Teaching Kindergarten in Victoria, Australia: A Guide for International Teachers

Why teach kindergarten in Victoria?

There is a job for you

From metropolitan Melbourne to regional and rural areas, there is a job for you in Victoria's early childhood sector. With record investment and significant reforms there is a high demand for early childhood education professionals within kindergarten services.

Career opportunities

Victoria is leading Australia in investing in early childhood education and supporting the experienced professionals who work in the sector. In 2022, two-years of kindergarten was made available across the state.

In 2023 kinder programs were made free for every 3 and 4-year old at participating services. And in 2025, Victoria started rolling out Pre-Prep in stages across the state - which will increase funded kinder hours from 15 to 30 hours a week in the year before school. All this reform and investment means lots of opportunities to advance your career.

Financial support

Individual incentives worth $9,000 AUD, plus relocation support, are available for all qualified early childhood professionals moving or migrating from overseas.

There is extra financial support available if you relocate to Victoria with your family or dependents.

Relocating alone:

• $6,000 AUD for those moving or migrating from overseas

Relocating with family or dependents:

• $8,000 AUD for those moving or migrating from overseas

You may also be eligible for an additional Location Incentive if you take up a role at selected services delivering kindergarten programs. Location Incentives range from $9,000 to $50,000, depending on the service’s location and circumstances.

Find an early childhood job in Victoria

The Early Childhood Jobs website connects early childhood education professionals with employers seeking to fill vacancies across Victoria.

Search and apply for a job

The Early Childhood Jobs website is free to use and lists employment opportunities for early childhood education professionals. Employers whose services are pre-approved for location incentives can tag this in their job ads, which allows job seekers to search by incentive amount.

If you are from overseas, the Department of Education in Victoria also provides specialist recruitment agency support for early childhood education professionals to find a new role and successfully relocate.

You are encouraged to register with one of these specialist recruitment agencies. These agencies provide expert support to the sector to help find early childhood education staff seeking a new career or a change.

Discover Melbourne and Victoria

There are job opportunities, and endless possibilities, available across Victoria. Discover Victoria’s diverse regions here.

Visa information - migrating to Australia

New Zealand citizens with a valid New Zealand passport can visit, live and work in Australia without applying for a tourist or work visa.

If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you will need to apply for a visa.

You can explore visa options available for early childhood professionals at the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.

Additionally, Victoria offers nomination for the following 2 visas under the skilled migration visa nomination program:

• Skilled nominated visa (subclass 190) — a permanent visa that allows skilled migrants to live and work anywhere within Victoria, including Melbourne
• Skilled regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) — a 5-year provisional visa for living and working in regional Victoria, with a pathway to permanent residency after 3 years.

Key features of Victoria’s skilled visa nomination program:

• adds extra points to an applicant’s overall Australian visa application points test (5 points for subclass 190, 15 points for subclass 491)
• does not require a job offer or employer sponsorship
• provides unrestricted work rights in accordance with visa conditions
• offers a pathway to permanent residency

Victorian visa nomination is free of charge. If you are applying for a skilled migration visa you will also need to complete a migration skills assessment with the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. Find out more here.

You can read more about migrating to Australia on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.

Early childhood professionals in Victoria

In Victoria, early childhood services, including kindergartens are owned and operated by a variety of entities. The Victorian Government funds and regulates the sector, and provides funding and support to recruit early childhood professionals.

The Victorian Government also employs early childhood professionals through Early Learning Victoria, which is a government-owned organisation. The first 4 centres opened in 2025, with a further 14 centres due to open across Victoria in 2026. A total of 50 centres will open by.

The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets out the minimum qualification requirements for working with children in a kindergarten setting.

Early Childhood professionals are encouraged to check the ACECQA Qualifications Checker to determine if their qualifications are recognised in Victoria.

Registration as an early childhood teacher in Victoria

To work as an early childhood teacher in Victoria you must be registered as an early childhood teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). VIT will issue you with a registration card, noting the:

• type of registration (full or provisional)
• the speciality area (Early Childhood/Primary)
• expiry date.

The VIT register of teachers can be utilised to verify registration status.

Registration in Victoria is only required for Early Childhood Teachers and not required for professionals employed as educators.

How do I register to be an early childhood teacher in Victoria?

The registration processes can take between 4 – 6 weeks once all documentation has been submitted. It is recommended that applicants gather a copy of all documentation required for registration including ACECQA qualifications assessment if required (see below), before beginning this process.

Register as an early childhood teacher in Victoria

To support the registration process, individuals should access the VIT Registration Evidence Checklist to avoid delays in processing applications.

Individuals can first check their qualification on the Qualifications Checker on the website.

Those registered in New Zealand may be eligible to apply to VIT for registration using the Mutual Recognition pathway.

Teachers registered with VIT are required to undertake an annual registration process.

I can’t see my qualification on the pre-approved qualifications list

Individuals whose qualifications do not meet the pre-approved qualifications under mutual recognition can apply for an Early Childhood Qualification Assessment through ACECQA at Early Childhood Qualification Assessment. Once assessed and approved, individuals can then apply to VIT for registration.

How long does it take to register?

Most applications take between 4-6 weeks to assess once all documentation has been submitted. In some cases, applications may be assessed more quickly. VIT factsheets are available to assist teachers with understanding the registration process.

I can’t see my qualification on the pre-approved qualifications list

If you hold an overseas qualification that is not on the NQF approved qualifications list and would like to teach in Victoria, your qualification will need to be assessed for equivalence by ACECQA. You can apply to ACECQA for an early childhood qualification assessment. ACECQA aims to undertake an initial check within 10 days and to finalise applications within 60 days of receipt of a complete application.