CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Name: Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Price: <a href="#fees-and-scholarships">Free TAFE</a> No tuition fees for eligible students AUD

VU course code: CHC50121 | CRICOS: 111134G | Level of study: TAFE

Duration

1 year full time or longer for part time

Delivery mode

Face to Face with eLearning

Fees

Free TAFE

No tuition fees for eligible students

Location

Footscray Nicholson, Werribee

Next start date

03 February 2025

Application closes

27 January 2025

Overview

Gain the skills and qualifications to work confidently and effectively in early childhood with a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50121 at Victoria University (VU).

Progress your qualifications with this early childhood diploma that gives you guaranteed entry into a bachelor degree at VU.

Build on your passion for play-based learning and gain expertise in providing activities and care for children from birth to six years old. Make a real difference to children’s lives by helping them to achieve important developmental outcomes – and have fun along the way.

In addition to five work placements, this course includes first aid training and lessons in:

childhood development (aesthetic, creative, physical)
planning for children with additional needs
networking and family partnerships
children’s health and safety.

You can study this course after completing your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121 or CHC30113).

Join an information session

There's never been a better time to study early childhood education. Join an information session to find out more about the course structure, industry connections, placement opportunities and pathways to further study.

: This qualification reflects the role of educators in early childhood education and care who work in regulated children’s education and care services in Australia. Educators at this level are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum that meets the requirements of an approved learning framework and for maintaining compliance in other areas of service operations. They use specialised knowledge and analyse and apply theoretical concepts to diverse work situations. They may have responsibility for supervision of volunteers or other educators.
Early childhood educators work in long day care centres, family day care, pre-schools or kindergartens.
Under the Education and Care Services National Law (2011) the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) publishes lists of approved early childhood education and care qualifications and information regarding regulatory requirements here: www.acecqa.gov.au
: If you choose to continue onto further study, your path to a bachelor degree will be seamless at VU. After you complete this course, enjoy guaranteed entry into our:
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Leadership.
In some cases you may even receive credit for your prior learning.
: Practise your skills in a simulated early childhood environment in the early childhood practical classrooms on-campus in Werribee, St Albans, Footscray, or Sunshine.
At VU, you’ll collaborate with your classmates to work through scenarios and debrief with your expert teachers to improve your skills.
Benefit from our close ties to the community, with the purpose-built Victoria University Children’s Centre on our Werribee and Footscray Nicholson Campuses, providing care and education with a varied indoor and outdoor play-based program.
: A key component of your course is three work placements, in which you’ll work alongside experienced professionals to consolidate your skills and put theory into practice.
As a VU student, you’ll benefit from our extensive partner network, which includes schools and community and government organisations, particularly in Melbourne’s north and west. Your placements may even lead to paid employment.
Your teachers are experts in their field and have valuable industry contacts. You’ll also get to hear from guest speakers, and your assessments will be scenario-based with links to the real world.

This course is nationally recognised training.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your education, work experience, current skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a different course. We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’, which lets you finish your course more quickly when you have gained some of the skills required from past study or work experience.

Entry criteria

Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who hold a:

CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care; or

CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Standard applicants must complete to determine suitability:

Pre-training Review (PTR)

Literacy and numeracy assessment.

Students will also be required to demonstrate they have the capacity to work with children and families in the highly demanding field of early childhood as set out by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations by participating in an interview. This may be conducted individually or as a group, at the discretion of Victoria University. Further information can be found at: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/

Traineeship applicants must complete to determine suitability:

Pre-training Review (PTR)

Literacy and numeracy assessment

must be employed as an apprentice

must have an active Epsilon number before commencing the course.

Students will also be required to demonstrate they have the capacity to work with children and families in the highly demanding field of early childhood as set out by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations by participating in an interview. This may be conducted individually or as a group, at the discretion of Victoria University. Further information can be found at: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/

Note, that part-time or Traineeship students who are employed in the workplace may have reduced placement requirements to provide. Please discuss this with the Course Coordinator or at the time of application.

Practical Placement:
For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires:

a current and satisfactory Police Record Check

Working with Children Check

Immunisation

The following are suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks:

Police Record Check - http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274

Working with Children Check - http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Failure to provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator means you will be unable to undertake practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course.

It is an industry expectation that those engaging with young children in an early childhood setting are fully immunised. Any students electing not to disclose their immunisation status, conscientious object to vaccinations or have a contraindication, must contact the placement coordinator to discuss the impact this may have on their capacity to undertake placement. Incomplete immunisation may impact your course progression due to a lack of appropriate placement opportunities.
Information about the immunisations can be found online at https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course.

Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special entry programs

VU Early Entry

If you're currently in Year 11 or 12, our exclusive VU Early Entry program comes with a Conditional Offer to the course of your choosing*, a personalised course plan, special events, exclusive discounts and access to one-on-one course advice.

*Conditions apply.

Learn more about VU Early Entry

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To be awarded the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, 15 units must be completed consisting of:

12 core units
3 elective units, of which

- 2 must be selected from the elective units listed below

- up to 1 unit may be selected from any endorsed training package or accredited course relevant to the work outcome.

Units

Timetable

Fees & scholarships

TAFE fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer.

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

With the introduction of three-year-old kindergarten, jobs in early childhood are booming in Victoria. With the introduction of three-year-old kindergarten, jobs in early childhood are booming in Victoria.

Take advantage of the opportunity to become one of the more than 11,000 new early childhood teachers and educators the Victorian Government is estimating we will need over the next decade.

With a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you could advance to roles such as: