Building your career working with children and young people requires certain training and skills. You may already have some of the needed skills depending on your life or experience.
Find out which Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses you can undertake and what financial support may be available to help pay for your course.
TAFE and training courses
The VET courses below will set you on the path to a career working with children and young people. They can also help you learn new skills if you are already working in the industry.
Depending on your needs, you can choose from different course loads and levels, from short courses and skill sets to certificate and diploma qualifications.
Many courses also include practical placements to give you hands-on experience. Find out more about TAFE and training.
Explore these working with children and young people training courses on the Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window):
- Auslan(opens in a new window)
- early childhood education and care(opens in a new window)
- English as an additional language (EAL)(opens in a new window)
- interpreting(opens in a new window)
- school age education, care and support(opens in a new window)
- spoken and written English(opens in a new window)
- youth work(opens in a new window).
Apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships are available in many industries. They give you the opportunity to learn on the job in a real workplace while studying a VET course through a TAFE or training provider. You earn a wage, and you can be full time or part time.
You can start an apprenticeship or traineeship at any stage of your career, even when you’re still at secondary school. On completion you’ll gain a nationally recognised qualification.
To find out more about apprenticeships and traineeships visit:
- Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority(opens in a new window)
- Apprenticeships Victoria(opens in a new window)
- Australian Apprenticeships(opens in a new window)
- Headstart apprenticeships and traineeships(opens in a new window) (school based apprenticeships and traineeships)
- Do an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Personal and transferable skills
‘Transferable skills’ are skills that you can use in different jobs, roles and careers. You may already have them or will learn them as your career progresses.
Some personal and transferable skills you might find helpful for working with children and young people include:
- compassion
- communication and listening
- relationship building
- teaching and nurturing
- ability to engage with children and young people from different backgrounds and with varying abilities
- collaboration and teamwork
- responsibility
- planning and organising.
Financial support for training
Free TAFE provides free or low cost access to selected courses and pre-apprenticeship courses for in demand jobs in Victoria.
You may be eligible for Free TAFE or Skills First funding to help pay for your course or apprenticeship.
Visit our financial assistance for training and other expenses page for more information.
Also visit the Victorian Government’s financial support to study and work in early childhood page.
Get help finding the right course
Need help deciding on a training course, or planning your next career step?
Contact the TAFE and Training Line for information via phone or email about training courses, training providers and government-subsidised training.
Contact your local Skills and Jobs Centre for free qualified, independent advice and support on training, career planning and finding a job in your local area.
Resources to plan your next steps
Visit our working with children and young people industry profile to find out about:
- what it’s like to work with children and young people, and some of the jobs you could do
- training and skills to work in the industry, and financial assistance to help pay for your course
- help getting a job working with children and young people, and industry job forecasts for Victoria
- other free resources and advice to plan your training and career.
Also visit our education and training services industry profile.
Explore growing industries in your region
Training and careers in your region
Explore training, skills and job opportunities in your area of Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of job you could do, and what training you’ll need.
Training and careers in growing industries
Learn about high demand industries in Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of jobs you could do, and what training you’ll need.
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