4240.0.55.001 - National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection Manual, 2010  
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Contents >> Data Element Collection Instructions >> Person/Teacher Level Data Elements - Aggregate

PERSON/TEACHER LEVEL DATA ELEMENTS - AGGREGATE

The following descriptions outline the ECEC NMDS aggregate person/teacher level data element summaries.


Field of highest relevant qualification (early childhood education and care)

Technical name: Person (employed) - education field of highest relevant qualification, early childhood education and care field of qualification code N[N]

METeOR identifier: 388641

METeOR link: <http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/388641>

Related URL data element: Person (employed) - field of highest relevant qualification (early childhood education and care).

Definition: The field of education in which a person has attained their highest qualification relevant to early childhood education and care (ECEC), as represented by a code.

Components: Report the field of education in which a person has attained their highest qualification relevant to ECEC.

Rationale: To identify and record the field of the highest relevant qualification held by workers employed by the service provider who are providing face to face delivery of a preschool program.

Inclusions: Include the total number of teachers who have the following as their field of highest relevant qualification and who are providing face to face delivery of a preschool program:

  • Teaching - early childhood related
  • Teaching - primary
  • Teaching - other (includes special education and English as a second language)
  • Child care
  • Nursing
  • Other human welfare studies and services
  • Behavioural science
  • Other early childhood related
  • Other qualification/field
  • Not applicable (no qualification)

Exclusions: Qualifications held by workers employed with the service provider who are not providing face to face delivery of a preschool program. Any person who is not employed by the service provider that may attend and assist in the provision of services, such as volunteer or a parent.

Classification scheme: Australian Standard Classification of Education

Representation class: Code

Data type: Number

Format: N[N], for example: 2

Maximum character length: 2

Permissible categories:
      1 - Teaching (early childhood related)-(ASCED 070101)
      2 - Teaching (primary)-(ASCED 070103)
      3 - Teaching (other)-(ASCED 070105-070199). This field includes:
          - special education
          - teaching English as a second language
      4 - Child Care - maps to Children's services-(ASCED 090503). Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:
          - Storytelling
          - Infant and child care and development
          - Early childhood research
          - Understanding and guiding children's behaviour
          - Play and learning environment
      5 - Nursing (including mothercraft nursing)-(ASCED 0603)
      6 - Other human welfare studies and services-(ASCED 090501, 090505-090599). This field includes:
          - Social work (090501)
          - Youth work (090505)
          - Care for the disabled (090509)
          - Residential client care (090511)
          - Counselling (090513)
          - Welfare studies (090515)
          - Human welfare studies and services (090599)
      7 - Behavioural science-(ASCED 090701-090799). This field includes:
          - Psychology (090701)
          - Behavioural science (090799)
      8 - Other early childhood related. This includes other early education and care related fields not classifiable in any of the above categories
      9 - Other qualification/field. This includes other fields of education not classifiable in any of the above categories.

Supplementary categories:
      97 - Not applicable (no qualification). Use this code when there is no qualification
      98 - Unknown (qualification unknown). Use this code when the qualification is unknown
      99 - Not stated/inadequately described

Counting rules:
  • Record each teacher only once within the total for each qualification, i.e. each teacher can have only one highest relevant qualification.
  • The qualification status of a worker relates to the worker’s currently held relevant qualifications, i.e. only completed qualifications should be reported.
  • Ensure that the field of education recorded is in relation to the person's highest qualification relevant to early childhood education and care. For example, a worker delivering the preschool program may have a Bachelor degree (honours) in Finance and a Certificate level 3 in Child Care. In this situation the highest relevant qualification is the Certificate level 3 in Child Care. Record 'Child Care' as the field of highest relevant qualification for this worker.
  • The response recorded for this data element must relate directly to the response recorded for the ‘Level of highest qualification in employment field’ data element.

Additional information: Where the field of qualification is unknown, identify the reason for the unknown response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.



Level of highest qualification in employment field

Technical name: Person (employed) - level of highest qualification in employment field, early childhood education and care code N[N]

METeOR identifier: 396927

METeOR link: <http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/396927>

Related URL data element: Person (employed) - level of highest qualification in employment field

Definition: The highest level of qualification a person employed in early childhood education and care (ECEC) has attained in the relevant field, as represented by a code.

Components: Report the level of qualification in which a person has attained their highest qualification relevant to ECEC.

Rationale: To identify and record the level of the highest relevant qualification held by workers employed by the service provider who are providing face to face delivery of a preschool program.

