CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Next intake
February 2025Location
Werribee Princes CampusWorkplace
Workplace
Course description
Are you looking for a rewarding career working with young children? This entry-level course will equip you with the foundation skills and knowledge you need to become a qualified assistant within this sector. In addition, you will learn about effective interaction and communication with children, appropriate care for babies, toddlers and children, first aid, safety and working legally and ethically.
Our trainers are all experienced Early Childhood Educators who are up-to-date with current industry standards and practices. With seven weeks of practical placement in industry, you'll graduate with the skills and knowledge to succeed and work appropriately in the early childhood sector, which has increased demand for qualified educators.
Gordon VCE / VCE VM Students
If you are studying your full VCE or VCE-VM program at The Gordon you can include a VETDSS course as part of your VCE program. Apply for a VETDSS course.
Important Information:
- Your entry requirements and assessments will differ as you will be studying your VCE with The Gordon.
- Fees APPLY for this course – see the Fees section below.
- This course may be delivered under VETDSS as a partial qualification.
Work placement/industry experience
A minimum of 160 hours over 3 blocks of 5 days per week in the industry, as organised by The Gordon - Block 1: 2 weeks (10 days) , block 2: 2 weeks (10 days) and Block 3: 3 weeks (15 days). *Please note that you may be required to travel outside of your usual training location to attend placement. This may include other regional areas or suburbs of Melbourne. Placement is not paid work and students will not receive payment for undertaking practical placement. A mandatory course component is a practical placement in a registered education and care service. Minimum 160 hours of work placement. (organised by The Gordon). You must have a valid Working with Children Check. Some centres may require you to have immunity to COVID-19 and whooping cough.
Possible career outcomes
- Early Childhood Educator
- Qualified out of school hours coordinator
- Nanny
Applications & attendance
How to apply
- Follow our instructions for how to apply for a course.
- Apply online by selecting an intake from the Applications & attendance table below.
If you need help, visit Customer Service or request application support via email.
Submission of an application does not guarantee a place in the course.
Apprenticeship and traineeship applicants
To become an apprentice or trainee, you will first need to find an employer willing to employ you. An Australian Apprenticeship Support Network Provider can assist you with this and will also start your application and enrolment process. Find a local provider here
| Intake | Applications | Attendance | Classes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 February Werribee Princes Campus |
Open: 1 Aug 2024 Close: 1 Mar 2025 |
Class Day | Full Time Mon Tues & Thurs 8.45am-3.30pm Oncampus | Apply |
| 2025 Full Year Workplace |
Open: 31 Jul 2024 Close: 15 Dec 2025 |
Workplace | Part Time Flexible |
Class times are indicative and may change before the course starts. Students may need to complete some self-paced learning and assessments outside class, varying by course and skill level, or may be required to attend classes both on campus and online.
Follow the link for more information on attendance mode definitions and offer timing.
An application doesn't guarantee a place in the course.
Many courses have limited spots and may fill quickly, so apply early and ensure your application is fully completed, as only successful applicants will receive offers, issued as soon as possible. If numbers are low, intakes or courses may be cancelled.
Entrance requirements
- Applicants must be 17 years and over at the time of course commencement.
- Applicants are expected to have literacy skills at Year 11 or Year 12 or Australian Core Skills Framework Level 3 and numeracy skills at Year 10 or Year 11 or Australian Core Skills Framework Level 2.
- You must reside in Victoria to access Victorian Government Subsidised Fees and any incentive such as Free TAFE. Full fees apply to all non-Victorian residents.
Work placement requirements
- Traineeship applicants must be employed in a permanent position of more than 13 hours per week under a Traineeship contract, working within an approved Early Childhood Education and Care Centre
- Applicants are required to hold a current Working with Children Check.
- Applicants must provide Covid vaccination evidence as per guidelines of Department of Education and Training.
Apprenticeship and traineeship requirements
Apprenticeship and traineeship applicants must be currently employed under a training contract and referred by their employer.
