Are senior educators or team leaders in early childhood services
Lead. Inspire. Shape Early Learning.
Take the next step in your early childhood career and move into leadership, responsibility, and deeper professional impact. The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care prepares you to take on senior roles within early learning services, guiding both children and teams through high-quality education and care.
What a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care Means
Earning a nationally recognised Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care qualifies you to take on leadership and supervisory responsibilities within an early learning setting. You’ll develop the skills to plan and implement educational programs, support and mentor other educators, and contribute to the overall quality, compliance, and culture of a service.
This qualification opens pathways to lead educator, room leader, or educational leader roles, and provides a strong foundation for further study or long-term career progression in the early childhood sector.
With a growing demand for qualified senior early childhood professionals, the Diploma supports a career built on leadership, professionalism, and lasting impact - shaping not just young lives, but the future of early learning itself.
Description of Qualification
The CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the minimum qualification required to work in childcare services across Australia. This qualification prepares learners to support children’s wellbeing, learning, and development in early years settings. It provides strong foundations for those starting their career or returning to the workforce.
Course Duration
12 -24 months
Delivery Modes
Supported Self-Paced Learning
Blended Learning
Structured placement in an approved Early Childhood Service
Cost
From $6,980*
Subsidised training for SA Residents
Who should do this qualification?
This course is ideal for individuals who:
Skills Developed
Participants will gain practical and essential skills to work and lead effectively in ECEC settings, including:
Units of Competency
Delivery Modes
Your learning journey is fully tailored from the moment you begin. We work with you to map out the approach that best suits your goals, schedule, and experience. Whether face-to-face, self-paced, online, or blended, you’re in control of how you learn.
Ideal for remote learners or those balancing busy work and life commitments. Gain access to all the resources you need. Take advantage of engaging online classes, recorded videos and lectures, discussion groups, and more—so you can learn at your own pace with full support and engagement.
Perfect for learners who will blend self-paced learning with a dynamic classroom environment. Train directly with our renowned facilitators, work in groups and collaborate on real activities in a lively, interactive setting. Depending on your pathway, you be undertaking training at our Elizabeth (SA) campus, at your school, or at a Childcare centre that employs you.
In conjunction with the delivery modes above, you may be incorporating
As part of the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, participants are required to complete a minimum of 280 hours of structured workplace placement in an approved early childhood education and care service.
This workplace-based experience provides the opportunity to apply advanced knowledge and skills in a real service setting, working under appropriate supervision while contributing to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs. Participants will engage professionally with children, families, and colleagues, and demonstrate leadership, ethical practice, and compliance with regulatory and service requirements.
Throughout the placement, participants will gather authentic workplace evidence to support assessment, demonstrating competence across Diploma-level responsibilities, including curriculum planning, inclusive practice, and supporting quality improvement within the service.
Course Features
Course Duration
This program is designed to be completed by a typical learner within 12-24 months (including holidays). The actual number of hours required for students to complete the course will vary depending on the individual students’ level of existing relevant knowledge, skills and experience.
Every participant will have a customised Study Plan tailored for their needs.
Cost
Entry Requirements
Pre-Enrollment Questionnaire
Mandatory Work Placement
To successfully complete this qualification, a minimum of 280 hours of vocational placement within a registered and approved childcare centre is required.
AITT will endeavour to assist you in finding work placements, however finding work placement is your responsibility and AITT cannot guarantee you will attain work placement.
Learners are required to arrange access to a suitable child care centre to complete their assessments. AITT will provide learners a Vocational Placement Pack that outlines all the requirements for finding a suitable Vocational Placement Provider that will facilitate the required workplace assessments and allow the learner to complete the required vocational placement hours.
Learners are recommended to initiate contact with potential vocational placement providers as soon as enrolment is confirmed to allow sufficient time for AITT to confirm the workplace’s safety and suitability.
The vocational placement will be conducted in accordance with these documents:
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Vocational Placement Provider/Supervisor Information Pack
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Vocational Placement Student Information Pack
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Vocational Placement Coordinator Information Pack
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Vocational Placement Agreement
Pre-requisites for Vocational Placement: First Aid Unit and Police Check, Blue Card or Working With Children Check
First Aid Unit
AITT does not deliver the first aid unit included in this qualification. Students are required to complete this unit through an external provider prior to commencing their placement.
Police Check, Blue Card or Working With Children Check
This is a requirement prior to students starting vocational placement. Costs associated with completing required Police Check, Blue Card or Working With Children Check will be shouldered by the student.
Qualification Pathways
Resources Required
For successful completion of this course, students will need ongoing access to:
A computer with an Internet access with a reliable speed of at least 5mbps
Google Chrome (recommended browser)
MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel or equivalent applications.
Adobe Acrobat Reader or equivalent application
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Tutorial Documents for navigating Canvas
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A tailored training Plan
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Learner Guides for each unit of competency
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Assessment Workbooks for each unit of competency
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Relevant templates for projects and other assessments
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Class session schedules
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Supplementary learning resources, handouts and templates
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Vocational Placement Pack
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Tailored and Specific Resources for Assessment
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Learner Guides
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Assessment Workbook
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Resources (Templates and Extra Handouts)
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A simulated environment in cases where the student does not have access to a workplace
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WHS templates (including risk management resources)
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Access to relevant legislations, acts, regulations, standards, and codes
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Access to relevant workplace and organisational policies and procedures including, but not limited to, the following:
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Organisational strategic and operation plans
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Workplace documentation, resources and reference materials
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Policies and procedures for managing meetings
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Relevant workplace/office equipment, supplies, and resources
Recognition of Prior Learning
Ready to Enrol?
Select from the list below to begin your enrolment journey
