At a glance
Progress your career in child care with this advanced qualification and gain the specialised skills and knowledge needed to work as an early childhood educator or centre director.
JOB PROSPECTS
- Early Childhood Educator
- Out of School Hours Care Coordinator
- Early Childhood Centre Director
COURSE OUTCOME
CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Course overview
Take the next step in your child care career with this advanced qualification designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. This course is perfect for people who are already working in early childhood education and care, and want to progress their career as an educator or centre director.
The demand for diploma-trained early childhood staff has risen strongly over the past decade, and the number of higher-level vacancies is expected to continue to increase. According to the Australian Government's Job Outlook service, there will be around 10,000 child care centre managers required in Australia over the next five years.
This course will give you the skills and practical knowledge to design and implement early childhood programs by understanding the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social needs of young children. Our highly-experienced team of industry professionals will give you the support you need to succeed throughout the course of your studies.
Successful completion of this course will qualify you to design and implement early childhood education and care programs. You will be equipped with the skills you need to plan, implement, and evaluate programs in line with approved learning frameworks and regulatory requirements. You will also have a solid foundation to continue with further study.
Courses designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students include intensive blocks of training on campus known as residential blocks. Funding support is available for students who need to travel away from their communities to cover necessities like travel, accommodation, and meals. To see if you're eligible contact our student support officers.
Our dedicated ISSOs provide tailored support designed to meet the unique needs of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. ISSOs can provide assistance with enrolment processes, Centrelink ABSTUDY enquiries, tutor support, referrals to other community service providers, enrolment into 'away from base' courses, and personal support.
Units
The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all core and 5 elective units from the list below. You will also be required to undertake 240 hours of vocational placement in an approved setting.
| UNIT CODE | UNIT NAME | |
|---|---|---|
| CHCDIV002 |
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety | |
| 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 service operations | |
| CHCECE026 |
Work in partnership with families to provide appropriate education and care for children | |
| 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 | |
Note: Not all electives are available at all campuses.
| UNIT CODE | UNIT NAME | |
|---|---|---|
| BSBINN502 |
Build and sustain an innovative work environment | |
| CHCECE029 |
Respond to problems and complaints about the service | |
| CHCINM002 |
Meet community information needs | |
| CHCPRP003 |
Reflect on and improve own professional practice | |
| CHCPRP004 |
Promote and represent the service | |
Note: Not all electives are available at all campuses.
Ways to study
Studying on campus is a great way to enjoy the benefits of face-to-face education in a way that is far removed from a typical school. No matter which campus you choose, you know that you will be learning in an adult environment where you will be respected and nurtured. Attend a campus to learn face-to-face with a teacher in one of our learning spaces; such as a classroom, workshop, laboratory or simulated environments, or interact with teachers using real-time video or web conference tools. Learn more
What you need to know about studying on campus
Courses delivered on campus may have a combination of online and classroom based learning. Students are expected to undertake additional personal study to complete the course requirements.
University pathways
If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.
Learn more about university pathways
Payment options
No matter what your circumstances, TAFE Queensland has a payment option to suit you. If you are unsure of what's right for you, get in touch. We're here to help.
Upfront payment
This is the total amount you need to pay when you enrol. This may be the full fee for the course, or the student contribution amount if you are eligible for a subsidy or concession.
Vet Student Loan - $10,528 cap
This is an interest-free personal loan from the Australian Government that provides eligible students access to capped funding to help pay for their studies.
Payment plan
If you have difficulty paying for the full cost of a course upfront, you may be eligible for a payment plan.
Important Information
Selection criteria
You must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander as this training product has been developed specifically for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in support of equity policy for post compulsory education.
You will also need to:
- have successfully completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care or equivalent;
- attend an interview to determine your literacy and numeracy skills levels; and
- obtain a Blue Card (working with children check)
Placement
If you are not currently employed or volunteering in industry, during your course you will be required to complete vocational placement so you can start practising your new skills in a real-world environment. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. TAFE Queensland may be able to assist in arranging suitable placements.
Completing placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You are required to complete 240 hours of placement to satisfy this component of your qualification.
Please note: prior to placement you will need to complete the following:-
- obtain a Blue Card (working with children check)
If you are unable to obtain a Blue Card, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course outcomes. If you think this might impact you, please speak to the relevant Vocational Placement Coordinator for further information.
It is also recommended that all students should undertake screening for vaccination against the following Queensland Health Mandatory vaccination requirements such as:
- MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
- Influenza
- Varicella zoster virus (chicken pox)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Hepatitis B
You will be responsible for any costs associated with meeting these placement requirements.
Resources required
It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Flash Player. This equipment and software is available for use at all TAFE Queensland locations.
You will be provided with a recommended reading list and/or required textbooks during orientation or at the start of each unit. The purchase of these resources may incur additional costs, or you may be able to borrow them from the TAFE Queensland library network.
You are also required to have access to a reliable USB for assessment and resource collation during residential block attendances.
Need to know
You are required to attend compulsory face to face residential block training. The dates for your residential block training will be provided upon commencement of your course. To enable your attendance at residential block training, you will need to be registered with ABSTUDY.
If you are currently employed in an Early Childhood Education and Care Service, you will need to discuss your residential block release dates with your employer, to make sure you are available to attend the compulsory residential blocks.
Please note: in addition to the above, you are also required to complete your own study each week to ensure you progress successfully through your course. Further information will be provided at the commencement of your course.
This course is offered through RATEP ECEC providing students with face to face, online/hard copy and teacher support throughout their qualification.
RATEP ECEC sites throughout the state provide early childhood training at the Diploma level.
RATEP ECEC locations are as follows:
- Bamaga
- Barambah
- Palm Island
- St George and surrounding regions
- Thursday Island and surrounding regions
- Woorabinda
- Yarrabah
Assessment Methods
Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning. Read more about assessment methods.
Disclaimer
All information was accurate at time of publication, however TAFE policies, tuition fees and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.
How to apply
If you're ready to get started, simply hit the Apply Now button on your preferred course information page and get your application underway online.
You can apply to study this course through the Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC). You will need to submit your application on the QTAC website. It will be assessed, and if you are successful you will receive an offer directly through QTAC. You will need to accept your offer from QTAC before enrolling with TAFE Queensland.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credit transfers
Fast track your way to a formal qualification by earning credit for the things you already know. Getting recognition for the skills you've gained from the workplace or previous learning means less study time for you, and getting the paper to prove you're qualified a whole lot sooner. We can assess your skills, directly apply credits from previous successful study, and give you advanced standing in your course.
Get started with TAFE Queensland
If you have read and understood the student rules, refund policy, understand your fees and payment options, have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and checked you meet the entry requirements and selection criteria for this course, you're ready to get started.
University pathways
If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.
Learn more about university pathways