- This fee-for-service program is not eligible for government funding
Course Overview
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care equips you to design a project plan, administer, monitor, finalise and review projects, establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children and determine individual and team development needs to facilitate the development of individuals and groups.
You also learn how to identify and respond to children and young people at risk, develop positive and respectful relationships with children, provide care of babies, toddlers and children, implement strategies for the inclusion of all children, nurture creativity in children and use an approved learning framework to guide practice. In addition, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to facilitate compliance in an education and care service and design and implement the curriculum to foster children’s learning and development.
Upon graduation, you will be qualified to work as an Early Childhood Educator or Child Care Assistant. This is the highest qualification required for a Director or Service Manager-level role in a children’s care centre, so you will also be qualified to work as Child Care Centre Director.
Job Outcomes
Potential career outcomes could include:
- Educational Leader
- Group Leader
- Assistant Director
- Centre Director
- Nominated Supervisor
Recognition

Study Method
- OnlineOnline delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
- BlendedBlended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
- In-classIn class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
- VirtualVirtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
Duration and Study Load
- 24 months
Entry Requirements
Education
Whilst there are no formal entry requirements mandated by the training package, students’ skills and capabilities to undertake this training product will be assessed and advice on suitability will be provided during the pre-enrolment process.
Minimum Age
Students under the age of 18 years require the signed consent of a parent or guardian to enrol in this qualification.
Residency Status
You will need to be a permanent Australian resident or equivalent.
Placement
Students must apply for their Working with Children check at course commencement.
For mandatory work placement (240 hours), students must have access to a regulated education and care service provider, with appropriate range of work tasks and ratios of children, AND access to a qualified supervisor (i.e. a person who holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent).
Work Placement
This course also requires a minimum of 240 hours of work placement in a registered childcare facility, supervised by a qualified staff member able to sign off on practical demonstration elements. You will also need to complete a First Aid Certificate to demonstrate competency for HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting at your own cost prior to undertaking your work
placement.
There are also a number of statutory checks required by workplaces, such as a Working with Children Check. These may vary by state. In addition, individual workplaces may impose additional requirements on students undertaking work placement. You will be responsible for the costs of any such checks or requirements. Your work placement will need to be completed in Australia, and you will be responsible for the costs of any travel, accommodation, statutory checks or other requirements related to your work placement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Given that some students may already be able to demonstrate their competence in some units, a recognition of prior learning (RPL) assessment process may be available to students to recognise skills and knowledge that may have been gained through formal and informal training and/or learning, work experience and life experience.
If you currently hold a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113), credit arrangements apply.
Subjects
* This course contains a core unit, HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting, which must be completed through an external RTO. Foundation Education has an agreement in place with Red Cross Australia (RTOID 3605) which allows students to receive training for this unit at a reduced price. Red Cross Australia is a third party training provider who conduct training and assessment services on behalf of Foundation Education
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to implement and monitor work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and work practices as part of a small work team.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge to ensure the health and safety of children.
The unit describes the skills and knowledge to establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to support and protect children and young people who are at risk of harm. This work occurs within legislative and policy frameworks and carries a duty of care responsibility.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to promote and encourage children’s agency.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required by educators working with children to ensure they can develop and maintain effective relationships and promote positive behaviour.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to support both individual and group plans for developing cooperative behaviour.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to ensure children’s physical and emotional well-being is maintained and their self-sufficiency is nurtured.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required by educators working with babies and toddlers to ensure that the children’s physical and emotional wellbeing is maintained. This unit applies to work with babies and toddlers from birth to 24 months in a range of early education and care contexts
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to promote healthy eating and ensure that food and drinks provided are nutritious, appropriate for each child and prepared in a safe and hygienic manner.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to support the inclusion of all children and to work with relevant others to plan and implement support strategies where required.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to gather and analyse information about children’s learning, in order to inform practice.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work towards cultural competency and to support participation of all children and families in children’s services. This support includes contributing to children’s understanding and acceptance of all cultures.
The unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety issues in the workplace, model cultural safety in own work practice, and develop strategies to enhance cultural safety. This unit applies to people working in a broad range of roles including those involved in direct client service, program planning, development and evaluation contexts. It deals specifically with cross-cultural awareness and issues involving working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, organisations and communities.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to foster and enhance the holistic development and wellbeing of children from birth to 6 years of age.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to nurture creativity in children.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to support children to connect with and contribute to their world and embed sustainable practice into service operations.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to enable educators to provide children with opportunities to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for future success.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to facilitate legislative, regulatory and National Quality Framework compliance within an education and care service.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and work within the legal and ethical frameworks that apply to an individual job role. This unit applies to community services and health workers who play a proactive role in identifying and meeting their legal and ethical responsibilities.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required by educators to design, implement and evaluate the curriculum to foster children’s learning and development.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work in partnership with families to provide appropriate education and care for the child.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage own performance and professional development. Particular emphasis is on setting and meeting priorities, analysing information and using a range of strategies to develop further competence.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to undertake a straightforward project or a section of a larger project. This unit addresses the management of projects, including developing a project plan, administering and monitoring the project, finalising the project, and reviewing the project to identify lessons learned for application to future projects.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to create an environment that enables and supports the application of innovative practice.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to determine individual and team development needs and to facilitate the development of the workgroup.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage risks in a range of contexts across the organisation or for a specific business unit or area.
About Foundation Education
Foundation Education is one of the few Registered Training Organisations (RTO) in Australia who endeavour to deliver flexible online training solutions designed to fit our students’ lifestyle. Since 1999, we’ve been focused on providing excellence in Vocational Education and Training and building partnership networks that drives the quality of graduates across each industry, with our partner RTO, the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers (AIPT). With more than 60 nationally recognised certificate and diploma level courses on offer, the Foundation Education difference means:
- Flexible Online Study – Our courses are delivered online so you can study whenever and wherever suits you. This also gives you the flexibility to choose your course length – whether that be the full term of your course or completing your study in as little as six months.
- Dedicated Student Support – Our industry experienced Technical Advisors, Assessors and Support Officers will support you from enrollment through to graduation.
- Industry Relevant Courses – Course material is developed in consultation with industry experts to equip you with the job-ready skills and up-to-date knowledge required to support your career goals.
Foundation Education is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO Number – 22557)