Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care:
Specialised Training for Childcare Management
Become a graduate of our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or CHC50121. This comprehensive program helps equip you with the knowledge and skills to excel in management and leadership roles within the early childhood sector. By combining theoretical foundations with extensive practical experience, you'll gain the confidence to create stimulating learning environments that foster children's holistic development.
Whether you're driven by a love of working with young children, seeking career advancement or responding to the growing demand for qualified early childhood educators, this course offers a rewarding pathway. Join us at First Base Training in making a meaningful difference in the lives of young children and shaping the future of our communities.
Course overview
The CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a highly-regarded qualification for anyone wanting to advance their studies and/or career in early childhood learning.
Develop the skills necessary to provide adequate care for children in an educational setting, with an emphasis on play-based learning. As an early childhood carer, graduates from this course will be equipped with the following skills:
Leading or managing an early childhood care program
Supporting and encouraging childhood learning and development
Planning and developing educational programs to assist with a child’s learning
Working with communities and external agencies
Ensuring compliance with policies, legislation and ethical practices
At First Base Training, our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care blends practical application with career readiness. Our course emphasises extensive hands-on activities and real-world scenarios, which help students develop the confidence and skills they need to be job-ready from day one. By working closely with experienced professionals and engaging in immersive learning experiences, our graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce. This strong foundation significantly enhances their employability and sets them up for successful careers in early childhood education.
Classroom and workplace training
Government subsidies and payment plans available
Approximately* 9-12 months course
*Dependent on school holidays & eligibility for Credit Transfer
Course structure: what you’ll learn
Advance your career in early childhood education with our CHC50121 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. Over approximately 11 months, you will engage in in-depth classroom learning combined with extensive practical experience. This curriculum is designed to equip you with the expertise to lead and manage high-quality early childhood education and care services.
Gain the skills to:
Create and lead inclusive and stimulating learning environments
Design and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum
Build strong partnerships with families and communities
Manage and supervise early childhood teams
Maintain children's health, safety and well-being
Develop your leadership and management capabilities
Prepare to make a significant impact on the lives of young children and become a respected leader in the early childhood sector with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Practical placement: gaining real-world experience
To graduate with our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, you'll need to complete 280 hours in an approved early childhood learning service environment. We understand the importance of practical experience, which is why we offer comprehensive support throughout the practical placement process.
Our dedicated Practical Placement Team will assist you in securing a suitable placement at a childcare centre that aligns with your career goals. This means no more stress about finding your own placement — we handle all the arrangements. To begin your placement, you will need a current Working With Children Check.
By focusing on your learning and development, you'll gain invaluable experience in:
Applying theoretical knowledge to real-world childcare settings
Developing confidence and competence in leadership and management roles
Building strong relationships with children, families and colleagues
Enhancing your job prospects in the early childhood sector
All these are essential for completing your Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. They aid in your professional growth and equip you with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in your chosen career path.
Course outcomes: Career opportunities
Graduates of our Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care find work in preschools, childhood centres, daycare centres, schools and in private or not-for-profit organisations. Roles can range from children’s services coordinators to early childhood educators and even education administrators.
With this diploma, you can support the essential development of children and provide quality care and assistance to their health and well-being. It will also let you oversee the management and facilitation of childhood education programs.
Building on the foundation of your Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, you can pursue additional qualifications to specialise in areas such as:
Child development
Inclusive education
Early childhood pedagogy
Leadership and management
Our program provides a strong platform for career advancement and lifelong learning in the early childhood sector. Graduates of our CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care qualification might wish to further their studies at the Higher Education level by studying a Bachelors of Teaching (Early Childhood).
Entry requirements: how to get into the program
To enrol in our CHC50121 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, you must hold either a CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or a CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Then, we check if you have the necessary skills for successful study with a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment. This helps us determine the appropriate support you might need.
A Working with Children Check is also essential for completing your practical placement but isn’t required for enrolment. Our team will guide you through the process of obtaining this check.
We understand that enrolling in a new course can be exciting but also daunting. That's why we offer a suitability discussion to help you understand the program and ensure it aligns with your career goals.
Fees and financial assistance
Our CHC50121 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care may be eligible for the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled program, which offers fee-free training to eligible students. This program aims to increase access to education for young people, job seekers, First Nations Peoples, carers, and women in non-traditional trades. As a Smart and Skilled provider, we can offer government-subsidised courses between 1 July 2025-31 December 2025.
Smart and Skilled provides eligible students with:
an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III
government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas.
Under Skills NSW, you may be able to study a fee-free course if you are:
15 years old or over
no longer at school
living or working in NSW
an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen.
For students eligible for the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled program, our CHC50121 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care may be offered fee-free. However, for international students and other non-eligible students, the course fee is $4,970.
Units of competency
To achieve a CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care qualification, a total of 15 units of competency must be completed, 12 core units, plus 3 elective units.
Core units
BSBTWK502 - Manage team effectiveness
CHCECE041 - Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
CHCECE042 - Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
CHCECE043 - Nurture creativity in children
CHCECE044 - Facilitate compliance in a children’s education and care service
CHCECE045 - Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
CHCECE046 - Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
CHCECE047 - Analyse information to inform children’s learning
CHCECE048 - Plan and implement children’s education and care curriculum
CHCECE049 - Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
CHCECE050 - Work in partnership with children’s families
CHCPRP003 - Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Elective units
CHCDIV003 - Manage and promote diversity
CHCECE053 - Respond to grievances and complaints about the service
CHCINM002 - Meet community information needs
Register for our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care today
Advance your career in early childhood education with our CHC50121 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. Develop the expertise to create nurturing learning environments, inspire young minds and become a leader in this high-demand field. Our program empowers you to lead and innovate in early childhood education. You'll develop the expertise to create exceptional learning environments, nurture child development and foster strong partnerships with families and communities.
Join us in making a lasting impact on the lives of children. Contact First Base Training to learn more about our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care program.
FAQs
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Completing the Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care opens doors to a range of leadership positions within the early childhood sector. Some potential career paths include:
Early Childhood Centre Director
Educational Leader
Centre Manager
Room Leader or Team Leader
Curriculum Coordinator
These roles demonstrate the diverse career opportunities available to graduates of the Diploma program.
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Our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care provides a strong foundation for further studies. Graduates can consider pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education to advance their career.
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We provide practical placement opportunities as part of our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care program. This hands-on experience equips you with real-world skills and knowledge. While we don't guarantee employment, we designed our program to enhance your employability and prepare you for a successful career in early childhood education
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Proof of Identity: driver’s licence, NSW photo card, passport
Proof of NSW Address: driver’s licence, NSW photo card
Citizenship/Residency Proof: birth certificate, passport, Medicare card, Australian visa
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Yes, our training sessions are conducted in-person at our Parramatta Westfield location. You can find us on Level 6 of the Office Tower, conveniently situated near Parramatta station and bus interchange.
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We offer flexible payment options. You can conveniently pay through bank transfer, in-person with Visa or Mastercard or over the phone using a credit card.
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While you can enquire about our Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care online or over the phone, in-person enrolment is required at our Parramatta office.
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We offer flexible course start dates. Find a time that best suits your schedule, rather than being restricted to fixed semester intakes.
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Yes, international students can enrol in our courses. To study in Australia, you will need to hold a valid Subclass 500 Student visa. Please note that First Base Training is a CRICOS-registered provider.
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