Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is for those who are interested in working in the early childhood services sector, or who are already working in the field and are responsible for planning, implementing and managing programs in early childhood services. At this level, workers have responsibility for the supervision of staff and volunteers.
In most states this is the highest qualification required at director or service manager level for early childhood service centre-based care.
The course includes on-campus and online classes, as well as multiple work placements.
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Duration
Standard delivery: 18 months full-time or up to 3 years part-time (Hawthorn and Wantirna, March and August intakes); 1 year workplace or employer delivery for early childhood education sector workers (part-time evening, Hawthorn Campus March intake only); up to 3 years for Workplace training (Traineeship) (Hawthorn and Wantirna, March and August intakes).
Intakes
Hawthorn (March, August)
Wantirna (March, August) - View application and start dates
Study modes
- Full-time,
- Part-time (day),
- Part-time (evening),
- Workplace Training
VTAC course codes
- 3400278054
Hawthorn (fee type determined by provider) - 3401078054
Wantirna (fee type determined by provider)
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
Work in the early childhood services sector is both demanding and extremely rewarding. Desirable qualities for this work are patience, understanding, imagination, cheerfulness, energy, adaptability, physical fitness and a willingness to take responsibility.
This course reflects the role of early childhood educators who are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum in early childhood education and care services, within the approved learning framework requirements of the Education and Care Services, national regulations and the National Quality Standards.
This course reflects the role of early childhood educators who are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum in early childhood education and care services, within the approved learning framework requirements of the Education and Care Services, national regulations and the National Quality Standards.
Current work placement is 360 hours over the course duration.
Current work placement for students holding an international student visa, who have completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113), is approximately 240 hours.
Students who complete the course may be eligible for significant credits in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) (BA-EDECP), Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) [Online delivery] (BA-EDUEC2), Bachelor of Education (Primary) (BA-EDUPRI1) and Bachelor of Education (Primary) [Online delivery] (BA-EDUPRI).
Applicants who have successfully completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113) may be eligible for up to 16 credits towards the 28 units of the diploma qualification.
Students holding an international student visa are required to complete the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113) before commencing the diploma.
Current work placement for students holding an international student visa, who have completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113), is approximately 240 hours.
Students who complete the course may be eligible for significant credits in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) (BA-EDECP), Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) [Online delivery] (BA-EDUEC2), Bachelor of Education (Primary) (BA-EDUPRI1) and Bachelor of Education (Primary) [Online delivery] (BA-EDUPRI).
Applicants who have successfully completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113) may be eligible for up to 16 credits towards the 28 units of the diploma qualification.
Students holding an international student visa are required to complete the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113) before commencing the diploma.
Course structure
To successfully complete the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, students must complete 28 units (23 core and five elective units).
Full-time standard delivery (domestic and international students)
On-campus classes combined with work placement.
Current work placement is 360 hours over the course duration.
Current work placement for students holding an international student visa, who have completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113), is approximately 240 hours.
Current work placement for students holding an international student visa, who have completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113), is approximately 240 hours.
Students may be required to attend one Saturday workshop to complete the compulsory First Aid unit.
Part-time (domestic students only)
Variation of above. Students may be required to attend one Saturday workshop to complete the compulsory First Aid unit.
Workplace or employer delivery (for those currently employed in the early childhood services sector)
Study is undertaken in a blended model with one evening per week class attendance, on-line and in the workplace.
Workplace training (Traineeship) (domestic students only)
If a domestic student is a new employee, with the agreement of their employer, they may be able to undertake this course as a Trainee. Trainees undertake training in the workplace combined with on-campus training.
Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time and on campus.
