Course History

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CHC30121 - Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Course Details

Course Summary

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 and within organisational policies and procedures, within the requirements of the Education and Care National Quality Framework. Attaining the required skills and knowledge of an Early Childhood educator provides you with an understanding of how to engage children in play-based learning activities, that contribute to reaching individual children's developmental milestones.

To achieve this qualification, students must have completed a total of at least 160 hours of work in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia.  The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.

Entry Requirements

CQUniversity requires: completion of bksb (Basic Key Skills Builder) online literacy and numeracy assessment prior to enrolment, unless the student has completed an equal or higher-level course.

The requirement to complete vocational placement component for the duration of the qualification of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia.

The requirement to successfully obtain a Working With Children Check relevant to your state in Australia.

Access to a computer, Internet and intermediate computer skills. 24 hour CQUniversity computer labs are available on selected campuses.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

COVID-19 vaccination is no longer a mandatory requirement for workers in early childhood, primary and secondary education settings. Decisions on mandatory vaccinations will instead be made by the owner or operator of these settings and as such students undertaking work-integrated learning will need to adhere to the individual education setting requirements.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within a regulated education and care service, with a mandatory work placement of 160 hours.

Within this time allocation, students can demonstrate the required vocational placement tasks and skills for other units as required for the qualification.

Students may be required to complete additional hours of Vocational Placement, to what is listed on the training package, to achieve this qualification, which is inclusive of the 160 hours required for units CHCECE031, CHCECE032, CHCECE035 and CHCECE036.

Units CHCECE031, CHCECE032, CHCECE035 and CHCECE036 have mandatory work placement of 160 hours for each unit. To assist students to meet this requirement we have clustered these units, as the total number of 160 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirements of workplace hours within this qualification.

Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees
Full Fee $5,185.00 (2024)
$5,355.00 (2025)
Subsidised Full Fee $1,037.00 (2024)
$1,054.00 (2025)
Subsidised Concession Fee $527.00 (2024)
$527.00 (2025)
Fee for service per unit $305.00 (2024)
$315.00 (2025)
Subsidised full fee per unit $61.00 (2024)
$62.00 (2025)
RPL Fee for service per Unit $153.00 (2024)
$237.00 (2025)
For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Direct To University
How to Apply Please Enquire or Apply Now
Study Area
  • Education and Humanities
Skill Area
  • Child Care
AQF Level Level 3: Certificate III

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes 		Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes 		Not Applicable

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

CHC30121 Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care is a pre-requisite to the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.  Students can further their study opportunities with unit credits towards other qualifications within CQUniversity.

Occupations include but are not limited to Early Childhood Educator in long day care services, family daycare, in-home care, pre-schools or kindergartens.

Delivery Agreement

Third-Party agreement with The MaraWay Qld group.

Course Structures

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete 15 core units
  2. Complete 2 elective units

This course has been structured into stages/clusters, with a goal of streamlining the enrolment/learning process. These Clusters have been designed as a recommended study plan to ensure all course requirements are met.

Students to follow the sequence in the course planner. If you have previously completed study you maybe eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study. Cluster 8 consists of HLTAID012 and you will need to attend a CQU campus at either Cairns, Mackay or Rockhampton to complete the practical requirements for this unit. Alternatively if you are not located near one of these campuses you can complete this unit through an accredited short course at CQUniversity or an alternate RTO and apply for a credit transfer at the completion.



Training.gov.au

Study Mode Definitions

  • Online: Online courses provide the flexibility to study without normally requiring a student to visit a campus. Course content is studied through a number of means including the use of online discussion forums, electronic library resources, by contacting lecturers and teachers, and receiving study materials online/electronically. Work integrated learning, including placements, may be included in some courses.
  • On-campus: Students studying in on-campus mode typically are expected to attend and participate in regular, structured on-campus teaching and learning activities throughout the University’s academic term. These activities may include lectures, tutorials, workshops and practice, online or other activities and normally will be timetabled at a CQUniversity campus or approved delivery site.
  • Mixed Mode: Students studying in mixed mode will participate in a combination of online learning activities in addition to site-specific learning activities, which may include residential schools, co-op placements and/or work-integrated learning as a compulsory requirement of a unit. The additional site-specific learning activities are what differentiates a mixed-mode unit from an online unit.

*All study modes may include Vocational placement and/or work integrated learning.