Students must have a current First Aid Qualification before they will be employed in a registered children’s service. They will be offered a credit transfer for the HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting, or levels above on receipt of the certificate and credit transfer application form.
Personal Learning Requirements
There are personal learning requirements for each qualification at The Gordon. These are essential personal capabilities and skills required to successfully complete the course and be ready to work in the industry.
Please review the requirements here and consider any challenges you may have in meeting them. When applying for your course, please let us know what support you may need.
Pre-training review
Each student must complete a pre-training review as part of their application. The outcome of your pre-training review assists our teachers and trainers to better understand your capabilities prior to training and enables you to be matched to the right program. Your literacy and numeracy skills will be evaluated and you may be required to undertake a separate assessment. Follow this link for more information about literacy and numeracy skills.
Units & assessments
| Core Units | Code | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Develop positive and respectful relationships with children | CHCECE033 | 100 |
| Encourage understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples' cultures | CHCECE054 | 55 |
| Identify and respond to children and young people at risk | CHCPRT001 | 40 |
| Meet legal and ethical obligations in children's education and care | CHCECE055 | 60 |
| Nurture babies and toddlers | CHCECE032 | 108 |
| Observe children to inform practice | CHCECE038 | 40 |
| Participate in workplace health and safety | HLTWHS001 | 20 |
| Provide experiences to support children's play and learning | CHCECE036 | 75 |
| Provide First Aid in an education and care setting | HLTAID012 | 22 |
| Support children to connect with the natural environment | CHCECE037 | 50 |
| Support children's health, safety and wellbeing | CHCECE031 | 160 |
| Support inclusion and diversity | CHCECE030 | 63 |
| Support the holistic learning and development of children | CHCECE035 | 100 |
| Use an approved learning framework to guide practice | CHCECE034 | 80 |
| Work effectively in children's education and care | CHCECE056 | 65 |
| Elective Units | Code | Hours |
| Lead personal development | BSBPEF403 | 40 |
| Work with diverse people | CHCDIV001 | 40 |
Please note that the listed electives are delivered by The Gordon but you may not need to complete all of these units to successfully complete this qualification. If you have previously completed any of the units of competency relevant to this course, you may be eligible for Credit Transfer (CT). Any previous relevant experience may qualify you for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Find out more about CT or RPL here.
Assessment is based on:
- Hands-on work
- Workplace tasks
- Written assignments
- Industry placement
- Team projects
Fees
This course is eligible for Free TAFE!
Eligible Victorian students who elect to use their Free TAFE opportunity will not incur any tuition fees. Material and resources fees still apply. Follow the link for further information and to check the eligibility criteria.
| Fees | Rate | Unit | Indicative Course Hours | Indicative Tuition | Indicative Gov Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concession Tuition | AUD $1.13 | per hour | 1118 | AUD $1,263.00 | AUD $8,385.00 |
| Standard Tuition | AUD $5.65 | per hour | 1118 | AUD $6,317.00 | AUD $8,385.00 |
| Full Fee Tuition | AUD $10.76 | per hour | 1118 | AUD $12,030.00 |
| Add the costs below to your relevant tuition fee | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | AUD $425.00 | Charged at enrolment | |||
| Education Levy | AUD $167.70 | Charged at enrolment | |||
| Additional Cost | AUD $80.00 | Once | required purchase | ||
| Administrative Fee | AUD $200.00 | Once | charged at enrolment | ||
| Excursion | AUD $60.00 | Once | charged at enrolment | ||
All fees and charges are correct at time of publication but may change without notice. The student tuition fees are indicative only. Additional fees may apply. Where GST is applicable to any courses or materials, the fee displayed is inclusive of the GST.
Which fee will I pay?
Your fees will be charged according to your eligibility for government funding. For more information, visit our Fees & Payments pages.
Fee help
Payment plans may be available for eligible students who need assistance to manage their fee payments.
Further study options
Many Gordon courses offer pathways to higher qualifications within The Gordon and in some cases, to university degrees. Your Gordon course may provide credit points which could reduce further study time. Follow the link to find more information about pathways, or contact Customer Service.