Units of study
Core units
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety (CHCDIV002)
Develop cultural competence (CHCECE001)
Ensure the health and safety of children (CHCECE002)
Provide care for children (CHCECE003)
Promote and provide healthy food and drinks (CHCECE004)
Provide care for babies and toddlers (CHCECE005)
Develop positive and respectful relationships with children (CHCECE007)
Use an approved learning framework to guide practice (CHCECE009)
Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children (CHCECE016)
Foster the holistic development and wellbeing of the child in early childhood (CHCECE017)
Nurture creativity in children (CHCECE018)
Facilitate compliance in an education and care service (CHCECE019)
Establish and implement plans for developing cooperative behaviour (CHCECE020)
Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children (CHCECE021)
Promote children's agency (CHCECE022)
Analyse information to inform learning (CHCECE023)
Design and implement curriculum to foster children's learning and development (CHCECE024)
Embed sustainable practices in service operations (CHCECE025)
Work in partnership with families to provide appropriate education and care for children (CHCECE026)
Work legally and ethically (CHCLEG001)Identify and respond to children and young people at risk (CHCPRT001)
Provide emergency first aid response in an education and care setting (HLTAID004)
Maintain work health and safety (HLTWHS003)
Elective units
Support the holistic development of children in early childhood (CHCECE010)
Provide experiences to support children's play and learning (CHCECE011)
Use information about children to inform practice (CHCECE013)
Lead the work team (CHCMGT003)
Reflect on and improve own professional practice (CHCPRP003)
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
Employment may be found as a fully qualified professional in early childhood services with responsibilities for education and care for children under six years of age.
Aims and objectives
The qualification enables early childhood education and care workers to operate at a qualified level in early childhood education and care, and graded assessment will assist with entry into early childhood degree courses.
Graduate skills
Students who complete will have the ability to work within the National Quality Framework to provide sound education and care to children from zero to six years of age. They will have a solid understanding and skills in health and safety and workplace practices and be able to demonstrate leadership and coordination skills to be an effective leader and team member, within an early childhood setting.
Pathways and scholarships
- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
A VET Student Loan is available for this course – allowing you to defer part of your fees if you're eligible.
Please note: The maximum VET Student Loan amount for this course is $10,342. You must start repaying this loan once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold.
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and CareEstimated course fees for 2019* |
||
|---|---|---|
| For students who are not granted a Skills First government-subsidised place | For students who are granted a Skills First government-subsidised place | |
| You will need to pay this amount if you do not receive a VET Student Loan | $22,450 | $10,300 |
| You will need to pay this amount if you do receive a VET Student Loan | $12,108 | Fully Covered |
Skills First
If you’re deemed eligible, you could be granted a Skills First government-subsidised place when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.
If you’re deemed eligible, you could be granted a Skills First government-subsidised place when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.
This course is delivered with state government funding.
Indicative nominal course hours: 2,028.
Please note: Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2019 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted for this course, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Entry requirements
Applicants require a minimum of Year 12 completion or equivalent.
Applicants without formal qualifications but with significant relevant work experience are welcome to apply.
Additional requirements
The following additional criteria for entry apply for this course:
Working with Children Check and Police Check
All students must have a valid Working with Children Check and a valid Police Check or be prepared to obtain these prior to placements.
It is essential that each student is able to perform all physical activities linked to the unit and provide emergency first aid response in an education and care setting (HLTAID004). This is a required unit that must be completed to qualify for the award. To complete this unit students must be able to perform life support skills such as administering CPR for two minutes to a mannequin on the floor on more than one occasion. It is mandatory to be able to do this task in order to achieve this unit.
Workplace or employer model (for those already working in the early childhood services sector - domestic students only)
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113). Students with superseded qualifications will need to undergo an RPL process. Applicants need to provide evidence of previous qualifications with their application - please submit copies of academic award and transcript of results.
- Currently employed in a registered early childhood service, including long day care or kindergarten, for at least 14 hours per week within an aged room (not moving from room to room). Applicants need to provide evidence with their application - please submit a letter from your current employer. Documents substantiating work experience need to be provided on company letterhead and clearly detail current employment role, duration and number of hours per week worked.
- At least six months relevant work experience. Applicants need to provide evidence with their application - please submit your current resume/CV.
- A current Workplace Level 2 Advanced First Aid Certificate - applicants need to provide evidence with their application.
Traineeships (domestic students only)
- Currently employed in a relevant workplace and have employer and other necessary approvals to enrol.
How to apply
Applications for Semester 1 for courses listed on the VTAC Guide are generally made through VTAC. Under certain circumstances, some students (e.g. Non-Year 12) may apply directly to Swinburne. Find out more about how to apply.
Applications for all other intakes should be made directly to Swinburne.
Find out more
Submit an online enquiry
Tel: 1300 SWINBURNE
Tel: 1300 SWINBURNE
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au
Training Organisation Identifier (TOID): 3059