Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

You’ll develop skills in providing activities and care to children, with an emphasis on play-based learning.

You’ll learn to facilitate learning and play in order to enable children to achieve developmental outcomes.

This practical course will prepare you to enter a rewarding industry where you’ll provide education and care to children during their most influential years.

It includes four work placements and a first aid course.

Upon completion, you will be a qualified early childhood educator with skills and knowledge in:

childhood development (aesthetic, creative, physical) planning for children with additional needs networking and family partnerships first aid, health and safety.

To be awarded CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, a student must successfully complete a total of twenty-eight (28) units of competency, consisting of:

• twenty-three (23) core units, and;
• five (5) elective units, of which:
• at least two (2) must be selected from the elective units listed below, and;
• up to three (3) units may be selected from any endorsed training package or accredited course relevant to the work outcome.

All electives chosen must support the overall integrity of the AQF level of this qualification and contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome and must be in accordance with the packaging rules specified in CHC Community Services Training Package as well as be approved by the Polytechnic.

Course structure and units

Core units

• CHCECE001 - Develop cultural competence
• CHCECE002 - Ensure the health and safety of children
• CHCECE003 - Provide care for children
• CHCECE004 - Promote and provide healthy food and drinks
• CHCECE005 - Provide care for babies and toddlers
• CHCECE007 - Develop positive and respectful relationships with children
• CHCECE009 - Use an approved learning framework to guide practice
• CHCECE016 - Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
• CHCECE017 - Foster the holistic development and wellbeing of the child in early childhood
• CHCECE018 - Nurture creativity in children
• CHCECE019 - Facilitate compliance in an education and care service
• CHCECE020 - Establish and implement plans for developing cooperative behaviour
• CHCECE021 - Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
• CHCECE022 - Promote children’s agency
• CHCECE023 - Analyse information to inform learning
• CHCECE024 - Design and implement the curriculum to foster children's learning and development
• CHCECE025 - Embed sustainable practices in services operations
• CHCECE026 - Work in partnership with families to provide appropriate education and care for children
• CHCDIV002 - Promote Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
• CHCLEG001 - Work legally and ethically
• CHCPRT001 - Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
• HLTAID004 - Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting
• HLTWHS003 - Maintain work health and safety

Elective units

• BSBINN502 - Build and sustain an innovative work environment
• CHCPRP003 - Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Imported

• BSBWOR301 - Organise personal work priorities and development
• CHCECE011 - Provide experiences to support children’s play and learning
• TLIM4004 - Mentor individuals or small groups

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Students will be required to demonstrate they have the capacity to work with children and families in the highly demanding field of early childhood as set out by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations by participating in an interview. This may be conducted individually or as a group, at the discretion of the Polytechnic. Further information can be found: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/. Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs. For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires a current and satisfactory Police Record Check and Working with Children Check. Failure to provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator, means you will be unable to undertake practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course. The following are suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks: - Police Record Check - http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274 - Working with Children Check - http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Pathways from VU courses

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.

Pathways to further study

On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

Find out more about our study pathways to VU

This qualification reflects the role of early childhood educators who are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum in early childhood education and care services. In doing so, they work to implement an approved learning framework within the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations and the National Quality Standard. They may have responsibility for supervision of volunteers or other staff.

Under the Education and Care Services National Law (2011) the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) publishes lists of approved early childhood education and care qualifications and information regarding regulatory requirements here: www.acecqa.gov.au (external link).