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'll study how children grow and learn, how to plan and run a play-based curriculum, and how to keep children safe and well. Units cover child development, observation and assessment, inclusion and diversity, health and safety, and working in partnership with families. You'll also learn the legal and ethical side of the job, including the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework that shape everyday practice in Australian centres.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each with a set number of credit points. This course is delivered over one year, usually across two semesters or three trimesters, and you need to complete all required units to graduate. Assessment is practical: you'll write observations of children, plan and lead experiences, and build a portfolio of your work. Most diplomas in this field include a work placement, where you spend time in a registered early childhood service under the supervision of qualified educators. Placement is where you put theory into practice, changing nappies, running group time, talking with families, and learning how a room actually operates.

What you'll learn

You'll finish with the skills to design and deliver a curriculum that follows children's interests, support their language, literacy and numeracy development through play, and respond to behaviour in ways that respect the child. You'll learn to work within regulations, keep accurate records, and communicate with families and colleagues. The course also covers working with children who have additional needs and understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in early childhood. These are the day-to-day capabilities that employers look for when hiring in long day care, preschools and kindergartens.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people who want to work directly with young children and families, whether you're starting out or moving from a certificate-level role. It's also a pathway to further study, many graduates go on to a bachelor degree in early childhood education, which can lead to teacher registration. If you're an international student, you'll need to meet English requirements and hold a Student visa. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. The course is listed on CRICOS (code 115127G), so you can check the official register for tuition and other details. Always confirm current entry requirements and course structure with The Performance College before you apply.

• Early childhood educator, work in long day care centres, preschools and kindergartens across Australia, planning and delivering educational programmes for children aged birth to five.
• Room leader or lead educator, take responsibility for a specific age group, mentor other educators, and oversee the daily programme in an early learning service.
• Family day care educator, run your own home-based service, caring for a small group of children and working with families in your community.
• Outside school hours care educator, support children before and after school and during holidays in school-aged care settings.
• Inclusion support educator, work alongside children with additional needs, helping them take part in mainstream early childhood programmes.
• Nanny or in-home carer, provide care and early learning in a family's home, often with a focus on one or two children.

These roles are in demand across the Australian early childhood sector, which includes private, community and government-run services. The diploma also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree if you want to become a registered early childhood teacher.