Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at Queensland Academy of Technology prepares you to work with children from birth to five in long day care, kindergartens and family day care. You study how children grow and learn, how to plan and run a curriculum that fits each child, and how to keep them safe and well. The course covers child development, observation and assessment, health and safety, nutrition, working with families, and the legal and ethical rules that shape early childhood services in Australia.

This is a two-year diploma, delivered in semesters or trimesters. You complete units of study, each with a set number of credit points, and your training includes a professional placement in a registered early childhood service. That placement is where you put theory into practice: planning activities, guiding behaviour, documenting children's learning, and working alongside educators and families. Assessment is practical and written, and you graduate with a qualification that meets the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) requirements for working in the sector.

You will gain skills in curriculum planning, child-centred teaching, communication with families, teamwork, and compliance with the National Quality Framework. The diploma suits people who want a hands-on career with young children, whether you are starting out or changing jobs. It also gives you a pathway to further study, such as a bachelor degree in early childhood education, with credit for your diploma units.

International students study on a Student visa, which allows you to 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. English requirements for this course are set at IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, or the university's own English programmes. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Confirm all details on the official page before you apply.

• Early childhood educator in long day care centres, kindergartens and preschools
• Family day care educator running your own home-based service
• Room leader or lead educator in an early learning centre
• Inclusion support worker helping children with additional needs
• Nanny or in-home child carer for families
• Education support officer in schools or community organisations

These roles are in demand across Australia, in city and regional areas, in private, not-for-profit and government-run services.