CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

This qualification reflects the role of educators in early childhood education and care who work in regulated children’s education and care services in Australia. They support children’s wellbeing, and development in the context of an approved learning framework. Educators use a range of well-developed skills and knowledge using discretion and judgment when carrying out their work in the context of established policies and procedures. They may work independently or under the guidance of others, though in some contexts that guidance may not be on-site.
Early childhood educators work in long day care centres, family day care, pre-schools or kindergartens.
Under the Education and Care Services National Law (2011) the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) publishes lists of approved early childhood education and care qualifications and information regarding regulatory requirements here: www.acecqa.gov.au

Practise your skills in a simulated early childhood environment in the early childhood practical classrooms on-campus in Werribee, St Albans, Footscray or Sunshine.

At VU, you’ll collaborate with your classmates to work through scenarios and debrief with your expert teachers to improve your skills.

Benefit from our close ties to the community, with the purpose-built Victoria University Children’s Centre on our Werribee and Footscray Nicholson Campuses, providing care and education with a varied indoor and outdoor play-based program.

A key component of this course is three work placements, in which you’ll work alongside experienced professionals to consolidate your skills and put theory into practice.

As a VU student, you’ll benefit from our extensive partner network, which includes schools and community and government organisations, particularly in Melbourne’s north and west. Your placements may also lead to paid employment.

Your teachers are experts in their field and have valuable industry contacts. You’ll also get to hear from guest speakers, and your assessments will be scenario-based with links to the real world.

This course will give you the minimum qualification and skills to take on paid roles in early childhood centres. It’s also the first step towards further career advancements in early childhood.

To open doors to higher-level responsibilities in the sector, after completing this course you’ll enjoy guaranteed entry into our Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, which can also lead into bachelor-level study at VU.

There's never been a better time to study early childhood education. Join an information session to find out more.

This course is nationally recognised training.

International applicants must complete to determine suitability:

• Pre-training Review (PTR)


• IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no band less than 5.5


• Students may be required to demonstrate during the Pre-Training Review process, that they have the capacity to work with children and families in the highly demanding field of early childhood as set out by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. Further information: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/.

Practical Placement:
For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires:

• a current and satisfactory Police Record Check


• Working with Children Check


• Immunisation


• All students must have any COVID-19 vaccine before the commencement of placement. Students will be required to provide evidence prior to the commencement of placement. If students are not compliant with this requirement, they are not eligible to undertake a placement and this will mean that they will not be able to progress within their course.

Failure to provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator means you will be unable to undertake a practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course.
The following are suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks:

• Police Record Check - http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274


• Working with Children Check - http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

It is an industry expectation that those engaging with young children in an early childhood setting are fully immunised. Any students electing not to disclose their immunisation status, conscientious object to vaccinations or have a contraindication, must contact the placement coordinator to discuss the impact this may have on their capacity to undertake placement. Incomplete immunisation may impact your course progression due to a lack of appropriate placement opportunities.
Information about the immunisations can be found online at https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation

Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.