Childcare Centre Manager- 134111

Hi All,

I just wanted to clear up the requirements for Childcare Centre Manager to get a positive skills assessment from TRA. There seems to be a lot of incorrect information out there. So I just received the good news today my skills assessment has come back as 'successful'- Fist pump!

To help others in a similar situation- you DO NOT need a degree. TRA have stated that a qualification equivalent to the Diploma of Children's Services in Australia is sufficient. Of course as this is a minimum requirement to be Manager of a setting over there.

My advice is to apply to ACECQA and have your qualification approved first. I done this in August so I could add to my application and prove I was eligible to work as a Childcare Centre Manager by the Early Childhood People!

My qualifications:

*2006- Montessori Diploma in Montessori Teaching -1 year

*2008- Level 5 in Early Childhood- 1 year

*2016- Foundation Degree in Early Years (UK level 5) -2 years

Now they would only consider post qualifying experience so my 2 year Foundation Degree was not going to add anything to my application really to be honest.

I have worked in early years since 2006 starting off as a Assistant Educator, Montessori teacher, Room Leader, Supervisor, Deputy Manager and Manager. For the last 3 years and 7 months I've been in Senior management (Deputy Manager and Manager although to be fair as Deputy I done everything I do now too!). My setting is large I have about 78 children on the register and currently 20 staff members.

I submitted around 300 certified copies of all types of evidence I could find on employment, professional development, qualifications etc to prove my role and experience.

Any questions I'm happy to help.:hug: It's a minefield out there lots of conflicting information!

This is really interesting information, thanks for letting us know your outcome, bet your made up. I also always thought you needed a degree but it just goes to show. Obviously you have heaps of work experience working as a manager so if say someone did have the degree do you know how much work experience they would need? I also have the level 3 diploma and on my third year of the early years degree so I'm just wondering if I topped up to the BA Honours degree would this be enough?

Hi Lparker,

I didn't bother to top up my Foundation Degree as I knew it would delay things and I emailed TRA last year asking for a guide on what they are deeming equivalent. They replied:

'Your employment will be comparable if you have worked in your trade for a minimum of three years after the award of your qualification and can demonstrate currency by having worked for the last 12 months in the last 36 monthsat the required skill level.'

To be honest, I do not think just having the Degree would be sufficient for 'Childcare Centre Manager' as you would need to prove experience in this. TRA do not only assess your qualifications, it's a assessment of skills and experience. I think what you should do is top up your degree so it is four years worth, then you can apply as a 'Early Childhood Teacher' and you do not need the experience only teaching practice - 45 days or something? Alternatively get sponsored on a 187 RSMS as a Senior Educator/Group Leader?

Yes I thought this might be the case. The 187 route is what I'm going to try to go for, if I'm able to get Sponsorship that is. I've been running my own childcare business from home for the last five years and now have 2 assistants but I'm guessing this isn't the same as running a childcare centre. For the early childhood teacher do you know if you need a pgce for this or just a 4 year degree. Thanks for your advice

I think it's because they assess it as a trade rather than education tbh! I was looking at the same route if this failed, I emailed around a couple of the big childcare centres in regional Australia (but not completely outback!) asking for advice regarding sponsorship and had a couple of emails back- which I was surprised by. They told me to have my qualifications assessed by ACECQA and then get back to them with the outcome and we could proceed. I lived in Oz for two years in the past and that have jobs there listed on my CV so I think employers know I have been there and it's not just a dream. For the 'Pre-Primary School Teacher' skilled visa you would need a 4 year degree in Early Years/Early Childhood no need for PGCE unless you were wanting to teach in Primary or if you had lets say a non-education degree you would need the PGCE to top up and specialise in Early Years to get that visa if that makes sense?

I have also emailed a couple of employers in Perth and was quite surprised to get replies asking me to get back in touch with them nearer to the time we are wanting to go out there. I also visited a couple of recruitment agencies when we were out there last year who seemed pretty positive. Think I will see if I can get the Sponsorship and if all else fails continue to study to get the 4 years, I know early years teachers are quite in demand out there so hopefully plenty of opportunities. Hope all goes well with your visa process, exciting times

That's great news! When I contacted TRA about it about 9 years ago now, they said you needed either a degree OR five years experience running a centre with at least twenty children. Things are always changing though. :-)

Yes, it used to be a diploma, then it went to a degree (odd seeing how it's a TRA assessment) and now they've gone back to accepting diplomas again!

Three years (or more) post-qual work experience has always been a requirement though - remember that TRA count 'full time' as being 38 hours per week or more - paid.

