Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Overview

If you are interested in furthering your career as a leader in early childhood education this course is for you. Or, if you are already working as an early childhood educator, this course will enable you to upskill your current qualifications to be leadership ready! The Diploma will enable you to gain advanced skills to enable you to assist in developing, implementing and evaluating programs for children in a sensitive, caring and ethical way. You will learn how to supervise staff and volunteers and to work as a director or service manager. The course covers theory and practice, programming and management, work health and safety, professional practice, routines, development, and planning. Career opportunities also exist for childcare centre director and qualified, team-leader positions.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this course must have successfully completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113 or CHC30121). Certified evidence is required. If you have successfully completed an earlier Early Childhood qualification a recognition of prior learning pathway to the Diploma may be available to you. Please check the course information for Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care for further information and to register your interest via the 'Enquire Now' button.

Also apply for the new GROW Early Childhood Careers Program! Wodonga TAFE and La Trobe University have partnered to provide opportunities for pathways and additional support from TAFE to university studies with the GROW Program. Find out more.

Delivery Methods

• Traineeship – Teaching and assessment will be required to be conducted as part of a traineeship
• Workplace/Blended Industry - A mix of on-campus and teaching/assessment conducted at your workplace and during timetabled sessions

Locations

• McKoy Street, Wodonga Vic (Main campus)

When You Can Enrol

• Workplace/Blended Industry - start any time: Apply via the ‘Apply now’ button in the course information page. Note: If the course is not available for online application, register your details via the ‘Enquire Now’ form to be notified when future dates are scheduled, or to chat to our friendly Customer Experience team.

• For traineeship information and enrolments, the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is your first point of contact for queries about a traineeship or apprenticeship, [www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/about-aasn]

Duration

Workplace/blended industry: (currently working a minimum 15 hours in a registered early childhood service, plus ability to attend monthly Zoom workshops online from 6pm, and occasional weekend sessions may occur): maximum 18 months. Traineeship (workplace-based): 15-36 months

Schedule

• Workplace/Blended Industry - Attendance is required at monthly Zoom workshops online from 6pm (Wednesday evenings), and occasional weekend sessions may occur. Attendance at on-campus study groups is also strongly advised (fortnightly, Tuesday evenings, 6pm-8pm). This is for workers in industry who currently hold Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113 or CHC30121) and who are currently working a minimum 15 hours in a registered early childhood service.

• Workplace (traineeship): Variable to tie in with your work commitments. Attendance is required at monthly Zoom meetings online from 6pm (Wednesday evenings), or fortnightly on-campus study groups (Tuesday evenings, 6pm-8pm). Workplace-based with scheduled online workshops. Individual training plans will be developed in consultation with your employer, as part of your traineeship.

Requirements

Students enrolling in this course must have successfully completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113 or CHC30121). Certified evidence is required.

Students in early childhood services are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend work/placement on-site. While no longer mandated, individual services will continue to have the choice to require their students/staff to be vaccinated. This is a decision that can be made at a local level based on the requirements of each service, which may impact placement opportunities.

Successful applicants for this course will be required to obtain a Working with Children’s Check for both Victoria (Volunteer or Employer category) and NSW (if working in NSW) and may be asked to apply for a National Police check prior to placement. Please note: Fees may apply to these checks.

Successful applicants for this course may be required to provide evidence of immunisation records (for placement).

Field Placement

All students studying the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care must complete a minimum of 280 hours of work in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia. Students, where possible, can complete the hours in their workplace. If needed students can be rostered to complete a placement in a host early childhood service. (Note this may extend the duration of your course). Field placement allows students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills learned during their studies.

Note: Students in early childhood services are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend work/placement on-site. While no longer mandated, individual services will continue to have the choice to require their students/staff to be vaccinated. This is a decision that can be made at a local level based on the requirements of each service, which may impact placement opportunities.

Other Information

For current information on the qualification requirements for early childhood education and care services please visit the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website, https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/requirements/children-preschool-age-or-under

Skills developed

- Develop positive and respectful relationships with children and nurture creativity
- Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
- Foster the holistic development and wellbeing of the child in early childhood
- Facilitate compliance in an education and care service
- Establish and implement plans for developing cooperative behaviour
- Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
- Design and implement the curriculum to foster children’s learning and development
- Embed sustainable practices in service operations
- Work in partnership with families to provide appropriate education and care for children
- Support the learning and development of teams and individuals
- Respond to grievances and complaints about the service
- Reflect on and improve own professional practice.

