lulaloops

I'm looking to move to Australia in the very near future and most of the child care jobs over there require childcare coordinators...I have just completed a BA Honours degree in Early Childhood Studies with Practitioner Status...the practitioner status is a qualification needed in order to work with children over in the UK, as well as a CRB (Criminal check similar the australian blue card) does this practitoner status qualify as coordinator or are they two different job titles?

Any answers will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Kingseat

From what I know the co-ordinator bit means you have to have run your own centre (well, not your own but managed it) with staff and a certain number of children.

paddyo

I can second that. With the OP's quals she can get RPL ( Recognition of Prior Learning) and use that to run her own Child Care centre, either as Manager or Owner.

GillyG

I have a BA (hons) in Primary Education and Teaching specialising in the Advanced Study of Early Years and am employed as a teacher/assistant director in a great child care centre. PM me if you want any more info re: gaining employment.

lulaloops

Thanks for the feedback.
Also, unfortunately i cannot pm as havent uploaded enough posts.. but any advice about employment over there would be greatly appreciated, so if you do have any then can you email me at <snip>.
Thanks,
Louise

jillandsi

Hi Louise,

Do you have other qualifications and experience i.e. most people with the BA are already in childcare with NVQ/NNEB etc or have done it with the intention of doing the PGCE and becoming a teacher. I had an NNEB and an ADCE and got given an A* (the highest level in the private sector and the one needed for co-ordinator jobs), however I had relevent experience as well. The BA is obviously higher than my quals but I don't know if the experience would be required also. If you are going to WA you can go on www.communities.wa.gov.au (other states will have similiar) that's where I applied to have my skills recognised while I was still in the UK. You will also need a first aid cert and working with children's check.

Jillian

lulaloops

Hi Jillian,

Thanks for that information, has been really useful. No i dont have previous NVQ qualifications, but have experience in working in childcare centres, as spent 8 months in a extended childminding network centre and then went on to university to do this degree, originally applied to do the NVQ course but was told it would be better for me to do the BA. Within the first two years of the course i also was working towards this Practitioner Status, which involved going to numerous placements including special needs schools, public schools and nurseries. I have had the criminal records bureau check over here in the UK for working in my gap year and again a year later as this was compulsory with the university course. I haven't done the first aid course yet but will be looking into that for the near future.

Louise

jillandsi

Hi Louise,

Based on your experience I don't imagine that you would get a job as a child-care co-ordinator even though you have the qualification. You would prob have to get a job in a centre and then work your way up, which seems a waste of a BA. Have you not got time to do your PGCE and then you can come over as a qualified Early Years teacher with better pay and prospects. Or at least look into recognition of prior learning for the BA over here which includes qualified teacher status.

Good luck

Jillian

paddyo

http://www.skillsrecognition.nsw.gov.au/

melinscotland

Hey ive ust joined the site and saw your posts . Im in the process of doing my skills assesment with tra . I have my svq early years level 2 and 3 in childacare and education and im working on level 4 due to finish april 2011. Im goingto try and come in as a nursery co ordinotor . From what ive read my 2 and 3 are enough as i have 10 years of workinga s a room supervisor . is this correct ? any help would be grand x

sammyg

I got my pr visa with exactly the same degree as you with senior practitioner status. I didn't run the nursery/school i was in as it was a government infant and nursery school. I worked in the foundation stage and i just got my head teacher to sign witness statements saying that i'd managed afterschool clubs/breakfast clubs..gymnastic clubs etc, just to show i had some senior experience. As i'd never dealt with budgets we just had to work on what i'd sort of done which was control the PE budget for the school (but some of it was slightly exagerated!!)

If you have any questions pm me. I got my visa in 2007 after CCC first went on the MODL.
Once you're here and you have PR they don't give a flying fart what you did in your visa app. There are no posts advertised in my region for child care coordinator. I work in NSW and earn double the money i earned in the UK as an Pre school Teacher - love it

johnsons

hi i have only just joined the site to, we are hoping to move out to melbourne in jan 2011 ( me, husband and three boys ages 10,7 &2 ) on a 457 visa . i at the moment work in a pre-school have done for about 6 years i have level 2 and 3 and stand in as deputy to cover holidays/sickness would love to work when we come out to help make new friends, do you think i would find a job ok and is there any websites i could be look at ? thanks

melinscotland

Hey did you go in as a nursery co ordinor ? I think i should be able to get in on that my boss have put depute manager which is what i do just havent got the contract yet .due to get it in nov . Are the nurserys much diffrent from uk ? do they take from 3 months to 5 years ? x