Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a one-year qualification for people who want to work directly with young children in Australian early learning services. You learn how children grow and develop from birth to five, how to plan and run a program that fits what each child needs, and how to keep them safe, well and engaged while they are in your care.

Australian diplomas sit at level 5 on the AQF and are usually delivered over two or three study periods across the year, with each unit carrying a set number of credit points. Your units will cover child development, curriculum planning, health and safety, working with families, and the legal and ethical side of the job. Assessment is practical as much as written, and you will spend a substantial part of your enrolment on placement in a registered early childhood service, where you plan experiences, document children's learning and work alongside qualified educators. That placement is not an add-on; it is where most students work out what kind of educator they want to be.

By the time you finish, you will be able to observe children and use what you see to shape the program, build routines that support wellbeing, communicate with families about their child's progress, and follow the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework in daily practice. You will also learn to work within a team, manage your own documentation, and respond appropriately when a child is unwell, upset or at risk. These are the skills employers in long day care, preschool and family day care actually hire for.

This course suits school leavers who want a hands-on start in early childhood, career changers who enjoy working with young children, and people already working in the sector who need a formal qualification to move into a room leader or educator role. It also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree in early childhood education if you decide to go further and work towards teacher registration. Check the official CRICOS listing and Starford College's own page for the current unit structure, entry requirements and placement arrangements before you apply.

• 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 service
• Nanny or in-home carer for young children
• Outside school hours care assistant
• Education support worker in early years settings

Graduates work across the Australian early childhood sector, including not-for-profit community services, private long day care chains, council-run preschools and family day care schemes. The qualification can also lead into further study, such as a bachelor degree in early childhood education, which is the usual route to teacher registration.