Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Our Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification reflects the role of educators in a range of early childhood education and care settings.
The course combines face-to-face and flexible practical classes with work placement to build your confidence and skills in working with children and babies, while supporting positive interactions and communications with families and staff members.
There are minimum inherent requirements for entry into this course which will be discussed in the interview process.

Transform your aspiration to work with children into reality with this nationally recognised qualification.
With the increasing demand for early childhood educators, acquiring essential skills in this industry will give you a competitive advantage. You will learn how to communicate effectively with children and colleagues, observe and plan for children's learning and development, support their health, safety and wellbeing, and understand your legal and ethical obligations.

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

Early Childhood Educator
Kindergarten Assistant
Nanny
Family Day Care

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Diploma of School Age Education and Care
Bachelor of Early Childhood

Acquire the skills to collaborate effectively with other educators, create a welcoming environment for families, and develop professional and respectful relationships. You will learn to document children’s learning with clear links to the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Framework.
Theory components include:
- Legal and ethical obligations, work health and safety, mandatory reporting, policies and procedures
- Supporting children's health, safety, and well-being
- Inclusion and diversity
- Providing for children's care needs
- Developing relationships with children through positive interactions
- Understanding child development and the theories underpinning the importance of play and creative experiences
- Maintaining health and safety in a service
- Expectations for the role of a Certificate III educator in an ECEC service

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Students must obtain a clear Police Check and a Working with Children's Check to be eligible to complete the placement hours required.

Recommended entry Requirements:

The recommendation is that students should be a minimum of 17 years of age to undertake the course.
It is recommended that students have good digital literacy skills and be confident using the Microsoft Office suite.
Some workplaces may request vaccination history records from students

Limitations to course Entry:

Inherent requirements for Early Childhood
Physical activities: The work is likely to require a certain amount of physical activity, such as:
Standing - often for long periods of time
Sitting - on the floor or small furniture
Bending - lifting and setting up play areas, changing nappies, making cots
Walking - supervising children in both the indoor and outdoor environments
Heavy lifting (>15kg) - sometimes lifting children or moving furniture
• Providing a child safe environment, (being able to move quickly if a child is in danger)
• Providing basic physical and emotional care for students (assisting with toileting and nappy changes/managing behaviour)
• Supervision of indoor and outdoor environment
• Lifting of children, nappy changes etc.
• Set up and put away materials both indoor and outdoor where required
• Standing for long periods, being able to get down to a child’s level and engage in activities which may be at a table or floor level

• Working with children check
• Police check

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: No

Develop the fundamental skills to cement your skills in the high-demand early childhood education and care industry.
This predominantly workplace-based, part-time course will give you the skills to support the implementation of an approved learning framework and support children’s well-being, learning, and development as well as carry out positive interactions and communications with children, families, and staff members in early learning centres.

Transform your aspiration to work with children into reality with this nationally recognised qualification.
With the increasing demand for early childhood educators, acquiring essential skills in this industry will give you a competitive advantage. You will learn how to communicate effectively with children and colleagues, observe and plan for children's learning and development, support their health, safety and wellbeing, and understand your legal and ethical obligations.

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

Early Childhood Educator
Kindergarten Assistant
Nanny
Family Day Care

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Diploma of School Age Education and Care
Bachelor of Early Childhood

Acquire the skills to collaborate effectively with other educators, create a welcoming environment for families, and develop professional and respectful relationships. You will learn to document children’s learning with clear links to the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Framework.
Theory components include:
- Legal and ethical obligations, work health and safety, mandatory reporting, policies and procedures
- Supporting children's health, safety, and well-being
- Inclusion and diversity
- Providing for children's care needs
- Developing relationships with children through positive interactions
- Understanding child development and the theories underpinning the importance of play and creative experiences
- Maintaining health and safety in a service
- Expectations for the role of a Certificate III educator in an ECEC service

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Students must obtain a clear Police Check and a Working with Children's Check to be eligible to complete the placement hours required.

Recommended entry Requirements:

The recommendation is that students should be a minimum of 17 years of age to undertake the course.
It is recommended that students have good digital literacy skills and be confident using the Microsoft Office suite.
Some workplaces may request vaccination history records from students

Limitations to course Entry:

Inherent requirements for Early Childhood
Physical activities: The work is likely to require a certain amount of physical activity, such as:
Standing - often for long periods of time
Sitting - on the floor or small furniture
Bending - lifting and setting up play areas, changing nappies, making cots
Walking - supervising children in both the indoor and outdoor environments
Heavy lifting (>15kg) - sometimes lifting children or moving furniture
• Providing a child safe environment, (being able to move quickly if a child is in danger)
• Providing basic physical and emotional care for students (assisting with toileting and nappy changes/managing behaviour)
• Supervision of indoor and outdoor environment
• Lifting of children, nappy changes etc.
• Set up and put away materials both indoor and outdoor where required
• Standing for long periods, being able to get down to a child’s level and engage in activities which may be at a table or floor level

• Working with children check
• Police check

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: No

Formalise your skills in the industry you love with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
This course will give you the skills to providing for the care needs of individual children and babies and the knowledge to conduct positive interactions and communications with children, families and staff members.
Complete your studies online using our online learning platform while working in an early childhood setting. As part of this course, you'll receive additional support from TAFE Gippsland teachers and a mentor in the workplace.

Transform your aspiration to work with children into reality with this nationally recognised qualification.
With the increasing demand for early childhood educators, acquiring essential skills in this industry will give you a competitive advantage. You will learn how to communicate effectively with children and colleagues, observe and plan for children's learning and development, support their health, safety and wellbeing, and understand your legal and ethical obligations.

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

Early Childhood Educator
Kindergarten Assistant
Nanny
Family Day Care

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Diploma of School Age Education and Care
Bachelor of Early Childhood

Acquire the skills to collaborate effectively with other educators, create a welcoming environment for families, and develop professional and respectful relationships. You will learn to document children’s learning with clear links to the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Framework.
Theory components include:
- Legal and ethical obligations, work health and safety, mandatory reporting, policies and procedures
- Supporting children's health, safety, and well-being
- Inclusion and diversity
- Providing for children's care needs
- Developing relationships with children through positive interactions
- Understanding child development and the theories underpinning the importance of play and creative experiences
- Maintaining health and safety in a service
- Expectations for the role of a Certificate III educator in an ECEC service

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Students must obtain a clear Police Check and a Working with Children's Check to be eligible to complete the placement hours required.

Recommended entry Requirements:

The recommendation is that students should be a minimum of 17 years of age to undertake the course.
It is recommended that students have good digital literacy skills and be confident using the Microsoft Office suite.
Some workplaces may request vaccination history records from students

Limitations to course Entry:

Inherent requirements for Early Childhood
Physical activities: The work is likely to require a certain amount of physical activity, such as:
Standing - often for long periods of time
Sitting - on the floor or small furniture
Bending - lifting and setting up play areas, changing nappies, making cots
Walking - supervising children in both the indoor and outdoor environments
Heavy lifting (>15kg) - sometimes lifting children or moving furniture
• Providing a child safe environment, (being able to move quickly if a child is in danger)
• Providing basic physical and emotional care for students (assisting with toileting and nappy changes/managing behaviour)
• Supervision of indoor and outdoor environment
• Lifting of children, nappy changes etc.
• Set up and put away materials both indoor and outdoor where required
• Standing for long periods, being able to get down to a child’s level and engage in activities which may be at a table or floor level

• Working with children check
• Police check

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: No