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 young children in Australian early learning services. You'll learn how children grow and develop from birth to five, how to plan and run a play-based curriculum, and how to keep children safe and well. The course covers the National Quality Framework, the Early Years Learning Framework, and the regulations that shape everyday practice in long day care, preschool and family day care. You'll also study child protection, inclusion, and how to work with families from different backgrounds.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each with a set number of credit points. This one runs for one year full time, usually across two semesters or trimesters. You'll complete a mix of theory units and practical units, and the course includes a supervised professional placement in a registered early childhood service. That placement is where you put your learning into practice, changing nappies, setting up experiences, observing children, and working with a team of educators. The exact unit list, placement hours and assessment schedule are set out on the official CRICOS register and the provider's page.

What you'll learn

You'll graduate able to design and implement a curriculum that follows children's interests, document their learning, and meet the requirements of the National Quality Standard. You'll know how to support children with additional needs, respond to trauma and abuse, and communicate with families and colleagues. You'll also learn the business side, how to maintain health and safety, manage risk, and work within the legal and ethical framework of early childhood education in Australia.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people who want to work directly with children and lead a room in an early childhood service. It's also a pathway to further study, like a bachelor degree in early childhood education, if you want to become a teacher. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements for international applicants are usually IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, but check the official page for the exact score and accepted equivalents. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register.

• Early childhood educator, work in long day care, preschool, or family day care, planning and delivering educational programmes for children from birth to five.
• Room leader, lead a team of educators in a specific age group, mentor staff, and take responsibility for the room's programme and environment.
• Family day care educator, run your own home-based service, caring for a small group of children and working with a coordination unit.
• Outside school hours care educator, work in before and after school care and vacation care programmes.
• Nanny or in-home carer, provide care and early learning in a family's home.
• Education support worker, assist in kindergartens and early learning centres under the supervision of a teacher.

These roles are in demand across Australia, in metropolitan and regional areas. The diploma meets the qualification requirements for work as an educator in most early childhood services. It also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree in early childhood education if you want to become a registered teacher.