Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
165 CRICOS providers offer this course to international students in 14 Australian cities. Typical tuition for the whole course is AUD $11,000 - $24,000, and it usually takes about 1 year.
- Typical tuition, whole course
- AUD $11,000 - $24,000
- Course length
- 11 mo - 2 yrs
- Providers
- 165 providers
- Cities
- 14 cities
About 280 hours of work placement
Typical = the middle 80% of CRICOS tuition fees across providers. Full range AUD $8,000 - $32,000. Fees change, so confirm with the provider.
CHC50125 · Teacher Education: Early Childhood
What it prepares you for
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care prepares you to plan the learning program in an early childhood service and to take more responsibility in the room.
Educators at this level design activities based on the national learning framework, keep the service compliant and often supervise other educators. The course includes at least 280 hours of work in a regulated early childhood service.
You usually need the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, or an equivalent, before you start.
From the national register
This qualification reflects the role of educators in early childhood education and care who work in regulated children’s education and care services in Australia. Educators at this level are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum that meets the requirements of an approved learning framework and for maintaining compliance in other areas of service operations. They use specialised knowledge and analyse and apply theoretical concepts to diverse work situations. They may have responsibility for supervision of volunteers or other educators.
Early childhood educators work in long day care centres, family day care, pre-schools or kindergartens.
To achieve this qualification, the individual must have completed a total of at least 280 hours of work in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency. Individuals must complete the National Child Safety Training prior to undertaking any work placement hours in a regulated children’s education and care service. The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.
What you study
12 core units every student completes, plus 3 electives chosen by the provider. Unit names as listed in the official qualification.
- BSBTWK502Manage team effectiveness
- CHCECE041Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
- CHCECE042Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
- CHCECE043Nurture creativity in children
- CHCECE044Facilitate compliance in a children's education and care service
- CHCECE045Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
- CHCECE046Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
- CHCECE047Analyse information to inform children's learning
- CHCECE048Plan and implement children's education and care curriculum
- CHCECE049Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
Where it can take you
Typical jobs for this qualification, as listed on training.gov.au.
Career ladder
- 01Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Careleads toEarly childhood educator
- 02 · This courseDiploma of Early Childhood Education and Careleads toDiploma-qualified educator, room leader
- 03Bachelor of Early Childhood Educationleads toEarly Childhood Teacher
Child Care Worker
Child Care Workers provide care and supervision for children in child care centres. They care for the social, emotional, physical and educational needs of infants and young children.
Registration and next steps
- The Diploma is approved by ACECQA, and many services need Diploma-qualified educators to meet staffing rules.
- To work with children you also need a Working with Children Check from the state you work in.
- To become an Early Childhood Teacher you need a Bachelor degree in early childhood education. Many universities give credit for the Diploma.
Cities that offer it
Pick a city to see this field's courses there in our course search.
Levels in the same field
Many students start lower and move up: a Certificate IV or Diploma can lead into a Bachelor degree, often with credit for what you have already studied.
- 01Certificate IIICertificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care163 providersAUD $9,000 - $18,000
- 02Diploma · This courseDiploma of Early Childhood Education and Care165 providersAUD $11,000 - $24,000
- 03Associate DegreeAssociate Degree of Early Years Studies1 providerAUD $49,280
- 04Bachelor DegreeBachelor of Early Childhood Education9 providersAUD $73,920 - $124,000
- 05Bachelor (Hons)Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) (Honours)2 providersAUD $142,496
- 06Grad. CertificateGraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education2 providersAUD $13,872
- 07Grad. DiplomaGraduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education6 providersAUD $22,400 - $36,000
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