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Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
CHC50121
Training provided by Partners in Training Australia, RTO 21837.
Course Overview
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care reflects the role of early childhood educators who are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum in early childhood education and care services. These workers work to implement an approved learning framework within the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations and the National Quality Standard and may have responsibility for supervision of volunteers or other staff.
Child care workers are responsible for caring for toddlers and young children in various environments and providing educational, social, physical and intellectual support to aid appropriate development.
Your daily tasks can include preparing materials, activities, games and meals. You will often be directly involved with children (e.g. playing games with them) and you sometimes might be required to take on a more supervisory role while they interact with other kids.
You will also need to be willing to accept legal responsibility for the health and safety of children in your care; you should be familiar with Early Childhood Australia’s Code of Ethics. Most child care work involves working as part of a small team, so the ability to work intimately with other careers is essential.
Please note you will not be studying through Fresh Futures Australia but Partners in Training a Nationally Recognised Registered Training Organisation.
Course Essentials
Qualification Code: CHC50121
Recognition: Nationally recognised - meets Australian Qualifications Framework.
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Study: Full-Time Study
Study mode: Classroom-based
Class time: 9.30am to 4pm
Duration: 12 months
Homework: 15hrs of research, article reading & assessment work per week.
Assessment: Knowledge evidence, direct demonstration and observation, portfolios, projects, role plays, case studies and presentations.
Practical Placement Hours: 280 hours (Minimum)
Funded Admin Fee: $100 (Upfront & non-refundable)
Funded Tuition Fee: $200 (Skills First)
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Throughout your studies, you will be required to complete your research, assessments as well as accessing your emails using a desktop/laptop/mobile device with internet availability.
Requirements
Education: Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who are currently working in the childcare settings AND:
- hold a CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care OR
- CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Minimum Age: You will need to be at least 18 years old.
Language, Literacy and Numeracy: To assist prospective students to determine whether a course is suitable and appropriate for the individual needs Partners in Training will assess all students' language, literacy and numeracy by asking you to undertake a self-assessment review prior to the enrolment. A Partners in Training course advisor will discuss the outcomes of the review and make recommendations about whether the course is suitable for you and identify additional support where required.
Enrolment Application & Pre-Training Review: To be done during the Information Session or Online.
Equipment: Throughout your studies, you will be required to complete your research and assessments as well as accessing your emails using a desktop/laptop with internet availability.
Police Check & Working with Children Check: This qualification requires you to hold current and satisfactory checks in order for you to undertake practical placement hours.
Potential job titles:
Typical employers of community workers:
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Authorised supervisor (children’s services)
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Centre manager (children’s services)
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Early childhood educator
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Coordinator of fieldworker (children’s services)
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Director or Manager (children’s services)
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Child development worker
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Program leader (children’s services)
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Group or team leader or coordinator
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Childcare Centres
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Education Centres
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PCYC
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Goodstart Early Learning
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Mission Australia
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Fitness Centers
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Family Day Cares
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Onsite Childminding businesses
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Councils
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Camp Australia
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Families seeking an Au Pair
Responsibilities
As a child care worker some tasks you could perform throughout your day can include:
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Supervise and monitor the safety of children
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Prepare and organize mealtimes and snacks for children
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Help children keep good hygiene
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Change the nappies of infants and toddlers
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Organise activities or implement a curriculum that allows children to learn about the world and explore their interests
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Develop schedules and routines to ensure that children have enough physical activity, rest, and playtime
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Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to the attention of their parents
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Keep records of children's progress, routines, and interests
Skills and Interests
As a child care worker some personal attributes should be
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Communication skills Childcare workers must be able to talk with parents and colleagues about the progress of the children in their care. They need good speaking skills to provide this information effectively and good listening skills to understand parents' instructions.
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Decisionmaking skills Good judgment is necessary for childcare workers so they can respond to emergencies or difficult situations.
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Instructional skills Childcare workers need to be able to explain things in terms young children can understand.
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Interpersonal skills Childcare workers need to work well with people in order to develop good relationships with parents, children, and colleagues.
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Patience Working with children can be frustrating, so childcare workers need to be able to respond calmly to overwhelming and difficult situations.
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Physical stamina Working with children can be physically taxing, so childcare workers should have a lot of energy.
What you'll learn
Throughout your studies, you will discover the knowledge of
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Leadership skills
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Providing care for babies, toddlers and children
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Compliance regulations in an education and care service
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Design and implement curriculum
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Legal and ethical frameworks
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Emergency First Aid
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Professional practice
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Inclusion strategies
Course Units
To successfully complete CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care you must complete the following units of competency.
