Kick start your career in early childhood education and care
This nationally recognised diploma offers you specialised knowledge and skills required to work in regulated children’s education and care services. Whether you’re looking to start your career in long day care centres, family day care, pre-schools or kindergartens, this course will equip you with the skills you need for daily work.
This course is designed to develop skills and knowledge required to analyse and apply theoretical concepts to diverse work situations in the early childcare sector. You can study online and continue your current work and life.
Career outcomes
Early childhood educator
Room leader
Educational leader
Childcare centre director.
Course code: CHC50121
Delivery mode: Online
Course duration: 24 months
Qualification: Diploma
Nationally recognised: Yes
Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment: Yes
Awarded by: Swinburne University of Technology
Assessments
Online quizzes, including multiple choice and short answer questions
Portfolio of evidence
Written reports
Case studies
Video and audio role plays and demonstrations.
Start your career in a growth industry
82.3% Career improvement
Percentage of course graduates that started or expanded a business, landed on a new job, or skilled up for a promotion or pay raise.
91.8% Satisfied with training
Percentage of graduates in the Education field who were satisfied with the training (Diploma).
$49,400 Average salary
The middle of the range of salary earned of course graduates starting their first ever full-time job after graduating.
82.3% Career improvement
Percentage of course graduates that started or expanded a business, landed on a new job, or skilled up for a promotion or pay raise.
91.8% Satisfied with training
Percentage of graduates in the Education field who were satisfied with the training (Diploma).
$49,400 Average salary
The middle of the range of salary earned of course graduates starting their first ever full-time job after graduating.
Source: Statistics (accessed on 11 January 2023) are for course graduates of the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. See more details at MySkills.gov.au.
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Study online with our world-class learning platform
Designed and delivered online so you can learn anywhere, anytime
Study on any device - desktop, tablet or mobile
Learn through regular trainer-lead online sessions and native content
Engage with your learning community through online forums and messages
Online course modules
Once you have enrolled in this course, you can access our online platform and start with the first module. You will need to complete a module and then the next module becomes available to you.
This course contains 16 online modules, which have been designed to cover the following units of competency, including 12 core units and 3 elective units. This course contains an introductory module.
BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to lead teams in the workplace and to actively engage with the management of the organisation.
CHCECE041 Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
The unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge to monitor and maintain health and safety in the areas of individual health, hygiene, infectious disease, supervision, risk management, incident and emergency management. It includes the ability to contribute to the ongoing improvement of workplace health and safety policies and procedures.
CHCECE042 Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to foster and enhance the holistic learning, development and wellbeing of children from birth to six years of age. It includes the ability to use detailed knowledge of different developmental domains and developmental theory and how these domains link to support holistic development.
CHCECE043 Nurture creativity in children
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop, implement and evaluate experiences that nurture creativity in children through construction, digital technologies, dramatic play, imaginative play, movement, music and visual art.
CHCECE044 Facilitate compliance in a children's education and care service
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to facilitate legislative, regulatory and National Quality Framework compliance in an education and care service.
CHCECE045 Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop guidelines that foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour, and to monitor and support children’s learning, development and wellbeing in this area.
CHCECE046 Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to promote inclusion and diversity and to plan, implement and monitor individual support strategies.
CHCECE047 Analyse information to inform children's learning
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to gather and analyse information about children’s learning to inform practice.
CHCECE048 Plan and implement children's education and care curriculum
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan, implement and evaluate curriculum over a period of time to foster children’s learning and development.
CHCECE049 Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop, implement and evaluate a sustainability management plan and support children’s environmental responsibility.
CHCECE050 Work in partnership with children's families
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to establish relationships with families, connect with the local and broader community and promote opportunities for collaboration and sharing of information with families to support effective education and care for children.
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and enhance own practice through a process of reflection and ongoing professional development.
BSBHRM413 Support the learning and development of teams and individuals
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to determine individual and team development needs and to facilitate the development of the workgroup.
CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and promote diversity in the workplace, and to contribute to the planning of diversity policies and procedures. This may apply to internal work practices or external service delivery.
CHCECE053 Respond to grievances and complaints about the service
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to effectively resolve grievances and complaints about the service.
Course requirements
Entry to this diploma early childhood education qualification requires that learners hold a CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (superseded). Students must be 18 years of age or above.
Eligible for Australian and New Zealand Residents and Citizens only.
