Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a two-year qualification delivered by the Australia Institute of Business and Technology and listed on CRICOS (course code 110911A). It prepares you to work with children from birth to five years in regulated early childhood settings, and it sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, one step below a bachelor degree. Because it is a diploma, the focus is practical. You learn the National Quality Framework, the Early Years Learning Framework, and how to plan and run a play-based curriculum that actually fits the children in front of you.

What you study

Units cover child development, health and safety, nutrition, and legal and ethical requirements. You study how to observe children and document their learning, how to design experiences that build language, numeracy and social skills, and how to work with families and communities. Behaviour guidance, inclusion of children with additional needs, and workplace communication are part of the core. Assessment is competency-based: you show you can do the task, not just describe it.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each with a set number of credit points or nominal hours. The course runs over two years, typically across semesters or trimesters, and includes a substantial practical placement component, usually several hundred hours in a registered early childhood service. That placement is where you put the theory to work under supervision, and it is a requirement for completion. Your institution will confirm the exact unit list, credit points and placement hours on the official course page.

Skills you gain

You finish able to plan and implement a curriculum, maintain a safe and healthy environment, respond to children's wellbeing and developmental needs, and communicate professionally with families and colleagues. You also learn to comply with regulations and work within the National Quality Standards. These are the skills employers in long day care, preschool and family day care ask for.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people who want to work directly with young children and prefer a hands-on qualification over a three-year degree. It also works for career changers and for international students who want an Australian qualification in a field with steady demand. If you are considering further study later, a diploma can provide credit towards a bachelor degree in early childhood education, though the amount of credit depends on the receiving institution.

Practical matters for international students

International applicants need to meet English requirements. The published standard for this level is IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, with equivalent scores accepted in TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, or the institution's own English programmes. Note that the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so check both. While studying, a Student visa allows 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After completing the diploma, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia, confirm current eligibility rules with the Department of Home Affairs. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register; check the official page for the figure, intake dates and placement arrangements.

• Early childhood educator in long day care centres, preschools and kindergartens
• Room leader or lead educator in an early learning service
• Family day care educator running your own licensed home-based service
• Outside school hours care assistant or coordinator
• Nanny or in-home carer for families with young children
• Education support worker in early intervention or inclusive settings

These roles are found across the Australian early childhood sector, private and community long day care, not-for-profit preschools, local government kindergartens, and school-based early learning centres. Demand is steady because Australia has a national quality framework and regulated staff-to-child ratios, which means services need qualified educators on the floor.