Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth-5)

This four-year bachelor degree prepares you to teach and care for children from birth to five years old. It's offered by TAFE NSW Higher Education, so the teaching leans practical: you'll spend time in early childhood centres, kindergartens and preschools as part of the course, not just reading about them. Subjects cover child development, curriculum and pedagogy, play-based learning, language and literacy, numeracy, health and safety, and working with families and communities. You'll also study how to include children with additional needs and how to lead a service.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees normally run three years full time, but this one takes four because it includes the professional experience required for early childhood teacher registration. You'll study units of study across semesters or trimesters, each with a set credit point value. The course usually includes a mix of core education units and professional experience placements in early childhood settings. There is often a capstone or final professional experience unit in the last year that pulls together what you've learned. Confirm the exact unit list and placement schedule on the official TAFE NSW course page.

What you'll learn

You'll graduate able to plan and run a play-based curriculum, assess children's learning and development, work with families from different backgrounds, and meet the National Quality Framework and Early Years Learning Framework requirements. You'll also build skills in observation, documentation, and working as part of a team. The degree is designed to lead to teacher registration, so you'll cover the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the graduate level. Check with the relevant state or territory teacher regulatory authority about registration requirements.

Who it suits

This course suits people who want to work directly with young children and their families, and who are happy to combine study with hands-on placements. It's a good fit if you're already working in early childhood and want to qualify as a teacher, or if you're starting out and prefer a practical, applied degree. International students should note that the Student visa usually allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during study periods, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements for this course are set at IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, but teaching courses often require higher; confirm the exact score on the official page.

• Early childhood teacher in long day care, preschool or kindergarten
• Early childhood educator or lead educator
• Centre director or educational leader (with experience)
• Family day care coordinator
• Early intervention assistant
• Children's services advisor in government or community organisations

These roles are found across Australia in early childhood education and care services, community organisations, and government agencies. Graduates may be eligible for teacher registration, which is required for some positions. Check with the relevant state or territory regulatory authority.