Your Career Australia
Early Years Professionals
“Early childhood education is one of the clearest, most welcoming pathways into Australia for UK and Irish professionals right now. I wish more people knew just how open that door is.” — Jane Donnelly, Founder, Axia Bridge
Why Australia needs UK and Irish Early Years Professionals
Early Childhood Teacher sits on Australia's Core Skills Occupation List. That's not small print — it's one of the clearest invitations the Australian migration system gives.
Australia has invested heavily in early childhood education. The qualified workforce hasn't kept up. The result is a genuine, ongoing national shortage and a migration system that actively wants to bring the right people in.
If you're a UK or Irish early years professional, your timing couldn't be much better.
Not sure this is your first step? If you're under 35, a Working Holiday visa may suit you better. We'll help you work out which route fits before you commit to anything.
Is this for you?
If any of the following applies, you're likely in a strong position:
- EYFS specialism, early years PGCE, EYITT or EYTS.
- Irish primary teaching degree with an early years focus.
- Nursery, preschool or early years classroom experience.
Your framework isn't identical to the Australian one, but the gap is much smaller than most people fear.
Pay and the life around it
These figures are indicative only:
City roles: AUD $60,000 – $85,000
Regional roles: AUD $55,000 – $75,000
All employees receive superannuation, Australia's employer pension contribution, currently 12%. A 15% Worker Retention Payment introduced in late 2024 has lifted sector pay further.
Additional benefits may include regional loading, professional development support, visa sponsorship and relocation assistance.
The working culture is different too. Early years teachers in Australia are recognised as full members of the teaching profession. For many UK educators, that recognition alone is worth the move.
Your skills assessment
Your assessing authority is ACECQA (Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority).
One thing most UK applicants miss: you need at least 10 days of supervised practice with children under three on your record. We flag this early so it doesn't catch you out.
The assessment fee is around AUD $1,000, paid directly to ACECQA — never to us. And only once you have a job offer in hand.
How Axia Bridge guides you through
Step 1
Upload your CV and complete your profile.
Step 2
We review your CV to ACECQA requirements, check your experience is correctly documented and prepare your reference templates.
Step 3
Your Verified Profile enters the Talent Mobility Hub, where we match you to the right Australian employer.
Step 4
You receive a job offer.
Step 5
We guide you through the ACECQA assessment, everything is already prepared, so it goes through smoothly.
Our service is free. The ACECQA fee is paid directly to them, never to us, and only once you have a job offer.
Is Australia realistic for you?
If you're a UK or Irish early years professional asking that question, the answer is almost certainly yes.
Your skills assessment is where we find out for certain and it costs nothing to start.
The early years sector in Australia is genuinely one of the warmest welcomes the country gives to UK and Irish professionals. We’ve seen it open doors that people didn’t even know existed. Start the conversation — you might be closer than you think.