Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a one-year qualification delivered by Vocational Augment Training. It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is a practical, job-focused qualification rather than a degree. Study is organised into units of study, each carrying credit points, and the course is typically delivered over two semesters or three trimesters depending on intake. The subject area is curriculum and instruction, so the emphasis is on planning and delivering educational programmes for young children, not on general childminding.

You will study how children develop and learn, how to design and implement a curriculum that meets the Early Years Learning Framework, how to observe and assess children's progress, and how to keep them safe and well. Units cover working legally and ethically, supporting inclusion and diversity, and partnering with families and communities. Because this is a diploma, a substantial part of the course is work-integrated learning: you complete a professional placement in a regulated early childhood service, where you are supervised by qualified educators and assessed on your practical skills. That placement is not optional. It is how the qualification proves you can do the job.

Graduates finish with the skills to plan and run educational programmes for children from birth to five, manage a room or a small service, document children's learning, and work within the National Quality Framework. You learn to communicate with families, respond to children's needs, and work as part of a team. The course suits people who want to work directly with young children and who prefer hands-on training over a long academic degree. It also suits people already working in the sector who need a formal qualification to move into a lead educator or room leader role, or to meet regulatory requirements. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish, depending on your circumstances. Check the official CRICOS page and the Department of Home Affairs for current details.

• Early childhood educator in long day care centres, preschools and kindergartens across Australia.
• Room leader or lead educator responsible for planning and running a specific age group's programme.
• Family day care educator running a small home-based service.
• Outside school hours care assistant in before and after school programmes.
• Education support worker in early intervention or inclusive settings.
• Nanny or in-home carer with a formal early childhood qualification.

These roles are found in the education and care services industry, which includes private and community-run centres, local government preschools, and not-for-profit organisations. Some graduates go on to study a bachelor degree in early childhood education to become a registered teacher.