Select a course structure below to view the delivery details, including the different study modes offered for each structure.

Please select a course structure from the options below:
ON CAMPUS

There are two (2) on-campus yearly admissions, one on Rockhampton North campus and one on Gladstone Marina campus for this course:

  • February admission

This course is delivered over a 38-week period, however as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level. Students must complete all components of the assessment tasks within the course to be deemed competent.

The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia. The total number of 160 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement of workplace hours within this qualification.

Students may be required to complete 304 hours of Vocational Placement within this course to demonstrate practical tasks, which is inclusive of the 160 hours required for units CHCECE031, CHCECE032, CHCECE035 and CHCECE036.

Students to follow the sequence in the course planner.

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.

To complete the unit HLTAID012 students will need to enrol into the Accredited Short Course in First Aid for Education and Care with CQUniversity or complete the HLTAID012 with another Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

  • On-campus
  • RPL/RCC/Credit
Cluster 1
Health and Safety
Cluster 2
Legal and Ethical
Cluster 3
Culture and Community
Cluster 4
Engaging with Environments
Cluster 5
Best Practice
Cluster 6
Play and Development
Cluster 7
Effective Work Practices
First Aid
Unit

START TAFE NOW (STN) - ON CAMPUS

There are two (2) on-campus yearly admissions, one on Rockhampton North campus and one on Gladstone Marina campus for this course:

  • February admission

This course is delivered over a 38-week period, however as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level. Students must complete all components of the assessment tasks within the course to be deemed competent.

The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia. The total number of 160 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement of workplace hours within this qualification.

Students may be required to complete 304 hours of Vocational Placement within this course to demonstrate practical tasks, which is inclusive of the 160 hours required for units CHCECE031, CHCECE032, CHCECE035 and CHCECE036. Students to follow the sequence in the course planner.

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.

To complete the unit HLTAID012 students will need to enrol into the Accredited Short Course in First Aid for Education and Care with CQUniversity or complete the HLTAID012 with another Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

  • On-campus
  • RPL/RCC/Credit
Cluster 1
Health and Safety
Cluster 2
Legal and Ethical
Cluster 3
Culture and Community
Cluster 4
Engaging with Environments
Cluster 5
Best Practice
Cluster 6
Play and Development
Cluster 7
Effective Work Practices
First Aid
Unit

MIXED MODE

This course is delivered over a 50 week period, however as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.

The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia. The total number of 160 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement of workplace hours within this qualification.

Students may be required to complete 350 hours of Vocational Placement within this course to demonstrate practical tasks, which is inclusive of the 160 hours required for units CHCECE031, CHCECE032, CHCECE035 and CHCECE036. Students to follow the sequence in the course planner.

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.

To complete the unit HLTAID012 students will need to enrol into the Accredited Short Course in First Aid for Education and Care with CQUniversity or complete the HLTAID012 with another Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

  • Mixed Mode
  • RPL/RCC/Credit
Cluster 1
Health and Safety
Cluster 2
Legal and Ethical
Cluster 3
Culture and Community
Cluster 4
Engaging with Environments
Cluster 5
Best Practice
Cluster 6
Play and Development
Cluster 7
Effective Work Practices
First Aid
Unit

START TAFE NOW (STN) MIXED MODE

This course is delivered over a 50 week period, however as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.

The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia. The total number of 160 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement of workplace hours within this qualification.

Students may be required to complete 350 hours of Vocational Placement within this course to demonstrate practical tasks, which is inclusive of the 160 hours required for units CHCECE031, CHCECE032, CHCECE035 and CHCECE036.

Students to follow the sequence in the course planner.

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.

To complete the unit HLTAID012 students will need to enrol into the Accredited Short Course in First Aid for Education and Care with CQUniversity or complete the HLTAID012 with another Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

  • Mixed Mode
  • RPL/RCC/Credit
Cluster 1
Health and Safety
Cluster 2
Legal and Ethical
Cluster 3
Culture and Community
Cluster 4
Engaging with Environments
Cluster 5
Best Practice
Cluster 6
Play and Development
Cluster 7
Effective Work Practices
First Aid
Unit

TRAINEESHIP

This course is delivered over a 50 week period, however as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.

Students to follow the sequence in the course planner.

If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.

