Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood)

The Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) at Southern Cross University is a one-year qualification for people who already have a bachelor degree and want to teach children from birth to eight. You will study how young children learn, how to plan and assess learning in the early years, and how to work with families and communities. The course covers curriculum and instruction with a focus on the Early Years Learning Framework and the transition to school.

How the course is structured

As a graduate diploma, this course sits at AQF level 8. It is shorter than a master's and builds on your existing degree. You will complete a set of units of study, each with a credit point value, usually over two semesters or three trimesters depending on the intake. The exact units and credit points are listed on the official Southern Cross University course page. Because it is a teaching qualification, you should expect a professional experience placement in an early childhood setting, such as a long day care centre, preschool or kindergarten. That placement is where you put theory into practice under the supervision of a qualified teacher.

What you will learn

You will learn child development, play-based learning, observation and documentation, and how to design learning experiences that match the way young children grow. The course also covers working with diverse families, inclusion, and the legal and ethical responsibilities of an early childhood teacher. Assessment is a mix of essays, portfolios, practical tasks and the placement reports. By the end, you should be able to plan a day's learning, manage a room of children, and talk confidently with parents and colleagues.

Who it suits and how to check details

This course suits career changers and graduates from other fields who want to move into early childhood teaching. It also suits people already working in early childhood who want to gain a teaching qualification. If you are an international student, you will need to meet the English requirement. For teaching courses, the standard is higher than for many other programs, so check the exact IELTS or equivalent score on the university's page. You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session on a Student visa. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Always confirm the latest details, including tuition and intake dates, on the official CRICOS register and the Southern Cross University website.

• Early childhood teacher in long day care, preschool or kindergarten
• Kindergarten teacher in a school setting
• Early years educator in community or government programs
• Family day care coordinator or educational leader
• Early intervention support worker
• Childcare centre director (with experience)

Graduates work across the Australian early childhood education and care sector, including not-for-profit centres, private providers, local government and school-based kindergartens. Some go on to work in policy or advocacy for children and families.