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Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50121
Training provided by Stirling Institute of Australia, RTO 21132.
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 carers is essential.
Please note you will not be studying through Fresh Futures Australia but Stirling Institute of Australia a Nationally Recognised Registered Training Organisation.
Course Essentials
Qualification Code: CHC50121
Pre-requisites: 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.
Recognition: Nationally recognised - meets Australian Qualifications Framework
Study: Full-Time Study
Study mode: Classroom-based
Class time: 6pm to 9pm
Duration: Approximately 10 months
Assessment: Knowledge evidence, direct demonstration and observation, portfolios, projects, role plays, case studies and presentations.
Practical Placement Hours: 280 hours (Minimum)
Admin Fee: $0
Funded Tuition Fee: $100
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
Interested in this course? Here's what you need to know before diving in:
Education: 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.
Minimum Age: You will need to be at least 16 years old. If you are under 18 your enrolment form will need to be signed by a parent or guardian.
Language, Literacy and Numeracy: To assist prospective students to determine whether a course is suitable and appropriate for the individual needs Stirling Institute of Australia will assess all students' language, literacy and numeracy by asking you to undertake a self-assessment review prior to the enrolment. A Stirling Institute of Australia 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: This qualification requires you to hold current and satisfactory checks in order for you to undertake practical placement hours.
Working With Children's Check: Safety is a top priority, which is why these checks are needed before you can start your practical placement. Let's make sure everyone feels secure and comfortable.
Why It’s Never Too Late to Go Back to School
We completely understand that the decision to return to school can seem daunting. Maybe it’s been years since you last studied, or you’re worried about juggling study alongside work, family and life’s responsibilities. Despite the unique challenges that may accompany studying as a mature-aged student, you’ll be well-equipped with the life experience and learning mindset to set your educational experience apart, for the better, from that of the typical, traditional adolescent:
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The vast majority of our students are anywhere from their late thirties to early sixties, from all walks of life. You can rest assured that you’ll be in the good company of other like-minded individuals, having also taken the initiative to return to school - just like yourself.
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The nature of the courses offered by our partner RTO’s mean the experiences and perspectives of an older adult lend themselves well to succeeding in that profession. Similarly, you’ll already have ingrained a diverse range of soft skills that are paramount to being an effective learner.
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Pursuing higher education is not an assumed decision for mature-aged students, like it tends to be for young adults. You may have children or family to provide for, in addition to financially supporting your own studies. Choosing to advance your education, given these factors, can result in even greater self-fulfilment and gratification.
Investing in yourself is one of the best decisions you can ever make; and here at Fresh Futures, we’re committed to helping you through the process.
Potential job titles:
Typical employers of child care workers:
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Early Childhood Educator
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Family Day Care Coordinator
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Nanny
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Child Care Worker
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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:
- Supervise and monitor the safety of children
- Prepare and organize mealtimes and snacks for children
- Help children keep good hygiene
- Change the nappies of infants and toddlers
- Organise activities or implement a curriculum that allows children to learn about the world and explore their interests
- Develop schedules and routines to ensure that children have enough physical activity, rest, and playtime
- Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to the attention of their parents
- Keep records of children's progress, routines, and interests
Childcare workers' schedules vary widely. Childcare centers are open year round, with long hours so that parents can drop off and pick up their children before and after work. Some centers employ full-time and part-time staff with staggered shifts to cover the entire day.
Family childcare providers may work long or unusual hours to fit parents' work schedules. In some cases, these childcare providers may offer evening and overnight care to meet the needs of families. After the children go home, childcare providers often have further responsibilities, such as shopping for food or supplies, doing accounting, keeping records, and cleaning.
Nannies may work either full or part-time. Full-time nannies may work more than 40 hours a week to give parents enough time to commute to and from work.
Skills and Interests
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.
Decisionmaking skills Good judgment is necessary for childcare workers so they can respond to emergencies or difficult situations.
Instructional skills Childcare workers need to be able to explain things in terms young children can understand.
Interpersonal skills Childcare workers need to work well with people in order to develop good relationships with parents, children, and colleagues.
Patience Working with children can be frustrating, so childcare workers need to be able to respond calmly to overwhelming and difficult situations.
