Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is a nationally accredited course for those looking for the skills and expertise required for a successful and rewarding career working with young children aged up to six years.

It covers all the relevant health and safety, nutrition, communication and care-related skills you will need to be awarded as a Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (minimum entry qualification for domestic students to work in the industry).

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The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care at Swinburne offers practical instruction and workplace experiences that will give you a true understanding of how to contribute in a work environment. It aims to ensure you learn the critical skills and develop the confidence employers will recognise and value. You will learn to professionally care for and communicate with children, support play and learning and basic developmental needs, and about providing food and basic health services.

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

To successfully complete the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, students must complete 18 units (15 core and 3 elective units).

• On-campus classes combined with work placement.
• Current work placement is 120 hours over the course duration.
• Students may be required to attend one Saturday workshop to complete the compulsory First Aid unit.

• Variation of above.
• Students may be required to attend one Saturday workshop to complete the compulsory First Aid unit.

*Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time and on campus.

Units of study

Work legally and ethically (CHCLEG001)

Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety (CHCDIV002)

Organise personal work priorities and development (BSBWOR301)

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.

Australian Year 12: Completion with a ‘satisfactory’ in English or English as an Additional Language (EAL).

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

• Swinburne's English for Academic Purposes (EAP 4 Upper Intermediate level) with overall 65%, all skills 60%
• minimum IELTS overall band of 5.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 5.0
• TOEFL iBT (internet-based) minimum score of 65 with no band less than 15
• Pearson (PTE) minimum score of 42 (no communicative skills less than 36)
• any other equivalent assessment of English language proficiency.

Find out more about English language requirements.

Prerequisites

• Please note all students must have a valid Australian Police Check and a valid Australian Working with Children 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, 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.

To equip students with the skills and expertise to work in the early childhood sector in Australia.