2. Courses
  3. Community Services
  4. Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
QUALIFICATION

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care


 National Code: CHC50121
 TAFE SA Code: TP01333


2025 start

Description

Further your career in early childhood education by gaining the skills and knowledge to become a team leader, director or educational leader in a range of education settings. Learn about cultural competence, health and safety, food and drink, respectful relationships, learning frameworks, holistic development, compliance, nurturing creativity, curriculum and workplace safety.

Award Course International
Duration
Example Career Profile
Print Course Page
12 months 

Full Time or Part Time equivalent

Child Care Educator
Child Care Educator
Print

Locations & Applications

Campus / Location
Code
Study Mode
Study Load
Scheduled
Berri

846026

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now
Mount Barker

809030

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now
Mount Gambier

855340

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Evening Only
Apply Now
Noarlunga

815338

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Evening Only
Apply Now
Port Lincoln

824315

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now
Port Pirie

828341

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Part Time Part Time
Day Only
Apply Now
Regency Park

852364

Blended Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Full Time Full Time
Day Only
Apply Now

Icon Legend

On campus/location

On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.
Online

Online

Online – learn at your own pace, in your own space. Lecturer support will be provided via email and interaction with fellow students may be available via forums and chat groups. Online courses require access to a computer with an internet connection.
Blended

Blended

Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.
Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom – online classes are delivered by Collaborate. Collaborate is a web-based online classroom collaboration tool that acts as a real-time virtual classroom.
Workplace

Workplace

Workplace – if you are currently employed in the industry but do not have a formal qualification TAFE SA can recognise the skills you already have. The duration of the course will be determined by your individual study plan.
Full Time

Full Time

Full Time classes
Part Time

Part Time

Part Time classes
Day Classes

Day Classes

Day time classes
Evening Classes

Evening Classes

Evening time classes
International

International

A course available to International students

Course Admission Requirements

If there are more applications for this course than places available, applicants will be ranked by date of application to this course.

Please Read Before Applying

Attendance Requirements (subject to change)
Part time students attend one online evening class and one day of vocational placement a week. Tutorials are available each week during term.

Industry Conditions and Skills
You will need a reasonable level of fitness to physically care for infants and children and carry out manual handling and first aid. You will have an interest in working with children from birth to 6, awareness of the physical care needs of infants and children, the ability to communicate with children and diverse families, collaboration and teamwork skills and the ability to multitask, the ability to access information and use technology and good literacy to manage documentation. You will need a computer with a camera and reliable internet connection.

Additional Uniforms, Equipment and Costs

  • If you do not hold the following, a current Working with Children Check and Child Safe Environments certificate, you will be required to complete these and will be advised of the associated costs prior to registration.
  • You may be eligible for up to $7000 in financial support to offset the cost of your early childhood study. Please see Additional Resources below for details.

Vocational Placements
You will need to complete vocational placement in a regulated early education and care service throughout the duration of the qualification. If you are not working in a regulated early education and care service, you will be placed by TAFE SA's Placement team. To make sure that you are able to be placed, you will need to provide the required clearances, documentation and certificates by the date advised.

Mandatory Requirements
You will require a current Working with Children check and a Safe Environments for Children and Young People certificate. If you do not have these checks and certificates you will not be able to commence your vocational placement. Individual Early Education and Care services may have their own policies on vaccination requirements. You may need to show evidence of vaccination.

Fees

Average cost per semester
Total Fees for the 12 month course
Subsidised
$2,599
$5,198
Concession
$1,573
$3,146
You may be eligible for government subsidised training.
Subsidised Training Eligibility
Subsidised training may require applicants to complete a Core Skills Profile Assessment (CSPA).
What is the CSPA?

This course is part of the Fee Free TAFE initiative. Fee Free TAFE and vocational education is a joint initiative of the Australian and South Australian Governments providing tuition-free training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill. The eligibility check below is an indication only and does not confirm your eligibility status. Eligibility verification will take place before the enrolment process and may include participation in a Language, Literacy and Numeracy pre-assessment. The number of Fee Free TAFE places that are funded is limited by the terms of the skills agreement signed by the Australian and South Australian Governments. Should all available Fee Free TAFE places be taken, subsequent applicants will be offered a subsidised place.

Fee Free Training Eligibility
Full Fee
$3,591
$7,182

  • Help with Fees

    Upfront Payment

    Each semester, fees can be paid online with VISA or Mastercard or at an Australia Post outlet.

    Read More

    VET Student Loan

    This is an interest-free personal loan from the Australian Government that provides eligible students access to capped funding to help pay for their studies.

    Read More

  • Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

    Employment Outcomes

    Team leader, assistant director, director, educational leader.

    Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

    Qualifications & Skills Covered

    Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50121)
    This qualification covers cultural competence, health and safety, food and drink, respectful relationships, learning frameworks, holistic development, compliance, nurturing creativity, curriculum and workplace safety. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 12 core units and 3 elective units.

    Note: Students who successfully complete only one or more units of competency but not the full qualification are eligible to receive a Statement of Attainment.

    90%*
    of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.
    87%*
    of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.



    * 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

  • Course Units

    Below is a list of all units that TAFE SA can offer in this qualification. The selection of elective units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend, and the qualification packaging rules described on www.training.gov.au.

    Not all elective units listed below must necessarily be completed to achieve your qualification.

    Core

    Name Nominal Hours
    Analyse information to inform children’s learning 75
    Embed environmental responsibility in service operations 73
    Facilitate compliance in a children’s education and care service 110
    Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing 200
    Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children 60
    Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children 65
    Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children 55
    Manage team effectiveness 60
    Nurture creativity in children 80
    Plan and implement children’s education and care curriculum 180
    Reflect on and improve own professional practice 120
    Work in partnership with children’s families 70

    Elective

    Name Nominal Hours
    Develop and implement policy 90
    Meet community information needs 70
    Respond to grievances and complaints about the service 40

  • Credit Transfer

    Studying at TAFE SA is one of the easiest pathways towards a University Degree. Credit Transfer is the formal recognition that parts of a TAFE SA course are equivalent in content and level to parts of some University courses. Below are the Credit Transfer details for this course. View all TAFE SA Credit Transfer Agreements

    University University Course Details
    Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours)

Further Information

Brochure

Course guide

Brochure

Pre-enrolment Brochure

Contact us

Course enquiries and more information

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
TP01333
︿
Back to Top