To complete the unit HLTAID012 students will need to enrol into the Accredited Short Course in First Aid for Education and Care with CQUniversity or complete the HLTAID012 with another Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

  • Mixed Mode
  • RPL/RCC/Credit
Cluster 1
Health and Safety
Cluster 2
Legal and Ethical
Cluster 3
Culture and Community
Cluster 4
Engaging with Environments
Cluster 5
Best Practice
Cluster 6
Play and Development
Cluster 7
Effective Work Practices
First Aid
Unit

Course Assessment Information

RPL - Students who have previous informal and formal learning need to advise their trainer/assessor prior to enrolment. If the student wishes to apply for an RPL they need to apply to the RPL Centre.
Credit transfer - If credit for relevant formal qualifications is sought, then the process will be actioned after the student has enrolled in at least one unit of competency as directed by the relevant trainer/assessor. The Trainer/Assessor will work with the student on their credit transfer application, and provide advice and support as necessary.
Assessment Types
Third Party Verification
Written/Electronic Assessment
Practical Task
RPL
Project
Other
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?
Please view the more details information for any additional information related to this course.

Domestic 2022 Availabilities

ON CAMPUS

On-campus

Rockhampton

February: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time

Gladstone

February: Full Time/Part Time

START TAFE NOW (STN) - ON CAMPUS

On-campus

Gladstone

February: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time

Rockhampton

February: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time

MIXED MODE

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

START TAFE NOW (STN) MIXED MODE

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

ON CAMPUS - The MaraWay QLD

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

TRAINEESHIP

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

Domestic 2023 Availabilities

ON CAMPUS

On-campus

Rockhampton

February: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time

START TAFE NOW (STN) - ON CAMPUS

On-campus

Rockhampton

February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time

MIXED MODE

Mixed Mode
Mixed Mode includes a combination of online learning activities and compulsory site-specific attendance at residential schools and/or workshops.
January: Full Time/Part Time
February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
May: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time

START TAFE NOW (STN) MIXED MODE

Mixed Mode
Mixed Mode includes a combination of online learning activities and compulsory site-specific attendance at residential schools and/or workshops.
January: Full Time/Part Time
February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
May: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time

ON CAMPUS - The MaraWay QLD

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

TRAINEESHIP

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

Domestic 2024 Availabilities

ON CAMPUS

On-campus

Rockhampton

February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time

START TAFE NOW (STN) - ON CAMPUS

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

MIXED MODE

Mixed Mode
Mixed Mode includes a combination of online learning activities and compulsory site-specific attendance at residential schools and/or workshops.
January: Full Time/Part Time
February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
May: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time

START TAFE NOW (STN) MIXED MODE

Mixed Mode
Mixed Mode includes a combination of online learning activities and compulsory site-specific attendance at residential schools and/or workshops.
January: Full Time/Part Time
February: Full Time/Part Time
March: Full Time/Part Time
April: Full Time/Part Time
May: Full Time/Part Time
June: Full Time/Part Time
July: Full Time/Part Time
August: Full Time/Part Time
September: Full Time/Part Time
October: Full Time/Part Time
November: Full Time/Part Time

ON CAMPUS - The MaraWay QLD

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.

TRAINEESHIP

There are currently no intakes scheduled for this course structure.
For individual class days and times for each intake please check the TAFE Timetable located here
The availabilities shown above are for the current and future years. To view any historic availabilities please press "Show Historic Availabilities" below:

Show Historic Availabilities
More Details

More Details

Enrolment Sequence 

Please refer to the VET Course Planners for further details relating to the cluster enrolment sequence of this course. The student must enrol into all units of the cluster unless they are eligible for credit transfer of any unit/s completed within another qualification. 


On-Campus Classes 

Classes are conducted one day per week, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, except public holidays and Queensland School holiday periods on the following campuses: 

  • Rockhampton North campus on a Wednesday 

  • Gladstone Marina campus on a Thursday

Note: If minimum enrolments for class are not met, a video link will be provided to conduct training. 

Compulsory Attendance Requirements

Students who are not currently working in an educational workplace must organise a voluntary work placement. All students must complete practical assessment tasks along with a vocational placement logbook. All details to complete these processes are available on Moodle. Practical assessment tasks will be observed by a qualified supervisor in the workplace holding a Diploma or higher qualification relevant to the industry placement. 


Resource Requirements

All resources for this qualification are available online through Moodle. 


Optional Attendance 

Weekly zoom session options with a teacher to assist students with their study, all details on Moodle.