Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at Hillshire International College is a hands-on qualification for people who want to work with children from birth to five years in Australian early learning services. Over 1.5 years you study how children grow and learn, how to plan and run a play-based curriculum, how to keep children safe and healthy, and how to work respectfully with families from many backgrounds. You also learn the legal and ethical side of the job, the National Quality Framework, the Early Years Learning Framework, child protection obligations, and work health and safety in a centre.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of competency, each with a set credit value, and you normally complete them across semesters or trimesters. The diploma is a practical, job-ready qualification rather than a research degree. It sits below a bachelor degree on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it focuses on applied skills and workplace tasks. You will spend time in a classroom or online learning the theory, then apply it in a registered early childhood service. Assessment is competency-based: you need to show you can do the task, not just write about it.

Work-integrated learning is a core part of this diploma. You will complete a professional placement in an early childhood centre, where you work alongside qualified educators, interact with children, help plan experiences, and reflect on your practice under supervision. Placement hours are a requirement for the qualification and are set by the training package, so you should confirm the exact number with Hillshire International College.

What you will learn

You will learn to observe children and document their learning, design activities that match their interests and development, support children with additional needs, and respond to behavioural or wellbeing concerns. You will also practise communicating with families, working in a team, and following service policies and government regulations. The diploma builds the practical judgement you need to supervise other educators and take responsibility for a room or a group of children.

Who it suits

This course suits people who enjoy working with young children and want a recognised Australian qualification without committing to a full bachelor degree. It is also a pathway for international students who plan to work in Australian early childhood services or continue to further study. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements are published by the college and by the Department of Home Affairs for the Student visa; check both. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register under course code 114465H. Always confirm current entry requirements, placement arrangements and fees on the official page.

• Early childhood educator in long day care, preschool or occasional care services
• Room leader or lead educator responsible for planning and supervising a group of children
• Family day care educator running a small home-based service
• Outside school hours care assistant in before and after school programmes
• Education support worker in kindergartens and early learning centres
• Nanny or in-home carer for families with young children

Australian employers in these roles include long day care centres, community preschools, family day care schemes, and school-aged care services. Some graduates go on to study a bachelor degree in early childhood education to become a registered early childhood teacher.