Turn the care you already give, into meaningful work — while nurturing tamariki in a way that fits your whānau and lifestyle.
At The Wildlings, we believe some of the most powerful learning happens in nurturing home environments, where children feel safe, seen, and deeply connected. If you are already caring for grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family friends, or children within your community while their parents work — why not be recognised and supported for the care you are already giving?
Becoming a home-based educator allows you to transform your natural caregiving into a rewarding career, with support, flexibility, and opportunities for professional growth.
Why Become an Educator?
Being a home-based educator allows you to be paid to care for children you may already be voluntarily caring for. This could be your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or friends children, who you care for while their parents work. Between different The Wildlings and government subsidies, being an educator allows you to be paid for your previously unpaid caregiving, with little to no cost to the parents.
Educators have the freedom to work in the way which best suits them, and the flexibility to work around the needs of their own whānau. They choose how much they charge families in addition to subsidies, set their own days and operating hours, all while working from home.
Be paid for the care you already provide
Support the children you love while receiving income for your time, knowledge, and care.
Work from home
Create a meaningful career while remaining present for your own whānau.
Maintain independence
Determine your additional family charges alongside available government subsidies.
Choose flexibility that works for you
Set your own days, hours, and how you operate within your home environment.
Make a lasting difference
Support children’s learning, confidence, wellbeing, and sense of belonging during their most important years of development.
Why Choose the Wildlings?
When you join The Wildlings, you become part of a supportive community committed to empowering educators own their own business and nurturing tamariki. We offer:
- Business Start-Up Support – Receive a Business Start-Up Kit valued up to $250 to help you begin your journey.
- Resource Subsidies & Regular Resource Packs – Ongoing support to enrich your learning environment.
- Additional The Wildlings Care Subsidies – Extra support to help make home-based education accessible.
- Paid First Aid Certification – Gain essential qualifications with costs covered.
- Free NZQA Qualifications & Educational Support – Continue growing your knowledge and confidence as an educator.
- Ongoing Professional Development & Mentoring – Receive personalised support throughout your journey.
- IRD – Each year The Wildlings Team will help you with your business tax and reporting it to IRD.
- Free Outings & Playgroups – Connect with other educators and tamariki through enriching community experiences.
- Networking & Community Connections – Become part of a village of like-minded educators who support one another.
- Paid well-being time off – One week of paid well-being time off per year which is helpful when being self employed
- Referral Incentives – Receive rewards for introducing other educators to The Wildlings (terms and conditions apply).
7 Day Licence
The Wildlings holds an uncommon seven day licence, allowing Educators to work on weekends. Working one or both weekend days, increases the chances of a family wanting to place a child with you, if they work weekends.
After School OSCAR
With The Wildlings, you can offer before and after school care (and care over school holidays) for a maximum of two school aged children. This can help with transitioning children from your care to school, or caring for older siblings, during school breaks.
More than a job — become part of a community.
At The Wildlings, we know education begins with relationships, belonging, and care. We are building a community where educators feel valued, supported, and empowered to provide meaningful learning experiences for tamariki. If you have a heart for children, a home full of care, and a desire to make a difference — we would love to walk alongside you.
Become an educator with The Wildlings today. Nurture children.
Support your whānau. Build your future.
Educator Requirements
There are certain requirements to become a home-based educator. To be an educator, you need to be over the age of seventeen, and a New Zealand Citizen, Permanent Resident, or hold a valid work visa. Our educators include stay-at-home parents/guardians or caregivers, grandparents, whānau, early childhood teachers, and foster families.
Qualification
Educators are required to have (or be studying towards) a minimum of a Level 4 Certificate in Early Childhood Education. You need to begin studying within three months of becoming an educator. Most providers who offer these certificates have no fees and have multiple intakes through the year. Throughout your journey, you will be provided with ongoing support from your Visiting Teacher, to help you along the way.
If you hold a qualification higher than Level 4 in Early Childhood Education (such as a diploma, degree, or a registered teacher), you are not required to do this study. For those who are registered teachers, we will pay for you to keep your registration up to date.
Police Vetting
Police vetting is required for yourself, and anyone else in the home seventeen or older. This is to ensure children are around safe people only, and to provide parents with peace of mind. Vetting is required before you begin to officially care for children, and every three years following. Any time someone new moves into the home who are seventeen or over, they will also require vetting.
First Aid
To ensure yourself and children remain safe, you must complete a first aid course. If you don’t already have a current first aid certificate, The Wildlings will pay for you to attend the course and keep your first aid certificate up to date. First aid courses are held regularly at locations in Auckland, ensuring a day and time can be found that suits you.
Home Check
Before you begin to care for children through The Wildlings, a home safety check needs to be completed. This simple process happens with our Visiting Teacher during the onboarding process, and ensures safety of children in the home and in case of emergencies.
FAQ
This is up to you. The amount you receive depends on the number of children you care for, and how much extra you may charge parents per hour. The current recommendation is $7-$9 per hour per child, however, we advise you research the going rate at daycares in your area and price yourself competitively. There is also government and The Wildlings subsidies on top of this of:
ECE Child Subsidy
- 3-5 years of age $6.00 per hour, per child, maximum of 20 hours weekly.
(IF a child is enrolled for more than 20 hours per week, they are entitled to the ‘Top Up’ subsidy below.)
The Wildlings ECE Subsidy ‘Top Up’
- 3-5 years of age $2.00 per hour, per child, maximum of 10 hours weekly.
The Wildlings Resource Subsidy
- 1-2 years of age $2.00 per hour, per child, maximum of 20 hours weekly.
- 2-3 years of age $1.50 per hour, per child, maximum of 20 hours weekly.
Educators have the freedom to advertise their vacancies how they want. The Wildlings share this advertising on social media and our website, so parents can see your availability. We also direct you towards places where you can advertise your vacancies and provide fliers to further your advertising in your local area. When The Wildlings receive a general enquiry for a parent seeking an educator, we will match them with educator profiles with vacancies.
If you want to become an educator through The Wildlings, then get in contact with us to take the next steps. This will include a short interview to provide you with more information and answer any questions you have. You will then need to complete an application and police vetting for yourself, and anyone else living in your home over the age of 17.