If you love being around children…

Working alongside children at an early learning or childcare centre means you become an instrumental part of their welfare, their health, and their education. As a childcare worker you’ll be interacting with children throughout the day: Through communication like story time.

Childcare centre managers direct and supervise child care workers, develop and implement programs to enhance the lives of young Australians and provide care before-school, after-school, during the day and on vacations.

Employment in this qualification has risen significantly in the last 5 years and is expected to keep growing. This course would be suited to anyone who likes working with children and would like to play a part in nurturing and developing young minds.

Childcare centre workers provide care and supervision for children in programs, such as long day care and occasional care, in childcare centres, hospitals and educational centres.

DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreements) is special kind of TSS Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482).

Therefore to be eligible for this visa you must still find an employer that is willing to sponsor your visa in that area. However each specific DAMA region has their own requirements for sponsorship and there can be exceptions to the requirements for occupations.

As an example, I will provide a general overview of the requirements for the occupation of Child Care Worker through the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement.

These requirements are general in nature and can change depending on occupation and location.

Nomination
You must still be nominated by an employer in the occupation of Child Care Worker. This employer must be granted a labour agreement through their specific DAMA region.

English Requirement
Applicants may be eligible to apply for this visa if they English is lower than the standard IELT’s 5.0 overall with no score lower than 4.5 (or equivalent English test).

Employment contract
You must be offered an employment contract from your employer. The salary must meet the standard TSMIT (however there is concessions for Child Care Worker). Applicants must be paid the Australian Market salary with a minimum salary as low as approximately $48,510 per year in certain occupations. For standard 482 visa applicants, the minimum salary acceptable is $53,900

Age
Be under 45 years of age.

Education Qualifications
Applicants must hold a minimum education qualification of the Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care or above.

Work Experience
Applicants will need to have 2 years post qualification work experience – experience gained after completing the Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care. Therefore work experience completed after you have finished the Cert III, but still studying the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care may be suitable. Experience gained when working in the industry on the graduate work visa and bridging visa may also be included.

Skill Assessment
For the occupation of Child Care Worker, the applicant must hold a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority

What is the pathway to Permanent Residency?
Unlike the standard employer sponsored TSS visas, studying in a DAMA area may lead to the opportunity of permanent residency.

After you have worked in the occupation for 3 years, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 visa.