Inclusions: Include the total number of teachers who have the following as their level of highest qualification and who are providing face to face delivery of a preschool program:
  • Postgraduate degree,
  • Graduate diploma or graduate certificate level,
  • Bachelor degree (honours),
  • Bachelor degree pass (4 years or equivalent),
  • Bachelor degree pass (3 years or equivalent),
  • Advanced diploma,
  • Diploma,
  • Certificate level 3 or 4,
  • Certificate level 1 or 2,
  • Other certificate,
  • Not applicable (no qualification),

Exclusions: Qualifications for workers employed by the service provider who are not delivering a face-to-face preschool program. Any person who is not employed by the service provider that may attend and assist in the provision of services, such as volunteer or a parent.

Classification scheme: Australian Standard Classification of Education

Representation class: Code

Data type: Number

Format: N[N], for example: 2

Maximum character length: 2

Permissible categories:
      1 - Postgraduate degree. This level includes Doctorates and Masters degrees, either by research or course work. Common entry requirements are completion of a Bachelor degree (with or without Honours) and a qualifying year or equivalent, or a research based Graduate diploma.
      2 - Graduate diploma and graduate certificate level. The Graduate diploma is usually the equivalent of one year of full time study, while the Graduate certificate is usually the equivalent of six months of full time study. Entry to a Graduate diploma or Graduate certificate is usually through satisfactory completion of a Bachelor degree or an Advanced diploma, and demonstrated potential to complete work at this level. Postgraduate certificates and diplomas are also included in this category.
      3 - Bachelor degree (honours). Honours is the extended period of study in a specialised field which is offered to students in some courses achieving outstanding results in a relevant discipline or demonstrating outstanding achievement in the early years of a Bachelor program.
      4 - Bachelor degree pass (4 years or equivalent). Entry to this level is by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 12 or equivalent, or completion of a recognised program and/or recognition of prior learning.
      5 - Bachelor degree pass (3 years or equivalent). Entry to this level is by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 12 or equivalent, or completion of a recognised program and/or recognition of prior learning.
      6 - Advanced diploma. Education at this level includes analysing information and concepts at an abstract level and executing judgements across a range of technical and management functions. Entry to this level is by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 12 or equivalent, or completion of a recognised program and/or recognition of prior learning.
      7 - Diploma. Education at this level may also develop basic management or administrative skills. Entry to this level is by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 12 or equivalent, or completion of a recognised program and/or recognition of prior learning.
      8 - Certificate level 3 or 4. Entry to this level is by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 10 or equivalent, or higher, or completion of a recognised program and/or recognition of prior learning.
      9 - Certificate level 1 or 2. Entry to this level is by various pathways which may include the completion of Year 10 or equivalent, or higher, or completion of a recognised program and/or recognition of prior learning.
      10 - Other certificate. Any certificate not covered by the previous two categories.

Supplementary categories:
      97 - Not applicable: Use this code when there is no qualification
      98 - Unknown: Use this code when the qualification is unknown
      99 - Not stated/inadequately described

Counting rules:
  • Record each teacher only once within the total for each level of qualification, i.e. each teacher can have only one level of highest relevant qualification.
  • Four or three year university qualified refers to the length of the qualification if the whole program was studied full-time.
  • The qualification status of a worker relates to the worker’s currently held relevant qualifications, i.e. only completed qualifications should be reported.
  • A 'Bachelor degree pass (3/4 year or equivalent)' includes staff who have been deemed to have the necessary skills and qualifications to be employed as a 3/4 year degree qualified teacher by the jurisdiction.
  • Ensure that the level of education recorded is in relation to the person's highest qualification relevant to early childhood education and care. For example, a worker delivering the preschool program may have a Bachelor degree (honours) in Finance and a Certificate level 3 in Child Care. In this situation the highest relevant qualification is the Certificate level 3 in Child Care. Record 'Certificate level 3' as the level of highest relevant qualification for this worker.
  • The response recorded for this data element must relate directly to the response recorded for the ‘Field of highest relevant qualification’ data element.

Additional information: Where the level of qualification is unknown, identify the reason for the unknown response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.



Preschool program delivered by teacher indicator

Technical name: Person (employed) - preschool program delivered by teacher indicator, code N

METeOR identifier: 401322

METeOR link: <http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/401322>

Related URL data element: Person (employed) - preschool program delivered by teacher indicator

Definition: An indicator of face to face delivery of a preschool program by a person with a relevant university qualification, as represented by a code.

Components: Report whether or not the preschool program is being delivered (face to face) by a person with a relevant university qualification.

Rationale: To identify and record whether or not a structured, play-based, educational preschool program is delivered by a teacher with a relevant university qualification.

Inclusions: Indicate whether a preschool program is delivered by a teacher (or employed person) with a relevant university qualification:
      Yes - Report the total number of teachers who deliver a face-to-face preschool program and hold a relevant university qualification
      No - Report total number of teachers who deliver a face-to-face preschool program but do not hold a relevant university qualification

Exclusions: Exclude other programs delivered at the service that are non-preschool programs. See Chapter 1, Collection Scope and Coverage and Chapter 3, Concepts and Definitions for more information on the definition of a preschool program.

