Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Overview
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care offers practical skills to work in a range of early childhood settings. This course teaches essential skills in areas such as how to communicate with children, support play and learning/basic development needs, provide food and basic health services including first aid and work health and safety processes. With national accreditation, this course enables you to apply for work across most of Australia upon graduation.
Choose between full-time on-campus classes or traineeship models, each providing sufficient hours of practical experience to grow your confidence and skills.
Your industry experience
The training package requires a minimum of 180 hours placement. Swinburne’s model provides 294 hours to strengthen confidence and skills, balance immersion in the workplace and assessment load and the opportunity to undertake paid work during the final placement when the 2 x 2 model is implemented.
Placements include experience across a range of age groups:
The placement hours are as follows:
- Placement 1: 12 days with 3-5 year olds
- Placement 2: 12 days with 0-2 year olds
- Placement 3: 18 days with 2-3 year olds
Swinburne is responsible for sourcing placements for students throughout the course.
Topics you'll cover
- Workplace health and safety
- Child development
- Working with parents and colleagues
- Legal and ethical responsibilities inclusion and diversity
- Providing developmentally appropriate experiences for children
Skills you’ll learn
- Child-centred practice
- Ethical and legal responsibility
- Workplace readiness
- Reflective practice
- Teamwork and communication
Your career opportunities
- Early childhood educator (assistant) educational programs
- Family day care educator
- Outside school hours care (OSHC) assistant
- Playgroup advisor
- Nanny
Why Swinburne?
Become a Kinder Teacher
[Knocking at door]
DAD: Timmy, you awake?
Come on, buddy. You ready for today mate?
TIMMY: This will be the winner.
DAD: Righto Timmy, let's go.
TEACHER: Here is the sky. Here is the land.
We pay our respects to elders, past, present, and emerging.
Well done Timmy.
Another one here.
See, you twist it. And then these ones.
Here you go Timmy.
[Children playing]
TEACHER: Come on, come on
Did you see a dinosaur at the Zoo? So what's this one here?
Who knows what this is?
Rawr, rawr.
TIMMY: Here you go.
Do you want to have this one?
[Children playing]
TEACHER: Okay, Timmy, I'll see you tomorrow.
MUM: Hey, sweetie!
Did you have a good day?
NARRATOR: The best learning happens when children play. Make their everyday a new adventure.
Authorised by the Victorian government Melbourne.
[END OF TRANSCRIPT]
Admissions
*Applicants must be at least 17 years of age.
All applicants must obtain a current Victorian Working with Children Check (volunteer or employee).
Social/behavioural capability
Students must have the social and language skills be able to communicate effectively with adults and children in both individual and group interactions.
Physical capability of lifting/handling children safely
Students must be able to move quickly and efficiently in the case of an emergency, Eg:
- Able to get up and down off the floor easily
- Able to lift/ carry young children safely
- Able to perform the physical activities required to pass the unit called "Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting" (Unit Code HLTAID012) ie: able to administer CPR for two minutes to a mannequin that is on the floor.
Immunisation
Immunisation may be a requirement of the organisation students attend for placement. It is recommended that students follow the immunisation guidelines for working with children in early childhood and school settings.
Digital Technologies
Students will need a P/C or laptop with internet access to engage successfully with the learning resources.
Capability to:
- use email effectively
- create files and folders
- upload and download files
- log in using a username and password
- engage with on-line readings, audio and video materials, quizzes and tasks.
*Applicants must be at least 17 years of age.
All applicants must obtain a current Victorian Working with Children Check (volunteer or employee).
Social/behavioural capability
Students must have the social and language skills be able to communicate effectively with adults and children in both individual and group interactions.
Physical capability of lifting/handling children safely
Students must be able to move quickly and efficiently in the case of an emergency, Eg:
- Able to get up and down off the floor easily
- Able to lift/ carry young children safely
- Able to perform the physical activities required to pass the unit called "Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting" (Unit Code HLTAID012) ie: able to administer CPR for two minutes to a mannequin that is on the floor.
Immunisation
Immunisation may be a requirement of the organisation students attend for placement. It is recommended that students follow the immunisation guidelines for working with children in early childhood and school settings.
Digital Technologies
Students will need a P/C or laptop with internet access to engage successfully with the learning resources.
Capability to:
- use email effectively
- create files and folders
- upload and download files
- log in using a username and password
- engage with on-line readings, audio and video materials, quizzes and tasks.
Other requirements
Students will need to supply their own device and internet service to access the learning management system.
Mandatory documentation:
Hold a Working with Children Check (Volunteer or Employee) for the duration of the program.
Students will need to supply their own device and internet service to access the learning management system.
Mandatory documentation:
Hold a Working with Children Check (Volunteer or Employee) for the duration of the program.
English language requirements
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the essential tasks that define a job and must be performed for successful execution. This course involves practical and physical demands, as well as behavioural abilities, required for assessments and placements in early childhood education and care.
These skills are crucial for career progression in the field. The Inherent Requirements information helps applicants assess their ability to successfully participate in and complete the course.
Students must be physically capable to respond effectively to an emergency situation such as being able to administer CPR for two minutes to a child/adult on the floor continuously (simulated with a mannequin in unit HLTAID012 – Provide emergency first aid in an education and care setting).
Students are required to meet minimum LLN levels, assessed via BKSB. A minimum ACSF working level of 2 for English and Maths is required.
Alternatively, VCE results for Units 1 & 2 in both literacy and numeracy will validate appropriate levels. Students complete a Pre-Training Review upon application to determine course suitability and identify any learning support needs.
Students are required to participate in on-campus classes, off-campus excursions and practical placements.
Students must demonstrate social/behavioural capability to communicate effectively with adults and children in both individual and group interactions.
Credit transfer
Recognition of prior learning
-
Certificate IV in School Based Education Support
-
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability)
-
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Course structure
To successfully complete the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, students must complete 17 units (15 core and 2 elective units).
Course delivery
Phased delivery
This program is delivered in 2 stages each around six months in duration. Placement in embedded at intervals throughout each stage. Delivery is via a blended learning model with resources provided primarily in a face-to-face classroom delivery supplimented with online resources in the learning management system.
Phase 1
Developing an understanding of the early childhood sector, regulartory and safety considerations for all stakeholders in preparation for first placement.
Phase 2
Expanding on the skills and knowledge required to support play and development in an inclusive environment, whilst working effectively with families and colleagues.
Your units
Study requirements
Timetable
- Classes are timetables across 4 days per week between 8.30am and 3.30pm, with approximately 24 hours of on-campus attendance required.
- Scheduled days depend on the group and campus allocation.
- Semester and term breaks are identified within the timetable.
- Placement blocks are embedded within the scheduled delivery where practical skills will be consolidated and assessed.
- Students are expected to engage in approximately 20-40 hours of self-managed study outside of scheduled classes over the duration of the course.
Assessment
- Assessments occur throughout the course and include various methods such as quizzes, case studies, practical observations and tests.
- Students must demonstrate required skills and knowledge by satisfactorily completing assessments at different points in the course.
A uniform: polo shirt is required to be purchased for this course that will cost approxmiately $50.00.