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:
BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness (Core)
CHCECE041 Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children (Core)
CHCECE042 Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing (Core)
CHCECE043 Nurture creativity in children (Core)
CHCECE044 Facilitate compliance in a children’s education and care service (Core)
CHCECE045 Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children (Core)
CHCECE046 Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children (Core)
CHCECE047 Analyse information to inform children’s learning (Core)
CHCECE048 Plan and implement children’s education and care curriculum (Core)
CHCECE049 Embed environmental responsibility in service operations (Core)
CHCECE050 Work in partnership with children’s families (Core)
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice (Core)
CHCECE053 Respond to grievances and complaints about the service (Elective)
CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity (Elective)
CHCECE052 Plan service and supports for children and families (Elective)
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.
Assessment methods may include (but are not limited to):
- Practical Placement
- Interviews
- Demonstrations
- A Portfolio
- Product Design
Trainer Support
Stirling Institute of Australia 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
Gain hands-on experience! Exciting placement opportunities await you during placement in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia. You'll dive into the field by undertaking a minimum of 280 hours of practical placement working under supervision with clients.
If you're already working in a relevant childcare sector, you may be able to use your workplace for placement with approval from Stirling Institute of Australia.
Further Study
Graduates of CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care may wish to further their studies and expand their employment opportunities by enrolling in the following course:
• CHC62015 Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management
• Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care
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.
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
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 (Name Only): Approximately $50
*Prices are subject to change without warning.
Skills First Funding & Eligibility Criteria
Skills First is a Victorian Government scheme that helps people access subsidised vocational education and training. If you are eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your course tuition fees.
Eligibility criteria for Skills First government-subsidised training
Citizenship/Residency
You must be:
1. an Australian citizen, or
2. a holder of a permanent visa, or
3. a New Zealand citizen (visa 444), or
4. an Asylum Seeker (though referral for government-subsidised training from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the Australia Red Cross), or
5. a holder of one of the below visas (VEVO verification required):
* valid Bridging visa class E, or
* Safe Haven Enterprise visa, or
* Temporary Protection visa, or
* Bridging visa class F, or
* Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) (subclass 449) visa, or
* Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) (subclass 786) visa.
VIC Government funding eligibility rules – what’s changed?
1. Your prior education no longer matters!
Now you can enrol and study any qualification at Stirling Institute of Australia with government funding, regardless of what level of education you’ve completed in the past. This applies to all students who meet the citizenship/ residency requirements.
Prior to this change, you had to ‘upskill’ to get government funding.. but now you don’t.
2. Removal of ‘2 at level in a lifetime’ limit!
You can study more than 2 courses that are at the same qualification level with government funding! Prior to 1 January 2023, you could only study 2 of the same level qualifications with government funding in your lifetime.. but now you don’t.
3. What hasn’t changed?
You can still only be studying no more than 2 government funded qualifications at any one point in time. This is known as the ‘2 in a year’ limit.
Course Fees & Payment Plans
If you are eligible for Skills First Funding your fees are:
$0 Admin Fee + $100 Tuition Fee (Non-concession), $20 (Concession)
If you do not meet the Eligibility Criteria you can still undertake the course as a Fee For Service Student, your fees is: $8,310.
Payment plans are available to Full Fee Paying Students. Stirling Institute of Australia will not accept more than $1,500 prepaid fees in advance.
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)
Stirling Institute of Australia is a Registered Training Organisation specialising in Allied Health, Community Services, Mental Health, Early Childhood, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Individual Support, Ageing Support, Childcare and Disability.
Stirling Institute of Australia is a dynamic and innovative Registered Training Organisation with a clear and definitive emphasis on the practical side of training. They believe the best way to learn is to experience. Stirling has a proven track record with regards to the completion rates and employment outcomes of its students, and has quickly become one of the most popular and reputable registered training organisations in Victoria.
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.
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.
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.
3. Information Session
This Information Session is your opportunity to speak to Stirling Institute of Australia'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 Stirling Institute of Australia Authorised Delegate will review your form and determine the progression of enrolment.
What will be covered
- General information about Stirling Institute of Australia, 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
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.