Compulsory Units

BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness
CHCECE041 Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
CHCECE042 Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
CHCECE043 Nurture creativity in children
CHCECE044 Facilitate compliance in a children's education and care service
CHCECE045 Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
CHCECE046 Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
CHCECE047 Analyse information to inform children's learning
CHCECE048 Plan and implement children's education and care curriculum
CHCECE049 Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
CHCECE050 Work in partnership with children's families
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
BSBHRM413 Support the learning and development of teams and individuals
BSBPEF502 Develop and use emotional intelligence
CHCECE053 Respond to grievances and complaints about the service

Certification

By successfully completing this course you will receive a nationally recognised AQF qualification.

Fees

From 1 January 2019, Free TAFE for Priority Courses is a Victorian Government program that will pay your tuition fees to study in this selected course at Wodonga TAFE, if you’re eligible, subject to minimum numbers.

Government Funded $6,168.00 (Tuition $6,118.00, Materials $50.00)

Fee For Service $7,778.00 (Tuition $7,728.00, Materials $50.00)

Fees Additional Information

Additional course costs that may apply
Please note depending on individual circumstance there may be additional costs that apply throughout the completion of your qualification. These will be discussed further with your Course Coordinator, and may include:
- Working With Children Check
- Vaccination requirements
- Workwear requirements for work placement
- Travel requirements to placement.

The student tuition fees published are indicative only and can be subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. Funding may be made available to eligible individuals by State and Commonwealth Governments. If funding is utilised, this may affect opportunities to access additional funding in the future. For more information see ‘Fee information and eligibility’ under the ‘Apply Now’ tab on the Wodonga TAFE website. VET Student Loans may be available to eligible individuals, visit https://www.education.gov.au/vet-student-loans to find out more, or view ‘VET Student Loans’ page on our website under the ‘How to Apply’ tab.

Materials Fees

• Workplace assessment log book
  - Placement uniform shirts (if required)
  - Student name badge (if required)
  

Careers

Occupational titles in employment may include:

• Authorised supervisor (children’s services)
• Children’s services coordinator
• Centre manager (children’s services)
• Director (children’s services)
• Childhood educator
• Group/team coordinator/leader (children’s services)
• Children’s adviser
• Program leader (children’s services)
• Children’s service director / manager
• Child development worker
• Early childhood educator

Pathways

Complete your Diploma with Wodonga TAFE and then continue on to university studies with credits towards your Early Childhood Education degree! This allows you to start working in the industry at the end of your TAFE studies; to then advance your skills and knowledge even further and enrol in a degree. With your TAFE qualification you are able to work and gain experience while you study at university. Gain the best of both teaching styles and apply your real-world knowledge in day one of your new career!

Accelerated Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care pathway to Bachelor of Early Childhood Education qualifications Diploma-qualified Early Childhood Educators may reduce the three-year Bachelor of Early Childhood Education to 18 months. If you have a career goal of becoming an Early Childhood Educator and teaching children in the foundation school years, in kindergartens, preschools and early learning centres, the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care may enable you to study and work in industry while completing a Bachelor qualification (subject to Higher Education requirements). While completing the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care qualification with Wodonga TAFE, you will gain advanced skills to assist in developing, implementing and evaluating programs for children in a sensitive, caring and ethical way. You will also learn how to supervise staff and volunteers and to work as an educational leader, a director or service manager. Study pathways with Wodonga TAFE

How to apply

NOTE: Students enrolling in this course must have successfully completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113 or CHC30121).

Apply online now via the ‘Apply Now’ button. If the course is not available for online application, register your details via the ‘Enquire Now’ form to be notified when future dates are scheduled, or to chat to our friendly Customer Experience team.

Once you submit an application for this course you will receive a separate email from LLN Robot to complete both a Digital Assessment and a Learning, Reading, Writing, Oral and Numeracy Assessment (LLN Assessment) online.

Please check your junk mail if this does not come to your inbox. All students are asked to complete the Digital and LLN assessments to determine any support requirements and to ensure the course and mode of delivery is suitable for the student.

Please allow one hour to complete the Digital and LLN assessments. You will need a computer with speakers or headphones as there is an audio section in the LLN assessment.

Your LLN and Digital assessments will need to be completed one week after receiving it to progress your application to the next stage, or your application may be withdrawn due to inactivity.

If you are unable to access the LLN assessment or the Digital assessment links please contact our Customer Experience team as soon possible.

Note: Completion of the LLN and Digital assessments does not guarantee a place in the course at Wodonga TAFE. Numbers are limited and selected applicants will be contacted to attend an interview. If an applicant is not accepted into their preferred course they will be contacted and provided information on alternate pathways and/or courses.

For traineeship information and enrolments, the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is your first point of contact for queries about a traineeship or apprenticeship, [www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/about-aasn]

Please note: We reserve the right to close course intakes early. Many courses have limited places and high demand. Early applications are recommended. We reserve the right to cancel intakes and courses if there are insufficient student numbers.