Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a two-year qualification delivered by the Australia Institute of Business and Technology. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which places it between a certificate III and a bachelor degree. The course is built around the units of competency that the early childhood sector uses, covering child development, curriculum planning, health and safety, working with families, and the legal and ethical side of caring for young children. You will spend time in both the classroom and in early childhood services, because this qualification requires supervised work placement as part of the assessment.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are usually made up of a set number of units of competency, each carrying credit points. At AIBT the course runs over two years, which gives you time to complete the required placement hours without rushing. You will study core units that everyone must pass, plus electives that let you focus on areas like working with children with additional needs or supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Assessment is practical as well as written: you will be observed in a real service, keep a portfolio of your work, and complete projects that show you can plan and run activities for children from birth to five years.

What you actually learn

You learn how to observe children and use those observations to plan experiences that match their interests and development. You learn how to keep children safe, respond to illness and injury, and follow the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework. You also learn how to talk to parents and carers, work in a team, and manage the daily routines of a centre. By the end, you should be able to take responsibility for a room of children under the supervision of a qualified educator.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people who want to work directly with young children and are looking for a practical, job-ready qualification. It is also a pathway to further study, many graduates go on to a bachelor degree in early childhood education, which can lead to teacher registration. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Check the official CRICOS page for the current tuition, intake dates and English requirements, including the separate Student visa English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs.

• Early childhood educator, working in long day care, preschools and kindergartens across Australia.
• Room leader, taking charge of a specific age group and guiding other educators.
• Family day care educator, running your own small service from home.
• Outside school hours care assistant, working before and after school and during holidays.
• Nanny or in-home carer, employed directly by families.
• Education support worker, assisting in early learning centres and some school settings.

These roles are in demand across Australia, in both metropolitan and regional areas. The diploma also gives you credit towards a bachelor degree in early childhood education if you decide to continue studying.