Core Units
BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness
CHCECE041 Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
CHCECE042 Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
CHCECE043 Nurture creativity in children
CHCECE044 Facilitate compliance in a children's education and care service
CHCECE045 Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
CHCECE046 Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
CHCECE047 Analyse information to inform children's learning
CHCECE048 Plan and implement children's education and care curriculum
CHCECE049 Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
CHCECE050 Work in partnership with children's families
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Electives
BSBPEF502 Develop and use emotional intelligence
CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity
CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practice
Assessment
Assessment is an important part of your learning and is required in order for you to gain a nationally recognised qualification or statement of attainment. To be assessed as competent, you are required to undertake supervised workplace experience in a relevant community services delivery setting involving, for example, direct client work, community education or community development, with evidence provided by your supervisor contributing to assessment of your ability to work at this level.
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Assessment methods may include (but are not limited to):
- Practical Placement
- Interviews
- Demonstrations
- A Portfolio
- Product Design
Trainer Support
Partners in Training hand selects their trainers to ensure that they have the vocational competencies, current industry skills and current knowledge in skills and vocational training. You will be exposed to various trainers throughout the duration of your course, each specialising in their given field available to assist you. This means that they are able to draw on their depth of experience in each class, creating a fulfilling, knowledgeable and enjoyable environment. All trainers hold relevant training and assessment qualifications.
Practical Placement Hours
This qualification requires you to hold a current and satisfactory Police Check and Working with Children Check to undertake workplace experience. You are required to undertake a minimum of 280 hours of workplace experience through work placement in a relevant community service delivery setting involving, for example, direct client work, community education or community development.
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Please note in some cases travelling may be required.
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If you are currently working in the sector, your workplace may be used to undertake your practical placement hours, however, is subject to approval by the RTO.
Further Study
This qualification will provide you with a pathway to a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Although it does not guarantee an employment outcome, the completion of this qualification could lead to your employment in the child care industry.
Working with Children's Check & Police Check
These checks are compulsory to gain in order to commence your work placement. It is recommended that you start to apply for these closer to your work placement commencement so they are relevant.
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The Working with Children Check assists in protecting children from sexual or physical harm by ensuring that people who work with, or care for them are subject to a screening process. If you are doing or intending to do child-related work and do not qualify for an exemption, you need a Check. Visit me for more information.
Children's Check: Approximately $130
Volunteer Card: Free
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The Victoria Police provides a service to all Victorians who wish to obtain a National Police Certificate for employment, voluntary work and occupation-related licensing or registration purposes. Information about an individual's criminal history will not be released without an applicant's written consent other than for law enforcement purposes. Visit me for more information.
Police Check (Volunteer/Student Placement): Approximately $20
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*Prices are subject to change without warning.
Skills First Funding & Eligibility Criteria
Skills First is a Victorian Government scheme that helps people access vocational education and training. If you are eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your training. Government-subsidised training is only offered by training providers who have a contract with the Victorian Government to deliver training.
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Eligibility criteria for government-subsidised training (Skills First)
You must:
- Be a resident in Victoria and attend all classes of your studies; and
- Be an Australian citizen, or a holder of a permanent visa, or a New Zealand citizen (visa 444) or as an asylum seeker, you may be able to get subsidised training though the Asylum seeker VET program.
- ‘Upskilling’ by seeking to enrol in a course at a higher level than existing qualification.
- Students are only eligible to commence a maximum of two subsidised courses in a calendar year.
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Age and prior education
If you are 20 years of age or over as at 1 January in the year you start your course, you may be eligible for a government-subsidised place if you are applying for a qualification higher than any other qualification you have already completed (in addition to meeting all other eligibility criteria).
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Education history
You must not:
- Be currently enrolled in secondary school.
- Have started, or are due to start, more than two programs in a government subsidised place (including VET) in the same calendar year.
- Be currently enrolled in two or more programs in government-subsidised places at the same time.
- Have, in your lifetime, started two or more programs in a government-subsidised place at the same level as the program you are applying for.
- Have not completed the same level or higher than the one you wish to enrol.
JobTrainer
The Victorian Government has partnered with the Commonwealth Government to jointly invest up to $260 million under the JobTrainer Fund to increase access to training for thousands of Victorians who have been most impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
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The JobTrainer initiative (JobTrainer) is a joint Commonwealth and State initiative which provides additional funding to increase access to free or low fee training places for young people and job seekers. JobTrainer complements the existing subsidised training available under Skills First.
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A person can participate under JobTrainer if they are:
- 17 to 24 years old when the course starts; or
- A job seeker of any age.
- They must not have commenced a full qualification under JobTrainer before.
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The normal Skills First eligibility criteria apply to JobTrainer but with two exceptions.
No upskilling requirement
You can be exempted from the upskilling requirement.
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No ‘two at level in a lifetime’ limit
You can be exempted from the ‘two at level in a lifetime’ limit.
