CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Hoping to get that leadership role? Take your career as an early childhood educator to the next level with the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. You’ll learn how to design and implement curriculum as well as maintain compliance in your service’s operations. Upskill with the diploma and you’ll feel confident to take on more responsibility.
Course essentials
Qualification Code
Entry requirements
Duration
Locations
Mt Helen (on campus)
Course overview
Quality early childhood education and care supports healthy early childhood development and prepares children for primary school.
This course is designed to prepare you to take on a leadership role in regulated children’s education and care services in Australia. You’ll learn how to provide education and care that enhances and supports the holistic development of infants and children up to the age of 12. It’s a highly regarded qualification for those who work in the education sector and will enable you to work in a leadership role within pre-schools, kindergartens, family day care and long day care centres.
You’ll learn how to design and implement curriculum that meets the requirements of an approved learning framework and maintain compliance in other areas of service operations. You’ll develop specialised knowledge and the skills to analyse and apply theoretical concepts to diverse work situations. You’ll develop leadership skills to prepare you to supervise volunteers or other educators. You’ll learn how to work closely with primary carers to foster optimum development for all children.
Course specifics
Learn skills such as:
· planning and implementing children’s education and care curriculum
· analysing information to inform children’s learning
· implementing strategies for the inclusion of all children
· fostering positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
· facilitating compliance in a children’s education and care service
· managing team effectiveness.
This course will prepare you for roles such as early childhood educator, family day care educator, long day care educator, room leader and out of school educator. On successful completion of this qualification, you may choose to continue your studies into higher education with a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) or Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary).
Facilities
Our Mt Helen and Wimmera campuses offer modern classrooms and learning areas. In addition, we have a fully equipped and operating Children’s Centres at our Mt Helen and SMB campuses, which offers quality programs for children aged six weeks to five years. Students are able to observe educators and participate in other learning opportunities at these centres.
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Federation TAFE
Career paths
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
2026 indicative fees
The fees you pay will depend on your eligibility for a Victorian Government subsidised place under the Skills First Program. The indicative fees displayed below are estimates for the total course and may change depending on individual circumstances at enrolment.
Fees are subject to change annually.
| Concession Government Subsidised Place | Standard Government Subsidised Place | Full Fee Place (Not eligible for government subsidy) |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | $9,840 | $18,602 |
Fee assistance
If you’re eligible for a VET Student Loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your tuition fee up to a maximum of $19,290. You won’t have to start paying the loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Other important information
If you need help managing your fee payments, you might be eligible for a direct debit payment plan. Students doing certificate-level TAFE courses can access payment plans for both tuition and materials fees. Diploma and advanced diploma students can access payment plans for materials fees only.
If you’re accessing government-subsidised training under the Skills First Program, doing this course might affect your ability to access future government-subsidised training.
If you’re eligible to enrol in a course under the Victorian Government Free TAFE initiative, the tuition would be free but you’d still have to pay the materials fee (if applicable).
Find out more about fees, payments and refunds.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 1, 2026
Locations
Horsham (on campus)
Semester 2, 2026
Locations
Mt Helen (on campus)
Information
- Our Mt Helen, SMB, Camp St and Gillies St campuses are located in Ballarat.
Contact hours
This course is delivered on campus 1 day/week Hybrid Friday 9:30am – 3:30pm, and 1 evening per week Hybrid 5:30pm - 9:30pm.
Additional study time is required to complete assessments, reading, and activities. We recommend that approximately 10 hours per week should be put aside for these activities.
Work integrated learning
Minimum 280 hours All students must meet placement compliance requirements, which include a Working With Children Check and may include Police Check, and/or NDIS Worker Screening Check, before commencing placement.
Sample course structure
This is a list of units available in this course. Which units you enrol in will depend on the course and stream available.
- Manage team effectivenessBSBTWK502
- Maintain a safe and healthy environment for childrenCHCECE041
- Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeingCHCECE042
- Nurture creativity in childrenCHCECE043
- Facilitate compliance in a children's education and care serviceCHCECE044
- Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in childrenCHCECE045
- Implement strategies for the inclusion of all childrenCHCECE046
- Analyse information to inform children's learningCHCECE047
- Plan and implement children's education and care curriculumCHCECE048
- Embed environmental responsibility in service operationsCHCECE049
- Work in partnership with children's familiesCHCECE050
- Reflect on and improve own professional practiceCHCPRP003
- Plan service and supports for children and familiesCHCECE052
- Respond to grievances and complaints about the serviceCHCECE053
- Lead the work teamCHCMGT003
Entry requirements
Entry to this qualification is open to individuals who hold: CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care OR CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Alternatively, individuals may hold:
- An Australian diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care
- or An Australian diploma or certificate III in Children’s Services and Demonstrate at least 12 months of cumulative employment (full-time equivalent) within the last 5 years in a regulated education and care service in Australia, supported by verifiable evidence.
- or Hold the CHCSS00147
All applicants are required to hold the below prior to commencing work placement; and will be obtained at the students own expense:
- hold a valid National Police Check
- hold a valid National Working With Children Check (WWCC)
- hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening Check
When enrolling as a Trainee, you must be employed with an early childhood provider and have a signed training contract between employer and trainee lodged with an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN).
How you apply will depend on your current situation. Visit our how to apply page for options and instructions.
After you submit your application, we’ll get you to do an online literacy and numeracy review to help us understand where you’re at (and if the course you’re applying for is a good fit). We’ll give you feedback and offer you support if needed.
For information about students’ rights and responsibilities, please refer to the VET Information Guide.
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- LDO
- National course code
- CHC50125
On successful completion of the Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care; the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) is the next pathway of studies.
Hear from our students
Hi, my name is Maddie and I'm studying a Bachelor of Education. I'm specialising in inclusive Ed and I'm in my third year of studies. I chose to study at Fed Uni because it is close to home and because I had a few friends who were studying here as well. I would recommend federation to those considering studying because of the placement opportunities they have here. This year as part of my diversity placement I was given the opportunity to travel to the NT to a remote indigenous community. This option was available to all students in my degree in the third year and it was made even more accessible as the majority of the accommodation and flights were funded by the Uni Arunga. The community I was placed in was the most beautiful little community with wonderful students and incredible classroom facilities. I'm so glad and proud of myself for taking that leap of faith because now I have so many more skills and experiences under my belt. This opportunity will be something I'll happily share with anyone and we'll think about forever. I really couldn't recommend this programme more.