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 complete this course, students are required to undertake placement and complete a minimum of 160 hours of Vocational Placement. Students who are currently employed in a regulated early childhood service, may undertake their placement with their existing employer.

Units within the course are grouped together in clusters with each cluster having its own specific Vocational Placement hours. Placement hours completed under one cluster can be carried onto the next cluster until the minimum 160 Vocational Placement hours are met.

These Vocational Placements aim to provide students with hands-on experience and real-world exposure, complementing their academic knowledge and fostering their professional development.

Requirements - To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.

Completion of BKSB (Basic Key Skills Builder).  online literacy, numeracy and digital literacy assessment required prior to enrolment, unless the student has completed an equal or higher level course. 

During your study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.

Students are required to complete 160 hours of vocational placement in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia. To participate in placement, it is a requirement to successfully obtain a Working with Children Check relevant to your state in Australia.

To participate in studies, students require access to a computer, Internet and hold intermediate computer skills. 24-hour CQUniversity computer labs are available on select campuses.

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 early childhood service, with a mandatory minimum vocational 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.

Units within the course are grouped together in clusters with each cluster having its own specific Vocational Placement hours. Placement hours completed under one cluster can be carried onto the next cluster until the minimum 160 Vocational Placement hours are met.

These Vocational Placements aim to provide students with hands-on experience and real-world exposure, complementing their academic knowledge and fostering their professional development.

As part of the assessment conditions, a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor is required to observe students completing designated tasks while on placement. This ensures that competency is demonstrated in a real-world setting and aligns with training package requirements.
Students located in the following areas may be eligible for in-person observations conducted by a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor:

• Rockhampton and surrounding areas
• Gladstone
• Mackay
• Emerald

Students who are not located in the approved in-person observation areas must arrange for virtual observations with their Trainer and Assessor. These will be conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams using a service device (e.g., a tablet or laptop provided by the service). The observer will watch live, replicating the process of an in-person observation.
To meet these requirements, students must complete their placement at a service that permits virtual assessment, including the use of video conferencing and devices for live observation by a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor.

To participate in placement, it is a requirement to successfully obtain a Working with Children Check relevant to your state in Australia.

Course Details

Admission Codes

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.