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CHC50121 Diploma of 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: This course can be undertaken as a traineeship. Visit TAFE Apprenticeships and Traineeships for more information.

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. Educators at this level are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum that meets the requirements of an approved learning framework and for maintaining compliance in other areas of service operations. They use specialised knowledge and analyse and apply theoretical concepts to diverse work situations. They may have responsibility for supervision of volunteers or other educators.

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 280 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. Information regarding regulatory requirements can be found here.

AFB: This is an approved Away from Base (AFB) `mixed mode' course.

Delivery Details
Location	Casuarina Palmerston Katherine Alice Springs Remote
Duration	1 year full-time *Duration may vary depending on how long a student takes to reach the required competency level
Study Mode	Blended
Start Date	February 2, 2026 June 19, 2026 July 14, 2026 December 11, 2026 *A course timetable/study plan will be provided on application for the course.
Attendance	2 days per week on campus (TBC) or online 9:00am - 2:00pm *Information relating to study modes can be found in the 2026 TAFE Student Guide

Career Opportunities

Occupations relevant to this qualification include:

early childhood educator
group leader
service director
preschool assistant
outside school hours educator/director
home based educator
nanny
support worker.

Course Information Flyer(s)

CHC50121 Diploma of 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: On campus, online, both

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

Entry Requirements Domestic

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.

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.

To gain entry into CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, candidates are required to:

Hold a CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care OR CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

AND

Work in a regulated Early Childhood Education and Care Service

Everyone employed or volunteering in child-related work are 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.

Required Resources

Students will have 24/7 access to assessments and learning resources on CDU's online learning platform Learnline. Before you can use Learnline however, you'll need to ensure that your computer has the correct setup.

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

Additional costs to students include:

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

Textbooks
Frameworks for Learning and Development, 5th Edition, by Karen Kearns paperback/eBook
Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 9780170445535 / ISBN 9780170455770

The Business of Childcare, 5th Edition, by Karen Kearns paperback/eBook
Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 9780170445528 / ISBN 9780170455749

Duration
Estimated completion time: 2 year/s

This program is delivered over a period of 1 year full-time. 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 CHC50121

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