Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a one-year qualification delivered by Vocational Augment Training. It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is a practical, job-focused course rather than a research or theory-heavy one. You learn the craft of looking after and teaching young children, and you finish ready to work in the sector.

The course runs over one year of full-time study, usually across two semesters or three trimesters. You complete units of study, each carrying credit points, covering child development, curriculum planning, health and safety, working with families, and legal and ethical requirements. Assessment is mostly practical: you plan and run learning experiences, observe children, keep records, and reflect on what you did. Some units will ask you to design activities that match the interests and developmental stage of the children in your care. Because this is a vocational qualification, a large part of your learning happens on placement in a registered early childhood service, where you work alongside qualified educators and are assessed on the job. There is no research thesis at this level, but you will complete supervised professional experience that counts towards your qualification.

You graduate with skills you can use on your first day: setting up indoor and outdoor play spaces, guiding children's behaviour, supporting language and early literacy, responding to illness or injury, and communicating with parents and colleagues. You also learn to work within the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework, which set the standards for early childhood services in Australia. If you are already working in the sector, the diploma can formalise what you know and open up room-leading or supervisory roles.

This course suits people who like working with young children and want a hands-on qualification rather than a long university degree. It also suits international students who meet the English requirement and want to study in Australia and then work. While you hold a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during your course, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. Check the official CRICOS page for the current tuition, intake dates and English requirements, and confirm your visa options with the Department of Home Affairs.

• 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 home-based service
• Outside school hours care assistant or coordinator
• Nanny or in-home carer for families with young children
• Education support worker in early intervention or inclusive settings

These roles are found across Australia in private and community-owned childcare centres, government-funded preschools, and not-for-profit organisations. The diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in early childhood education, if you want to become a registered teacher.