CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Get the skills you need to provide Early Childhood Education and Care.
If you want a rewarding career in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care, this course is for you.
When you complete our Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you’ll have a nationally recognised qualification that is highly regarded by the industry.
Did you know that over 25,800 child carers are needed to work in the industry by May 2022. That’s an 18.1% projected employment growth. Source: Department of Employment, 2017 Occupation Projections.
ITHEA is committed to address this skills shortage and to provide the highest quality Early Childhood Education and Care Diploma graduates to the industry.
We strive to deliver the highest quality programs focussing on the development of students’ skills within a supportive, vibrant and exciting learning environment. ITHEA trainers are chosen for their knowledge, commitment and dedication to their students.
There are many duties and responsibilities that are a part of working as an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) educator. For example you may want to work in an ECEC long day service where you will meet many different families, children, other educators and you will learn to work as a part of a team. Or you may decide that you want to work in family day care where you will still work with families and children but on a smaller scale. There is also the choice of working in Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) where you will work with school-aged children and their families. Regardless of what choice you make you will generally have the same duties, such as: You will be responsible for playing a role as one of their first teachers in their educational journey (0-6 years) Long day care/Family day care or (6-12 years) OSHC. Working in partnership with families from diverse backgrounds, socioeconomic status and children with additional needs to achieve the highest learning for their child. Working alongside other educators in a team environment, helping each other to achieve the best outcome for children in your care. Implementing a curriculum using the EYLF, National Quality Standards and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. You may also take on the position of Room Leader, where you will be responsible for working with a team of educators, delegating daily tasks, responsible for mentoring and guiding educators as you work in a conducive environment towards the best practice of care and education for children.
You can work towards being an Educational Leader, 2nd In Charge (2IC) or Co-ordinator or you may want to further your studies and use our pathway with Swinburne University of Technology to obtain your Bachelor in Education (Early Childhood/Primary). Whatever you decide, you will be at the start of a lifelong journey teaching children to achieve the highest outcome possible and you will have memories to cherish for ever.
Our classes are conducted during the day. Study at our Melbourne city campus, with views overlooking the city skyline or you can study online.
There are 28 units of competency to complete, with electives chosen to improve your employability skills in the sector.
You will also need to complete at least 240 hours of practical placement during the course.
We have regular intakes so you can call the office on 03 9650 3900 to discuss the best option for you.
Entry requirements: Prospective students are required to complete a Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment and a Pre-Training Interview, administered by and to the satisfaction of ITHEA and be at least 18 years of age.
Vocational or educational outcomes: Successful graduates have the opportunity to go on to further study with Swinburne University.
Students have academic credit recognition for Swinburne’s Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) BA-EDUEC2 OR Bachelor of Education (Primary) BA-EDUPRI. The opportunity exists to go straight into second year for either of these programs.
The level of academic credit recognition and details of exemptions awarded to individual students will be granted according to the arrangements specified in the Statement of Academic Credit.
Please note: Students are still required to go through the normal application process and meet all relevant academic and English language entry requirements.
Changes in the academic credit offered to students may occur in the future at Swinburn’e discretion. As such information may be varied by Swinburne at any time.
Alternatively students can go into a range of employment options. Occupations may include, Childhood Education Manager, Outside School Hours Coordinator.
Job outlook: Please refer to the Australian Government Job Outlook site for job prospects for a Child Care Worker. 149,600 persons were employed as Child Carers in 2015. Job openings over the next 5 years are expected to be greater than 50,000.
Source: Department of Employment 2017. For full details on Child Carers visit Job Outlook
Delivery and assessment: We offer students the flexibility of choosing between online learning or classroom delivery. All students will be enrolled into our Learning Management System and all assessments must be completed online. As a result, all students will require a personal computer, with access to the Internet, to successfully complete their studies. Assessment methods allow for the gathering of sufficient quality evidence about the student’s performance. Methods used include question and answer, observation and demonstration, and case study.
Practical placement: To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 240 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency. Students are required to undertake supervised practical placement in relevant child care settings. Evidence provided by the supervisor will contribute to assessment of the candidate’s ability to work at this level. Students are required to find their own practical placement, however ITHEA will provide assistance and support where needed. Students must have a valid Working With Children Check prior to attending placement.
Core Units
| Unit Code | Unit Descriptor | Nominal Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| CHCDIV002 | Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety | 25 |
| CHCECE001 | Develop cultural competence | 70 |
| CHCECE002 | Ensure the health and safety of children | 63 |
| CHCECE003 | Provide care for children | 70 |
| CHCECE004 | Promote and provide healthy food and drinks | 35 |
| CHCECE005 | Provide care for babies and toddlers | 60 |
| CHCECE007 | Develop positive and respectful relationships with children | 70 |
| CHCECE009 | Use an approved learning framework to guide practice | 90 |
| CHCECE016 | Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children | 50 |
| CHCECE017 | Foster the holistic development and wellbeing of the child in early childhood | 240 |
| CHCECE018 | Nurture creativity in children | 80 |
| CHCECE019 | Facilitate compliance in an education and care service | 120 |
| CHCECE020 | Establish and implement plans for developing cooperative behaviour | 50 |
| CHCECE021 | Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children | 50 |
| CHCECE022 | Promote children's agency | 80 |
| CHCECE023 | Analyse information to inform learning | 70 |
| CHCECE024 | Design and implement the curriculum to foster children's learning and development | 170 |
| CHCECE025 | Embed sustainable practices in service operations | 60 |
| CHCECE026 | Work in partnership with families to provide appropriate education and care for children | 70 |
| CHCLEG001 | Work legally and ethically | 55 |
| CHCPRT001 | Identify and respond to children and young people at risk | 40 |
| HLTAID004 | Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting | 20 |
| HLTWHS003 | Maintain work health and safety | 40 |
Elective Units
| Unit Code | Unit Descriptor | Nominal Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| CHCDIV001 | Work with diverse people | 40 |
| CHCPRP003 | Reflect on and improve own professional practice | 120 |
| CHCECE010 | Support the holistic development of children in early childhood | 70 |
| CHCECE013 | Use information about children to inform practice | 40 |
| BSBWOR301 | Organise personal work priorities and development | 30 |
This Training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government Funding. Eligibility criteria apply. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Please make sure you have read all the course information about units of study, duration, entry requirements, assessment information, job prospects etc.
Steps
1. You must attend a pre-training interview which includes a Language, Literacy and Numeracy test and complete the eligibility declaration form (in the case of students applying for Skills First Program Funding).
2. To complete the application process, click on the ‘Apply Now’ link. Complete the steps involved to submit your application online.
3. ITHEA will assess your application and make sure all entry requirements are met. An ITHEA representative will contact you if your application is unsuccessful.
ITHEA is proud to announce established pathways for our Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care graduates. Successful students are able to enter Swinburne University of Technology courses either on campus or online through Swinburne Online, with academic credit awarded in recognition of their studies. Please see the “VOCATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES” tab above for further information.