Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (Teacher Education: Early Childhood)

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a hands-on qualification for people who want to work with young children in Australian early learning settings. You learn how children grow and develop from birth to five, how to plan and run a play-based curriculum, how to keep children safe and healthy, and how to work with families and communities. The course covers child development, curriculum planning, observation and assessment, inclusion and diversity, legal and ethical requirements, and first aid. You also learn the business side of childcare, including regulations, quality frameworks and how to manage a room or service.

How the course is structured

This diploma runs for 1.5 years full time. Australian vocational qualifications are built from units of competency, each with a set number of credit points or nominal hours. You complete a mix of theory units and practical units, and you must pass all required units to graduate. The course includes a supervised professional placement in a registered early childhood service, where you work directly with children under the guidance of qualified educators. Placement is a core part of the qualification, not an add-on. You will be assessed on your practical skills as well as your written work.

What you will learn

You will learn how to observe children and use those observations to plan experiences that match their interests and development. You will practise setting up indoor and outdoor environments, guiding behaviour in positive ways, and supporting children with additional needs. You will also learn how to communicate with families, work within the National Quality Framework, and follow workplace health and safety, child protection and food handling rules. By the end, you should be able to take responsibility for a group of children and work as part of an education team.

Who this course suits

This diploma suits people who enjoy working with young children and want a practical, job-ready qualification. It is a good fit if you are starting out in the sector, changing careers, or already working in childcare and want to move into a qualified educator or room leader role. It also suits people who want to study in Australia and gain work experience through placement. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish. English requirements are set by the institution and by the Department of Home Affairs for the student visa, so check both. Tuition and intake details are published on the CRICOS register and the provider's official page.

• Early childhood educator in long day care, preschool or occasional care services
• Room leader or lead educator responsible for a group of children
• Family day care educator running a small home-based service
• Outside school hours care assistant or coordinator
• Nanny or in-home carer for families
• Education support worker in kindergartens and early learning centres
• Service administrator or assistant director in a childcare centre

Graduates work across the Australian early childhood sector, including private and community childcare centres, preschools, kindergartens, family day care schemes, and before- and after-school care programmes. The qualification is recognised nationally under the Australian Qualifications Framework and is valued by employers throughout Australia.