Key information
Start dates
March
Delivery mode*
In person
(Bedford Park, City)
Career-ready for early childhood and junior primary education
Launch a rewarding teaching career spanning the early years to junior primary classrooms. Flinders’ Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 8) prepares you to teach in preschools, early childhood services, and junior primary classes (Reception to Year 2). With strong industry connections and in-demand skills, you’ll graduate ready to support children’s learning. This degree also opens pathways to further study or leadership roles in education.
Junior Primary Teacher
Junior Primary Teachers guide children through their first years of formal education, from Reception to Year 2. You’ll design and deliver engaging learning experiences that develop essential skills like literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning, helping children build confidence and a love of play and learning.
Collaborating with families and school communities, you’ll support each child’s growth during this important stage, making a lasting difference in their educational journey.
Early Childhood Teacher
As an early childhood teacher, you'll play a vital role in shaping the foundational years of children aged birth to five, designing play-based learning programs that nurture curiosity, creativity, and social-emotional development.
Whether working in kindergartens, preschools or long day care settings, you’ll support children’s growth while building meaningful relationships with families and communities, contributing to lifelong learning outcomes.
Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025 | Seek Australia, 2025 | SA Department for Education
Early Years Policy Adviser or Consultant
Early Years Policy Advisers and Consultants use their expertise to shape policies and programs that improve early childhood education across Australia. Working with government or community organisations, they influence quality and access to services for young children and families. This career is ideal if you want to drive positive change in the sector by applying research and advocacy beyond the classroom.
Early Childhood Centre Director
As an Early Childhood Centre Director, you’ll lead the day-to-day operations of an early learning centre, managing staff, compliance, budgets, and curriculum delivery. This role blends educational expertise with leadership and business skills, making it ideal for those passionate about shaping quality early learning experiences. With growing demand in the sector, Centre Directors play a key role in meeting national standards and supporting inclusive, high-quality education.
Child Development Specialist
Child development specialists support children’s growth by identifying developmental needs early and working with families and educators to create tailored strategies. Drawing on knowledge of child psychology and behaviour, they help foster learning and wellbeing across early childhood settings. This role is often based in community services or allied health environments, making a real difference in children’s lives.
What will you study to start your career in early childhood and junior primary teaching?
Study a variety of core topics and get hands-on experience with professional placements.
Accreditation or Professional Recognition
This degree is accredited by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
Graduates earn a recognised qualification that enables them to become qualified early childhood teachers across multiple settings. This accreditation supports your eligibility to register with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia and meets ACECQA’s employment requirements, helping you build a career locally, interstate, or abroad.*
*Additional conditions may apply outside of South Australia.
ACECQA
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority
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The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 8) prepares you for a rewarding career teaching children from birth through to early primary years, with extensive hands-on experience and strong industry connections.
You’ll complete a minimum of 80 days of professional placements across a variety of early childhood and junior primary settings - from birth to ~Year 2 - starting in your first year. These placements let you apply your learning in real classrooms and care environments, developing skills in relationship-building, educational planning, creative teaching, and effective use of technology.
During your placements, you’ll form meaningful connections not only with children but also with families, communities, and fellow educators. This relational approach is key to succeeding in collaborative early learning and junior primary settings.
Flinders’ established industry partnerships connect you directly to the early childhood and school education sectors, opening doors to professional networks, future employment, and a confident transition into teaching roles.
Before placements, you’ll need a Working with Children Check and RRHAN – Education and Care certificate. Some placement sites may also require immunisation evidence.
Financial support
- SA residents can receive up to $34,000 in financial support from the State Government. Learn More.
Frequently asked questions.
Over the years, many questions have been asked by students before. For the quickest answers view our frequently asked questions or browse the full list @ Ask Flinders.
Yes, there is strong and ongoing demand for qualified early childhood educators in Australia. The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector has been identified as a critical area for workforce development by the Australian Government. A recent capacity study by Jobs and Skills Australia highlights the need for more skilled professionals to meet the growing demand for quality early learning services
Graduates with a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 8) are well-positioned to enter a rewarding and essential profession that supports the development and wellbeing of Australia’s youngest learners.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, early childhood teaching jobs are set to increase from May 2024 - 2034 by 8.6%
(Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024 Employment projections to 2034).
Studying the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 8) at Flinders University prepares you for a diverse and rewarding career across the early years and junior primary education sectors. You’ll graduate qualified to teach in a variety of settings, including:
- Preschools and kindergartens
- Long day care and early learning centres
- Reception to Year 2 classrooms in primary schools
- Family day care environments
- Education and care services in both government and non-government sectors
This nationally accredited degree also supports your eligibility to register as an early childhood teacher in Australia, enabling you to work across metropolitan, rural, and remote locations. Graduates are well positioned for roles in teaching, leadership, curriculum design, early years consultancy, or further postgraduate study.
According to SEEK, in Australia, the average annual salary for an early childhood teacher is typically around $90,000 per year.
Yes, graduates can choose to pursue honours programs, postgraduate teaching qualifications, or specialisations in areas such as inclusive education, early childhood leadership, or educational research.
Flinders offers a range of student support services including academic advice and guidance, counselling, career guidance, and assistance with placement arrangements to help you succeed throughout your studies.
The Australian Government has introduced the Literacy and Numeracy Test for all initial teacher education (ITE) students to ensure they have the high level of personal literacy and numeracy skills required of teachers.
The test is a national instrument designed to assess elements of an individual's literacy and numeracy skills and will be used to demonstrate that ITE graduates are in the top 30 per cent of the population for literacy and numeracy.
All students graduating from any ITE course in South Australia must have achieved the standard for both the literacy and numeracy components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) to graduate.
For further information, including registration details, please check the test administrator’s website at https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/
There are also important inherent requirements for this course and applicants are strongly advised to become aware of these requirements.
View inherent requirements: https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/courses/education-inherent-requirements
Applicants must complete a non-academic assessment task known as a Teaching Capabilities Statement as part of their application to demonstrate their motivation to teach, their strong interpersonal and communication skills, willingness to learn, resilience, self-efficacy, and strong organisational and planning skills. This involves a short statement in response to three set questions used to demonstrate suitability for study and work in the teaching profession.
Applicants who select this course as a preference during the application process will be directed to a page to meet this requirement.
Visit the Teaching Capabilities Statement page for further information
- Applications are completed via SATAC
- Visit: satac.edu.au
The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2025. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.
Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published
| ATAR-based offers only across all offer rounds | ATAR - Excluding adjustment factors | Selection Rank - ATAR plus any adjustment factors |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer | 97.55 | 99.95 |
| Median rank to receive an offer | 78.55 | 82.97 |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | 60.85 | 70.15 |
| Applicant background (Semester 1, 2025) | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | 136 | 32% |
| Vocational education and training (VET) study | 30 | 7% |
| Work and life experience | 12 | 3% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) | 156 | 37% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test) | 25 | 6% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration pathways) | 44 | 10% |
| International Students | 20 | 5% |
| All students | 423 | 100% |
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