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In addition to the normal requirements for sighting and retaining evidence of eligibility for Skills First, you also need to confirm your age or evidence as a job seeker to enrol under the JobTrainer initiative.
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Evidence of age
If you are 17-24 years old, the only evidence you need to participate in JobTrainer is proof of age.
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Evidence of job seeker
If you are 25 years or older and a job seeker you must provide evidence of your job seeker status. We accept the following:
- a current and valid Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran’s Gold Card
- a separation certificate from your employer
- a letter from your employer or company receiver stating that you have been made, or will be made, redundant or retrenched.
Course Fees & Payment Plans
If you are eligible your fees are:
$100 Administration Fee (Upfront & non-refundable) + $200 Tuition Fee (Skills First) or $40 Tuition Fee (JobTrainer)
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Payment Plans
For eligible students, payment plans are available for the Tuition Fee of fortnightly payments of $50 + $50 + $50 + $50.
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If you do not meet the Funding Eligibility Criteria you can still undertake the course as a Fee For Service Student, your Tuition Fee is: $8,500 + $100 Admin Fee.
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Fee For Service students can seek help via Centrepay or Ezidebit.
Centrelink
Please note that some Centrelink Payments may be affected by undertaking study. We strongly advise you speak to your Centrelink Coordinator to see if you are affected. Fresh Futures Australia accepts no responsibility or liability for affected payments.
Meet your Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
Partners in Training Australia is a family owned and operated vocational training organisation that has provided high-quality education across Australia for over a decade.
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They have Industry expertise in the Community Services and Health Care industries, which includes; Nursing, Aged Care, Early Childhood Education and a wide range of Community Services. They offer a variety of funding opportunities through State and Federal funding for eligible students and are located across Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
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Through their flexible training models, they are able to deliver training and assessment services that support training to fit effectively into the demands of work, family and social life.
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They offer experienced and professional trainers and assessors who have the most relevant and current skills and knowledge with strong industry links. Their trainers and assessors understand what Industry expectations are for graduates of nationally recognised qualifications and prepare you to hit the road running. Their training models are mapped to real job outcomes and requirements, providing their adult learners with the skills and knowledge needed in real job applications.
Enrolment Process
1. Fill out our Student Questionnaire
The Student Questionnaire is designed for me to get to know you a little better before I pass your details over to the RTO conducting the course. This doesn't guarantee your acceptance into the RTO nor is it a part of the enrolment paperwork.
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2. Speak to one of our Student Liaison Coordinators
Once you have completed your Student Questionnaire, one of our Student Liaison Coordinators will give you a courtesy call to:
- Further discuss your eligibility.
- Ensure you have read over the study details.
- Speak further about your career goals and suitability for the course.
- Give you additional information and answer any further questions you may have.
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If you decide that you would like to proceed with the application process after speaking with one of our Student Liaison Coordinators then we will invite you to an Information Session.
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3. Information Session
This Information Session is your opportunity to speak to Partners in Training's friendly team and listen to valuable information about the course, complete your application form and enrol. To complete the enrolment forms, you will need the following:
- Unique Student Identifier (USI) - Create your USI here.
- Victorian Student Number (VSN) - Only required for students who have attended a Victorian school since 2009
- Evidence of Citizenship/Residency and Age such as Drivers Licence and Medicare Card.
Please have these documents with you during the information session. Completion of the Enrolment Application Form does not guarantee enrolment. A Partners in Training Authorised Delegate will review your form and determine the progression of enrolment.
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What will be covered
- General information about Partners in Training, industry areas and delivery locations
- Vocational Education & Training, learning pathways, course choice and industry based trainers
- Student Support
- Entry requirements, LLN Quiz, funding eligibility
- Course details, expected hours of study, student handbook, refund policy
- Practical placement (WWCC & Police Records Check)
- Fees and payment options
- The enrolment session – you can enrol on the day
- Your suitability for the course
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4. First day of class
Please note that the Information Session is compulsory for you to complete before your first day of class. If you miss your Information Session this may delay your course commencement date. All of your First Day details will be confirmed during the Information Session and reminders will be emailed and SMS to you.
In an effort to keep classes commencing on time, we need a little help from you. If you choose to submit your Student Questionnaire, we at Fresh Futures Australia take that as a sign you'd like to continue along the path of enrolment. If you are a little unsure then please ask away by filling the form at the bottom of the page with any further questions you may have.
In order for classes to commence, we need 15+ students. This allows a healthy classroom environment for everyone. If we are trying to give you a call and you see a missed call, voicemail or text message from us or the RTO please be courteous and give us a callback, even if it's just a notification that you are no longer interested. Our feelings won't be hurt.
We look forward to receiving your Student Questionnaire and speaking to you further about your career path.