Our modern online learning platform has been designed so that you can study anywhere, anytime. You will need to meet the following IT requirements to use or platform:
Desktop or laptop
Latest version of Chrome or Safari
Microsoft Office (2010 or higher)
Adobe PDF Reader
Mobile or tablet*
Latest version of Chrome or Safari
Latest version of Android
Latest version of iOS
* Students using a mobile or tablet will need to upload documents from a laptop or desktop or have a Dropbox account.
Eligible students may be able to access a VET Student Loan (VSL). For more details on this initiative, as well as eligibility criteria, please visit Swinburne University of Technology.
The course requires skills to be demonstrated within the workplace during 300 hours of Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment (SWLA). SWLA is conducted in an approved venue under a formal agreement between the host organisation, the student and Swinburne Open Education.
SWLA is grouped into 2 blocks. Although all units in this course have SWLA components, students will not commence SWLA until Module 5. Ensuring each student successfully completes theoretical components of learning and assessment in the first 4 online modules, prior to attending an approved facility. The same design has been applied to Modules 6 to 12. Students are required to complete theory components of these units prior to completing a 2nd block of SWLA. Students cannot be deemed as competent for a unit until their theory and practical (SWLA) assessment tasks are assessed as satisfactory.
See our SWLA Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Intake dates
Study period 1
Last enrolment date: Monday 29 May, 2023
Start date: Monday 5 June, 2023
Census date: Wednesday 5 July, 2023
Finish date: Sunday 5 November, 2023
Maximum extension: Sunday 31 December, 2023
Study period 2:
Last enrolment date: Monday 13 November, 2023
Start date: Monday 20 November, 2023
Census date: Wednesday 20 December, 2023
Finish date: Sunday 21 April, 2024
Maximum extension: Sunday 16 June, 2024
Study period 3:
Last enrolment date: Monday 29 April, 2024
Start date: Monday 6 May, 2024
Census date: Wednesday 5 June, 2024
Finish date: Sunday 6 October, 2024
Maximum extension: Sunday 1 December 2024
Study period 1
Last enrolment date: Monday 26 June, 2023
Start date: Monday 3 July, 2023
Census date: Wednesday 2 August, 2023
Finish date: Sunday 3 December, 2023
Maximum extension: Sunday 28 January, 2024
Study period 2:
Last enrolment date: Monday 11 December, 2023
Start date: Monday 28 December, 2023
Census date: Wednesday 17 January, 2024
Finish date: Sunday 19 May, 2024
Maximum extension: Sunday 14 July, 2024
Study period 3:
Last enrolment date: Monday 27 May, 2024
Start date: Monday 3 June, 2024
Census date: Wednesday 3 July, 2024
Finish date: Sunday 3 November, 2024
Maximum extension: Sunday 29 December, 2024
Study period 1
Last enrolment date: Monday 31 July, 2023
Start date: Monday 7 August, 2023
Census date: Wednesday 6 September, 2023
Finish date: Sunday 7 January, 2024
Maximum extension: Sunday 3 March, 2024
Study period 2:
Last enrolment date: Monday 15 January, 2024
Start date: Monday 22 January, 2024
Census date: Wednesday 21 February, 2024
Finish date: Sunday 23 June, 2024
Maximum extension: Sunday 18 August, 2024
Study period 3:
Last enrolment date: Monday 1 July, 2024
Start date: Monday 8 July, 2024
Census date: Wednesday 7 August, 2024
Finish date: Sunday 8 December, 2024
Maximum extension: Sunday 2 February, 2025
Frequently asked questions
We understand you need to fit study around your busy life. Our online learning platform is designed with this in mind, so you can study on any device, anywhere, anytime.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.
Q. How can I access trainer support?
You can access our dedicated trainer support using your choice of communication – online chat, email, phone call, or video chat.
Q. Do you help me find a job once I graduate?
At Swinburne Open Education, it’s not only about qualifications. We know you want to get a good job when you finish your studies, and our Careers Team will help you with valuable job-hunting skills such as CV writing and interview techniques. We are here to support you every step on the way. Our job finishes when yours starts.
Q. Can I pause my study if something in my life changes?
Self-paced learning gives you the flexibility to fit study around your life. We understand life doesn’t always go to plan. You can apply for extensions for up to 6 months (3 months per extension) if needed. See more details in our full FAQs.
Q. What if the course end up not being right for me?
If you are less than half way through your enrolment period and it’s not working out, you can opt-out of the second half and reduce your course fee liability to 50% of the total course fee. Refer to the Student Agreement for full terms and conditions.
Wondering how to fit online learning into your life?
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