Overview
Turn your passion for working with children into a rewarding career with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30121 at Victoria University (VU).
Get job-ready with hands-on learning in our early-childhood practical rooms, and via two practical work placements in industry.
You’ll complete this course with the qualification and confidence to work in early-childhood education and childcare centres caring for children from birth to six years old. You’ll:
- learn the fundamentals of early childhood development
- develop skills to support and nurture babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers
- gain expertise to plan and provide enriching educational experiences for children in a range of environments.
Your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care covers topics such as:
- effective interaction and communication with children
- appropriate care for babies, toddlers and children
- nutrition
- first aid, health and safety
- working legally and ethically.
Enjoy a practical, real-world learning environment
Practise your skills in a simulated early childhood environment in the early childhood practical classrooms on-campus in Werribee, St Albans, Footscray or Sunshine.
At VU, you’ll collaborate with your classmates to work through scenarios and debrief with your expert teachers to improve your skills.
Benefit from our close ties to the community, with the purpose-built Victoria University Children’s Centre on our Werribee and Footscray Nicholson Campuses, providing care and education with a varied indoor and outdoor play-based program.
Strong industry connections in Melbourne’s north & west
A key component of this course is three work placements, in which you’ll work alongside experienced professionals to consolidate your skills and put theory into practice.
As a VU student, you’ll benefit from our extensive partner network, which includes schools and community and government organisations, particularly in Melbourne’s north and west. Your placements may also lead to paid employment.
Your teachers are experts in their field and have valuable industry contacts. You’ll also get to hear from guest speakers, and your assessments will be scenario-based with links to the real world.
Begin your childcare career
This course will give you the minimum qualification and skills to take on paid roles in early childhood centres. It’s also the first step towards further career advancements in early childhood.
To open doors to higher-level responsibilities in the sector, after completing this course you’ll enjoy guaranteed entry into our Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, which can also lead into bachelor-level study at VU.
Information sessions
There's never been a better time to study early childhood education. Join an information session to find out more.
Careers in early childhood education
With the introduction of three-year-old kindergarten, jobs in early childhood are booming in Victoria.
Take advantage of the opportunity to become one of the more than 11,000 new early childhood teachers and educators the Victorian Government is estimating we will need over the next decade.
With a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, you could take on roles such as:
- early childhood educator
- outside school hours care assistant
- playgroup supervisor
- recreation assistant
- family-daycare worker
- nanny
- early childhood educator or assistant.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
To be awarded CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, 17 units must be completed consisting of:
- 15 core units
- 2 elective units of which
- 1 unit must be selected from the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification
- 1 unit may be selected from any endorsed training package or accredited courses – this unit must be relevant to the work outcome.
Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Schools (VDSS) students who complete these units of study as part of the VDSS will be issued a Statement of Attainment.
Course structure and units
VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).
Domestic and International On-Shore Programs
Core units
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE030
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE031
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE032
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE033
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE034
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE035
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE036
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE037
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE038
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE054
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE055
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE056
-
- Unit code
- CHCPRT001
-
- Unit code
- HLTAID012
-
- Unit code
- HLTWHS001
Elective units
-
- Unit code
- CHCDIV001
-
- Unit code
- BSBPEF403
Traineeship Program
Core units
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE030
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE031
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE032
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE033
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE034
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE035
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE036
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE037
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE038
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE054
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE055
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE056
-
- Unit code
- HLTAID012
-
- Unit code
- HLTWHS001
Elective units
-
- Unit code
- CHCDIV001
-
- Unit code
- BSBPEF403
VDSS Program
Year 1
-
- Unit code
- HLTWHS001
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE056
-
- Unit code
- CHCDIV001
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE030
Year 2
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE034
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE037
-
- Unit code
- BSBPEF403
-
- Unit code
- CHCECE055
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of educators in early childhood education and care who work in regulated children's education and care services in Australia. They support children's wellbeing, and development in the context of an approved learning framework. Educators use a range of well-developed skills and knowledge using discretion and judgment when carrying out their work in the context of established policies and procedures. They may work independently or under the guidance of others, though in some contexts that guidance may not be on-site.
Early childhood educators work in long day care centres, family day care, pre-schools or kindergartens.
Under the Education and Care Services National Law (2011) the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) publishes lists of approved early childhood education and care qualifications and information regarding regulatory requirements here: www.acecqa.gov.au
Admission & pathways
Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.
Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.
Entry requirements
International applicants must complete to determine suitability:
* Pre-training Review (PTR)
* IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no band less than 5.5
* Students may be required to demonstrate during the Pre-Training Review process, that they have the capacity to work with children and families in the highly demanding field of early childhood as set out by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. Further information: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/.
Practical Placement:
For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires:
* a current and satisfactory Police Record Check
* Working with Children Check
* Immunisation
* All students must have any COVID-19 vaccine before the commencement of placement. Students will be required to provide evidence prior to the commencement of placement. If students are not compliant with this requirement, they are not eligible to undertake a placement and this will mean that they will not be able to progress within their course.
Failure to provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator means you will be unable to undertake a practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course.
The following are suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks:
* Police Record Check - http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274
* Working with Children Check - http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
It is an industry expectation that those engaging with young children in an early childhood setting are fully immunised. Any students electing not to disclose their immunisation status, conscientious object to vaccinations or have a contraindication, must contact the placement coordinator to discuss the impact this may have on their capacity to undertake placement. Incomplete immunisation may impact your course progression due to a lack of appropriate placement opportunities.
Information about the immunisations can be found online at https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation
Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.
Pathways from VU courses
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
How to apply
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.
Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.
If you have questions, please get in touch:
- Phone: +61 3 9919 1164
- Online: enquiry form
Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.
VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.
