Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Why this shortage: Long training gap
Snapshot
Median salary
A$116,500
Full-time annual
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Designs, plans, teaches and evaluates educational programs and practices for young children, including following and implementing an approved learning framework in an early childhood setting.
Alternative titles
Kindergarten (Pre-primary School) Teacher · Preschool Teacher
Scope note: Early Childhood Educators and Room Leaders, preschool directors and Special Education Teachers are excluded from this occupation. Early Childhood Educators and Room Leaders are included in Unit Group 4311 Early Childhood Educators and Room Leaders. Preschool directors are included in Occupation 141231 Children's Education and Care Service Director. Special Education Teachers are included in Occupation 251431 Special Education Teacher.
Read official OSCA descriptionSkills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Develops and delivers educational programs based on an approved learning framework
- Promotes the safety, health, wellbeing, learning and development of young children
- Provides pedagogical leadership
- Coaches, mentors and supervises staff
- Builds and maintains strong reciprocal relationships with young children and their families
- Complies with service policies and national and/or state-based education legislation
- Works in partnership with families, community members and external agencies to promote the education, care and wellbeing of children
- Maintains records of each child's learning, wellbeing, development, participation and progress, and communicates this with families
Credentials & Pathway
OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing is required.
Official VET pathways
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Progression pathway
Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice
Transferable skills
Related study options
Bachelor
Compare university ROIReal jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
WA · May 2026
117
TAS · May 2026
9
NT · May 2026
8
SA · May 2026
50
QLD · May 2026
236
NSW · May 2026
357
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+6%
4,566 projected jobs
to 2035
+12%
9,642 projected jobs
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - West
4,293 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - West
4,293 employed
VIC
-10.23%
year on year
- 2
Melbourne - South East
3,794 employed
VIC
-4.05%
year on year
- 3
Sydney - Parramatta
2,558 employed
NSW
+0.87%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - North East
1,854 employed
VIC
-13.28%
year on year
- 5
Melbourne - Inner
1,794 employed
VIC
-7.19%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
23,040
Moved in from another occupation
2,990
Moved to another occupation
2,060
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
- 2
4
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 251131
- Last updated
- 2026-01-23
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2025 Shortage List + ABS EEH May 2025
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: verified.