Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

This diploma is a one-year qualification for people who want to work with young children in Australian early childhood services. You will study how children learn and develop from birth to five, how to plan and run a play-based curriculum, and how to keep children safe and well. Expect units on child development, observation and assessment, health and safety, inclusion and diversity, and working with families. You will also learn the legal and ethical side of the job, including the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework that shape every service in Australia.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each with a set credit point value. This one runs for one year, usually over two semesters, and you need to complete all the required units to graduate. The course includes a practical placement in a registered early childhood service, where you work with children under the supervision of qualified educators. Placement is a core part of the diploma, not an add-on. You will be assessed on your ability to plan experiences, guide behaviour, and document children's learning.

What you will learn

By the end, you should be able to design and deliver a curriculum that matches each child's stage of development. You will know how to set up indoor and outdoor environments that encourage exploration, how to talk with families about their child's progress, and how to respond when a child is unwell, distressed or at risk. You will also cover workplace communication, teamwork, and the regulations that apply to early childhood services in Australia.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a practical start in early childhood, career changers who like working with young children, and people already in the sector who need a formal qualification to move into a room leader or educator role. It also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree in early childhood education, with credit for your diploma studies at some institutions. International students should check the English requirement for this course, which is IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall or an accepted equivalent. Remember that the Department of Home Affairs sets its own English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. Confirm all details, including tuition and intake dates, on the official CRICOS page.

• Early childhood educator in long day care, preschool or kindergarten services
• Room leader or lead educator in an early learning centre
• Family day care educator running your own approved home-based service
• Education support worker in a school or community program
• Nanny or in-home child carer for private families
• Playgroup facilitator or mobile early years service worker

Australia's early childhood sector employs hundreds of thousands of people across centre-based care, preschools, family day care and outside school hours care. Employers include not-for-profit providers, private chains, local councils and community organisations. This diploma is the recognised qualification for many educator and room leader roles under the National Quality Framework.