Representation class: Code

Data type: Number

Format: N, for example: 1

Maximum character length: 1

Permissible categories: An indicator of face-to-face delivery of a preschool program by a person with a relevant university qualification, as represented by a code:
      1 - Teacher delivers a face-to-face preschool program and holds a relevant qualification
      2 - Teacher delivers a face-to-face preschool program but does not hold a relevant qualification

Counting rules:

A teacher is to be counted as delivering a preschool program if they delivered the program at least once within the reference period. For example, in a long day care setting, a care worker delivers a 'preschool program', however the care worker does not hold a relevant qualification. This would result in a 'No' response as the program is not being delivered by a teacher with relevant qualifications. Alternatively, a 'Yes' response would be supplied for a teacher with relevant qualifications delivering the preschool program.

'Once' within the reference period is defined as at least one whole session of the preschool program.



Role of early childhood education and care worker

Technical name: Person - role of early childhood education and care worker, code N.

METeOR identifier: 401020

METeOR link: <http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/401020>

Related URL data element: Person - role of early childhood education and care worker

Definition: The usual role of the person in the course of their employment in early childhood education and care, as represented by a code.

Components: Report information relating to the usual role performed by the person employed at the service.

Rationale: To identify and record the usual role performed by the person at the service. The role that each ECEC worker undertakes will determine whether or not they are involved in delivery of the preschool program.

Inclusions: Include the total number of teachers who have the following as their usual role:
  • Director, coordinator or teacher in charge
  • Group leader/teacher
  • Assistant/aide
  • Other contact worker
  • Non-contact workers

Exclusions: Any person who is not employed by the service provider that may attend and assist in the provision of services, such as a volunteer or a parent.

Representation class: Code

Data type: Number

Format: N, for example: 2

Maximum character length: 1

Permissible categories:
    1 - Director/coordinator/teacher-in-charge: i.e. a person with overall responsibility for managing the service.
    2 - Group leader/teacher: i.e. a teacher responsible for a group of young children.
    3 - Assistant/aide: i.e. a worker who helps the main teacher/group leader.
    4 - Other contact worker: i.e. includes people who provide additional or supplementary services for children, such as a dance teacher, music therapist, disability support worker, librarian or speech therapist.
    5 - Non contact worker: i.e. workers who have no direct contact with children and primarily contribute to the running of the service or provide support services.
Supplementary categories:

9 - Not stated/inadequately described

Counting rules:
  • Record each teacher only once within the total for each role, i.e. each teacher can have only one usual role. Count the usual role that the employed person undertakes on a day to day basis. For example, if a person spends 70% of their time undertaking the role of a non contact worker and 30% of their time as a teacher (i.e. as a relief teacher), record the main role of the person as a 'non contact worker'.

Additional information: Where the role of the person is unknown, identify the reason for the unknown response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.



Type of work activity

Technical name: Person (employed) - type of work activity, early childhood education and care code N

METeOR identifier: 396951

METeOR link: <http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/396951>

Related URL data element: Person (employed) - type of work activity

Definition: The type of work performed by a person in the course of their employment in early childhood education and care, as represented by a code.

Components: Report information relating to the usual work activity performed by the person employed at the service.

Rationale: To identify and record the usual work activity performed by the person at the service. The activity that each worker undertakes will determine whether or not they are involved in delivery of the preschool program.

Inclusions: Include the total number of teachers who have the following as their usual type of work activity:
  • Primary contact work
  • Other contact work
  • Administration only
  • Other work

Exclusions: Any person who is not employed by the service provider that may attend and assist in the provision of services, such as a volunteer or a parent.

Representation class: Code

Data type: Number

Format: N, for example: 1

Maximum character length: 1

Permissible categories:
    1 - Primary contact work - involves mainly direct contact with children receiving services. Workers who fall into this category include child care workers, teachers, teachers’ assistants and aides, specialist teachers and therapists.
    2 - Other contact work - where there are some duties involving direct contact with children, but dealing mainly with staffing or management issues e.g. supervising staff, handling queries from parents. This may include centre managers and coordinators.
    3 - Administration only - where there is no direct contact with children. Work could include clerical or receptionist duties, filing, keeping financial records etc.
    4 - Other work - includes support services such as cooking, cleaning or gardening. This may include drivers, cooks, cleaners and maintenance staff.
Supplementary categories:

9 - Not stated/inadequately described

Counting rules:
  • Record each teacher only once within the total for each type of work activity, i.e. each teacher can have only one usual type of work activity.
  • Count the usual work activity that the employed person undertakes on a day to day basis. For example, if a person spends 70% of their time dealing with administration tasks and 30% of their time as a teacher in direct contact with the children receiving the preschool program (i.e. as a relief teacher), record the type of work activity as 'Administration only'.

Additional information: Where the type of work activity is unknown, identify the reason for the unknown response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.







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