Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a one-year qualification for people who want to work directly with young children in Australian early learning services. You will study how children grow and learn from birth to five, how to plan and run a play-based curriculum, and how to keep children safe, healthy and included. Core units cover child development, observation and assessment, curriculum planning, health and safety, legal and ethical requirements, and working with families and communities. You will also learn about the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework, which shape what happens in Australian long day care, preschools and family day care.

How the course is structured

The diploma runs for one year of full-time study, usually split into two or three study periods. Each unit of study carries credit points, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. Assessment is practical: you will write observations of children, plan and lead experiences, build a portfolio, and complete a professional placement in a registered early childhood service. Placement is a required part of the course because you cannot be assessed as competent in this field without working with children. Before placement you will need a Working with Children Check and sometimes a first aid certificate, and your provider will tell you what is required.

What you will learn

By the end you should be able to plan a day that follows children's interests, document their learning, respond to behaviour in ways that support development, and talk with families about their child's progress. You will also learn to work within the National Quality Standard, follow workplace health and safety, and understand your obligations under child protection law. Group work and communication are a big part of the job, so the course builds those skills too.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers, career changers, and people already working in early childhood who want a formal qualification. It is also a pathway to further study, such as a bachelor degree in early childhood education, with credit for prior learning decided by the receiving institution. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after you finish. Check the official CRICOS page and the provider's website for current entry requirements, English language options, and intake dates.

• Early childhood educator in long day care, preschool, or family day care
• Room leader or lead educator in an early learning centre
• Outside school hours care educator in primary schools and community organisations
• Family day care educator running your own home-based service
• Nanny or in-home carer for families
• Education support worker in kindergartens and child and family services

These roles are found across Australia in private and community-run childcare centres, local councils, and not-for-profit organisations. The diploma is the standard qualification for working as an educator in most Australian early childhood services. Some graduates go on to study a bachelor degree and register as an early childhood teacher.