Overview
Gain the skills and qualifications to work confidently and effectively in early childhood with a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50121 at Victoria University (VU).
Progress your qualifications with this early childhood diploma that gives you guaranteed entry into a bachelor degree at VU.
Build on your passion for play-based learning and gain expertise in providing activities and care for children from birth to six years old. Make a real difference to children’s lives by helping them to achieve important developmental outcomes – and have fun along the way.
In addition to five work placements, this course includes first aid training and lessons in:
- childhood development (aesthetic, creative, physical)
- planning for children with additional needs
- networking and family partnerships
- children’s health and safety.
You can study this course after completing your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121 or CHC30113).
Get guaranteed entry into bachelor degrees at VU
If you choose to continue onto further study, your path to a bachelor degree will be seamless at VU. After you complete this course, enjoy guaranteed entry into our:
In some cases you may even receive credit for your prior learning.
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.
Benefit from strong industry connections in Melbourne’s north & west
A key component of your 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 even 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.
Join an information session
There's never been a better time to study early childhood education. Join an information session to find out more about the course structure, industry connections, placement opportunities and pathways to further study.
Indicative course timetable information: Domestic full-time students will study four days per week (four days of workshop and scheduled e-learning tasks), 9.30am – 3.30pm*
*Subject to change
Need some advice?
Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.
Request a call backTAFE resources
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Free TAFE
No tuition fees for eligible students. - Fee subsidies
Careers in early childhood education
With the introduction of three-year-old kindergarten, jobs in early childhood are booming in Victoria. 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 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you could advance to roles such as:
- early childhood coordinator
- family-daycare coordinator
- team leader or room leader in a service
- early-childhood educator
- playgroup coordinator
- assistant director of early childhood services
- early-childhood educator – team leader
- reliever in early-childhood programs
- nanny.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
To be awarded the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, 15 units must be completed consisting of:
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12 core units
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3 elective units, of which
- 2 must be selected from the elective units listed below
- up to 1 unit may be selected from any endorsed training package or accredited course relevant to the work outcome.
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).
Core units
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- Unit code
- BSBTWK502
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- Unit code
- CHCECE041
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- Unit code
- CHCECE042
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- Unit code
- CHCECE043
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- Unit code
- CHCECE044
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- Unit code
- CHCECE045
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- Unit code
- CHCECE046
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- Unit code
- CHCECE047
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- Unit code
- CHCECE048
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- Unit code
- CHCECE049
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- Unit code
- CHCECE050
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- Unit code
- CHCPRP003
Elective units
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- Unit code
- BSBPEF502
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- Unit code
- BSBHRM413
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- Unit code
- CHCECE053
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. Educators at this level are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum that meets the requirements of an approved learning framework and for maintaining compliance in other areas of service operations. They use specialised knowledge and analyse and apply theoretical concepts to diverse work situations. They may have responsibility for supervision of volunteers or other educators.
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
Fees & scholarships
Fee type for this course: VET
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
- full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).
Calculate your VET course fees.
Find out more about:
- the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
- ways to pay your fees
- important fee dates
- how to apply for a VE/TAFE refund
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admission & pathways
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who hold a:
* CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care; or
* CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Standard applicants must complete to determine suitability:
* Pre-training Review (PTR)
* Literacy and numeracy assessment.
* Students will also be required to demonstrate 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 by participating in an interview. This may be conducted individually or as a group, at the discretion of Victoria University. Further information can be found at: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/
Traineeship applicants must complete to determine suitability:
* Pre-training Review (PTR)
* Literacy and numeracy assessment
* must be employed as an apprentice
* must have an active Epsilon number before commencing the course.
* Students will also be required to demonstrate 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 by participating in an interview. This may be conducted individually or as a group, at the discretion of Victoria University. Further information can be found at: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/
Note, that part-time or Traineeship students who are employed in the workplace may have reduced placement requirements to provide. Please discuss this with the Course Coordinator or at the time of application.
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
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/
Failure to provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator means you will be unable to undertake practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course.
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
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.
Pathways from other institutions
If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.
Bendigo Kangan Institute, Australia
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
Bendigo Kangan Institute, Australia
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of 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.
Pathways to further study
On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
Find out more about our study pathways to VU
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.
Available start dates:
- 3 February 2025
Before you apply
Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.
Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:
- Credit transfer/Recognition of prior learning (RPL): If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.
Apply direct to VU
Direct applications are due on 27 January 2025 for our next intake which starts on 3 February 2025.
Already a VU student?
If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.
After you apply
- It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
- Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered
Enquire now – TAFE
Please fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you shortly.
Get help
- Visit a student service centre
- 1300 VIC UNI (1300 842 864)
- Request a call back
- Visit the glossary
Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
