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CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

2026

Sector

Vocational Education and Training

Industry Group

COMMUNITY SERVICES, HEALTH AND EDUCATION

Occupation Type

Child Care Worker

AFB: This course may be ABSTUDY approved, and attract Away From Base (AFB) funding and support for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. For further information and/or eligibility, please visit cdu.edu/afb.

General Description

Availability: Applications open for 2026.
Online Application: This course is available for online application.
Apprenticeships/Traineeships: Currently not available as either an apprenticeship or traineeship.

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.

To achieve this qualification, the individual must have completed a total of at least 160 hours of work in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia, as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency. The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.

A working with children clearance `Ochre Card' from SAFE NT will be required.

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.

Delivery Details
Location	Alice Springs Casuarina Palmerston Katherine Remote
Duration	1 year full-time 2 year part-time *Duration may vary depending on how long a student takes to reach the required competency level
Study Mode	Blended *Information relating to study modes can be found in the 2026 TAFE Student Guide
Start Date	Term 1 - March 3, 2026 Term 2 - April 14, 2026 Term 3 - July 14, 2026 Term 4 - October 6, 2026 *A course timetable/study plan will be provided on application for the course.
Attendance	2 days per week 9:00am to 1:00pm

Career Opportunities

Possible occupations relevant to this qualification include:

Early childhood educator
Nanny
Outside school hours educator
Home-based educator
Support worker
Preschool assistant

Course Information Flyer(s)

CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care - 2026

Accreditation
This is a current, nationally accredited qualification from the CHC Community Services Training Package.

Locations and Study Mode
Delivery at all locations is subject to sufficient demand and resources.

Locations: Alice Springs, Casuarina, Palmerston, Katherine, Remote

Study Mode: both

Subject to demand other locations and modes may become available throughout the year.

Entry Requirements Domestic

A Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy (LLND) evaluation helps identify any areas where you may need additional support to help you achieve your goals.

There are no mandatory entry requirements for this qualification, however, applicants who wish to commence this course need to have the required skills and knowledge to undertake the qualification at this level, e.g. completion of Year 10 or equivalent and a general command of spoken and written English to be able to meet industry standards for communication.

Everyone employed or volunteering in child-related work is required by law to hold an Ochre Card. It will, therefore, be a mandatory requirement to hold an Ochre card in order to complete any work placement.

If you do not already have an Ochre card, you can apply through SAFE NT Online Applications.

Required Resources
Students will have 24/7 access to assessments and learning resources on CDU's online learning platform Learnline. Before using Learnline however, students will need to ensure that their computer has the correct setup.

Computer and internet access will be required to participate in online sessions, source information and complete assessments.

Students are issued with learning materials and resources relevant to the unit.

Textbooks

Birth to Big School, 5th edition. By Karen Kearns. Cengage Learning - ISBN 9780170457309 or ISBN 978017045052
The Big Picture, 5th edition. By Karen Kearns. Cengage Learning - ISBN 9780170457316 or ISBN 9780170450355

Costs

Working with Children Clearance - Standard Fee (Employment) $87.00
Working with Children Clearance - Concession Fee (Volunteer) $8.00

Duration
Estimated completion time: 1 year/s

This program is delivered over a period of 1 to 2 years. The length of time to complete this qualification will depend on the location, study mode and/or units selected and will vary depending upon how long a student takes to reach the required competency level.

Student Visa holders must study internally full time

Apply Now for CHC30121

Contact Details

To find out more about the course, where and when it is offered, how to enrol or any other information please contact:

Education and Foundation Skills
Location: Palmerston and Alice Springs Campuses
Phone: 08 8946 7517 (CAS) 08 8959 5461 (ASP)
Email: vet.csh@cdu.edu.au