Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a two-year qualification for people who want to work with children from birth to five years in Australian early learning services. You study how children grow and learn, how to plan and run a programme that suits each child, and how to keep them safe and well. The units cover child development, play-based learning, curriculum planning, health and safety, nutrition, working with families, and the legal and ethical side of the job. You also learn to observe children, document their learning, and use those records to plan what comes next.

How the qualification is structured

Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. This one is delivered over two years, usually across semesters or trimesters, and is made up of units of study with credit points attached. You will spend time in both the classroom and in early childhood services, because the diploma includes a set number of hours of professional experience. That placement is where you practise routines, lead activities, and work alongside qualified educators. Your assessments are practical: you plan experiences, keep learning stories, and reflect on your own practice. Some providers offer a capstone unit or a final placement that pulls the whole qualification together.

Skills you build

By the end you can design and run a play-based programme, support children with additional needs, communicate with families, and follow the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework. You learn to work within a team, take responsibility for a room, and respond to incidents and emergencies. You also build the habits of a professional: keeping records, respecting confidentiality, and continuing to learn on the job.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people who are patient, observant, and genuinely interested in how young children think and learn. If you are already working in the sector as an unqualified educator, it is a way to formalise your experience. If you are starting out, it gives you a recognised qualification and the supervised hours that employers look for. Excelsia University College delivers the course, and international students study on a Student visa, which allows 48 hours of work per fortnight while the course is in session. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. Always confirm the current structure, placement requirements, and fees on the official CRICOS page or with the provider.

• Early childhood educator in long day care centres, preschools, and kindergartens
• Room leader or lead educator in an early learning service
• Family day care educator running your own approved home-based service
• Outside school hours care assistant in before and after school programmes
• Education support worker in early intervention or inclusive settings
• Nanny or in-home carer for families with young children

These roles are found across Australia in private and community-run children's services, local councils, and not-for-profit organisations. The diploma also gives you credit towards further study, such as a bachelor degree in early childhood education, if you want to become a teacher.