Anything below this will be considered pro rata.

Regards,

Richard

Hi

Big thanks for positing this information.

So my wife and I are about to apply under the child care centre manager as well.

Back in 2008 we had a successful TRA as a child care coordinator, this was based on a qualification at NNEB level 3,

however my wife didn't really have the work experience at manager level. But we thought we would take a chance, but the final decision was NO

On our final decision letter they explained she did not have the right experience, which we kind of expected BUT they also provided the skill level for

the position as requiring a degree, yet stated we had a favourable decision from TRA as a child centre coordinator.

So we are now so confused do you need a degree or not????

At this point we are somewhat older and need more points.

So we are hoping that the level 3 NNEB is still enough plus the 8 years work experience as a nursery manger is OK.

My wife does have a BA Hons in early years but did not complete this until 2015 ( 7.5 years part time study), so if they take this as the date qualified

then she will not have enough work experience.

Its so confusing and we are worried that we will spend thousands of $ and get to the end and they say you need a degree...

Any light you shed on this will be most helpful.

Thanks

Hi

Big thanks for positing this information.

So my wife and I are about to apply under the child care centre manager as well.

Back in 2008 we had a successful TRA as a child care coordinator, this was based on a qualification at NNEB level 3,

however my wife didn't really have the work experience at manager level. But we thought we would take a chance, but the final decision was NO

On our final decision letter they explained she did not have the right experience, which we kind of expected BUT they also provided the skill level for

the position as requiring a degree, yet stated we had a favourable decision from TRA as a child centre coordinator.

So we are now so confused do you need a degree or not????

 

At this point we are somewhat older and need more points.

So we are hoping that the level 3 NNEB is still enough plus the 8 years work experience as a nursery manger is OK.

My wife does have a BA Hons in early years but did not complete this until 2015 ( 7.5 years part time study), so if they take this as the date qualified

then she will not have enough work experience.

 

Its so confusing and we are worried that we will spend thousands of $ and get to the end and they say you need a degree...

Any light you shed on this will be most helpful.

 

Thanks

Hi Lucas, can I ask first who said final decision was no immigration or TRA?

Hi

Immigration said the final decision was no.

But I must be clear that my wife did not have the work experience, like I said we did take a punt as

we had a positive TRA assessment.

So my wife qualified with a NNEB in 2000, when we were in QLD we had it assessed and was told it was equivalent to a OZ diploma,

and this is all we needed. WE had spoke to someone involved with advising immigration on qualifications, and she informed us

you don't need a degree even if thats what they state.

So now we are a little unsure what todo, I think we will apply to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

to see if her NNEB is still considered a diploma as it was achieved pre 2012.

I hope yours goes well, I am hoping our application was just based on experience and indeed not the issue around the degree.

Its so confusing and costly.

Hi

Immigration said the final decision was no.

But I must be clear that my wife did not have the work experience, like I said we did take a punt as

we had a positive TRA assessment.

So my wife qualified with a NNEB in 2000, when we were in QLD we had it assessed and was told it was equivalent to a OZ diploma,

and this is all we needed. WE had spoke to someone involved with advising immigration on qualifications, and she informed us

you don't need a degree even if thats what they state.

So now we are a little unsure what todo, I think we will apply to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

to see if her NNEB is still considered a diploma as it was achieved pre 2012.

I hope yours goes well, I am hoping our application was just based on experience and indeed not the issue around the degree.

Its so confusing and costly.

Why dont int you speak with an agent and stop risking further money?

Hi

Immigration said the final decision was no.

But I must be clear that my wife did not have the work experience, like I said we did take a punt as

we had a positive TRA assessment.

So my wife qualified with a NNEB in 2000, when we were in QLD we had it assessed and was told it was equivalent to a OZ diploma,

and this is all we needed. WE had spoke to someone involved with advising immigration on qualifications, and she informed us

you don't need a degree even if thats what they state.

So now we are a little unsure what todo, I think we will apply to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

to see if her NNEB is still considered a diploma as it was achieved pre 2012.

I hope yours goes well, I am hoping our application was just based on experience and indeed not the issue around the degree.

Its so confusing and costly.

The post above from Richard Gregan shows that he is wel lup on the requirements -why don't you have a consultation with him? I does sound like things have changed a few times over the years so getting up to date info would be to your benefit.

