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 with children from birth to five years in Australian early learning services. You learn how children grow and develop, how to plan and run a play-based curriculum, how to keep children safe and well, and how to work with families and other staff. The course sits at diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is practical, job-focused and sits between a certificate III and a bachelor degree.

What you study

You will work through units of study that cover child development, curriculum planning, health and safety, nutrition, behaviour guidance, inclusion of children with additional needs, and legal and ethical requirements for early childhood services. Assessment is a mix of written tasks, projects and practical observations. Because this is a diploma, the emphasis is on what you can actually do in a room full of children, not just what you can write in an exam.

Structure and placement

Australian diplomas are usually delivered over one year full time across two or three study periods, depending on the provider. Each unit carries credit points, and you need to complete all required units to graduate. Work placement is a core part of this qualification, you will spend a set number of hours in a regulated early childhood service, supervised by qualified educators, putting your units into practice. This is where most students say the real learning happens.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a direct path into early childhood work, career changers who want a qualification they can use quickly, and people already working in the sector who need a formal diploma to move into room leader or educator roles. It also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree in early childhood education if you decide to go further, with credit for your diploma study at many Australian institutions.

Practical details

Kingston Academy of Australia delivers this course under CRICOS code 108397K. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register, check there for current figures. International applicants need to meet English requirements; for this field, teaching and care roles usually sit at the higher end of the IELTS scale because you will be communicating with children and families every day. The Student visa also has its own separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. While studying, most student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm all details on the official CRICOS page before you apply.

• Early childhood educator, working directly with children in long day care, preschool or kindergarten settings
• Room leader, leading a room and supervising other educators in an early learning service
• Family day care educator, running your own approved home-based care service
• Outside school hours care educator, working in before and after school programmes and vacation care
• Nanny or in-home carer, providing care in a family home
• Education support worker, assisting in kindergartens and early intervention services

These roles are in demand across Australia, particularly in long day care and preschool services. Many graduates go on to study a bachelor degree in early childhood education to become a registered early childhood teacher.