; supervise staff and volunteers; coordinate emergency responses; maintain Work, Health and Safety (WHS); foster holistic learning, development and wellbeing for school-aged children.
• Planning: good time management; prioritise and complete tasks efficiently and effectively.
• Self-Management: self-reflection and performance evaluation; acknowledge your successes and accept responsibility for any shortcomings.
• Learning: recognise your strengths; embrace new knowledge and experiences; personal and professional growth.
• Technology: adapt to new tools; access digital resources; integrate technology into your work.