Wow that's quite worrying! Did you have an agent at the time? I know that TRA have upped their assessment process as they require you to have worked for at least 3 years specifically the last 12 months experience in a nursery a minimum of 20 children from 0-6 years. That's pretty annoying though if TRA gave you positive and they are the assessing authority they should be correct like. I emailed TRA back in 2015 and they stated the above. I have been invited to apply for my visa yesterday so I hope that things have changed and they're not going to fail me because of no degree. Your right though either you use the NNEB and experience otherwise you won't pass as the degree was obtained after the experience so that won't be relevant. Apply to ACECQA or have a look at their qualification checker online it might already be there, then as the others have suggested speak to an agent.

Thats exactly what we did and have done.

When we applied last time we got professional advice from a registered agent

and someone from the panel that advises immigration on child care matters.

All believed with the TRA conformation of a positive skills assement everything would be fine, again back to my point

I don't know if it was just work experience that we failed on, or as referenced in the decision

letter from immigration that you need a degree for this role.

Yesterday I was in contact with an agent seeking up-to date advice, I provided the letters and all the information

from our previous attempt. They could not say 100% if we needed a degree or not.

The feeling was that if TRA give a positive asssement then you should be ok, but clearly we have been here before

and don't want to spend thousands of $ with the same out come.

Hence why I am asking on the forum about others experiences and the ongoing confusion.

@Dragonflygecko, sorry didn't mean to worry you.

As you may have seen from my reply to the others I had a reply from an agent last night

and they quoted the guidance manual that immigration and agents use.

Which indicated that the assessing authority (TRA) is who they take advice from with regards to if you are qualified or not.

So I think I am just being over worried about the degree thing and indeed the work experience was the issue.

it would be madness if TRA are putting people through and then immigration said no.

Also I think what could be in your favour is when we applied in 2008 there was no EOI, so I would imagine

they filter people out who are not going to be successful then.

Just my opinion and far from being an expert.

@Dragonflygecko what qualifications did you have ACECQA credit and what was the result?

The NNEB is on the old list and was accredited to being a Australian diploma, but looking at other posts someone has commented

that theirs was just accredited a level 3 from ACECQA.

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knew if I did top up my Early Years Degree so it was a 4 year Ba Honours Degree and I applied for the skills visa for the 'pre-primary teacher' how do you obtain the 45 days supervised teaching? Can this be done as a Volunteer in a centre? Or would I be better doing the PGCE as I imagine this will include the 45 days supervised teaching? I have been doing my degree via the Open University so I don't know if this will make much difference. Also can anyone please clarify if I definitely would not qualify as 'Childcare Centre Manager' I seem to have the correct qualifications but as my work experience is running my own business from home would this qualify? Thanks

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knew if I did top up my Early Years Degree so it was a 4 year Ba Honours Degree and I applied for the skills visa for the 'pre-primary teacher' how do you obtain the 45 days supervised teaching? Can this be done as a Volunteer in a centre? Or would I be better doing the PGCE as I imagine this will include the 45 days supervised teaching? I have been doing my degree via the Open University so I don't know if this will make much difference. Also can anyone please clarify if I definitely would not qualify as 'Childcare Centre Manager' I seem to have the correct qualifications but as my work experience is running my own business from home would this qualify? Thanks

Volunteer work will not fulfill the 45 days of supervised teaching.

So do you mean a uni placement wouldn't count? It would have to be a permanent job working as a teacher to gain the 45 days? Thanks

The minimum 45 days' teaching practice *must* be undertaken as part of the teaching qualification - it can't be added later.

Regards,

Richard

Thanks Richard so if the open university ba honours degree didn't include any sort of placement than I'm guessing I would have to do the pgce.

@Lucas2017 It's hard to know but I think you're right, the degree was needed if you didn't have 5 years experience as a manager which can substitute the qualification. TRA guidelines now are diploma level qualification + 3 years post qualifying experience managing a nursery with minimum of 20 children. My qualification was assessed as an "approved diploma level education & care qualification" by ACECQA. How confusing though! Surely it should be just clear cut like other professions. :arghh:

@Lparker15 to qualify for childcare centre manager with TRA you'd need to have children ranging from 0-6 minimum of 20 of them to be considered. You're self employed too which poses an additional problem trying to prove it all. Check out the registration requirements for pre primary school teacher in the state you wish to move to as you definitely need teaching practice. Try another university if the open university doesn't include this.

@Dragonflygecko, its so frustrating.

Too add to all this we have found out today that the NNEB my wife has may only be a only a level 3 certificate according to ACECQA website..

So the plan is to submit all her qualifications to ACECQA and hope that they award a diploma based on the level 4 models in the early days in her degree.

That way we may just scrape by with the work experience.

Worst case scenario we have to wait another year or so

Keep us posted with your outcome, fingers crossed.