Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Course Delivery

Inspire Education (RTO# 32067) delivers this online, and through Mixed Mode Delivery (Vocational Placement required), which means it will be self-paced and completed via distance education using Inspire’s online student portal, along with the vocational placement requirement. Delivery includes face-to-face webinars, self-paced study, directed research and online learning and assessment materials and activities.

It is the most popular and effective method of delivery for this course. Students are able to complete their training from anywhere in Australia, from remote areas and small towns to major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane or Adelaide.

This allows students to work at their own pace and at times most convenient to them.

Course Duration

You will have up to 12 months to complete this course from your commencement date.

You will consolidate your skills and knowledge through undertaking a minimum of 160 hours of vocational placement with an approved and regulated children’s education and care service in Australia.

Please find our student policies and procedures on the Inspire Education student handbook by clicking here.

This CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care course will prepare you for a rewarding career in the early childhood education sector.

You will learn critical skills and knowledge on how to be an effective childcare worker, and help look after, care for, and educate babies and young children in a range of community facilities and settings.

This online early childhood course will teach you a range of skills designed to help you give young children the best start in life possible. You’ll learn how to support inclusion, diversity, and children’s health, safety, and wellbeing; identify and respond to children and young people at risk; and also provide first aid in an education and care setting.

Additionally, this Cert III Child Care course will also teach you ways to nurture babies and toddlers, use an approved learning framework to guide practice, and support children to connect with the natural environment.  Furthermore, you will learn how to work effectively in children’s education and care, and attend to daily functions in home-based child care.

Life is too short… so why not start a career doing what you LOVE?  Get qualified with first-class child care training, today!

There are no formal prerequisites required to enter this qualification. However, it is preferred that eligible students:

• Are 18 years or older (Note: Students below 18 years old will need to investigate potential work placement options prior to enrolment, as some placement centres will not accept underage students)
• Have sound language, literacy, and numeracy skills
• Have basic computer skills

Eligible Students are also required to:

• Obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI)
• Provide a valid ID with his/her picture and signature
• Undertake a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Evaluation
• Undertake a Personal Learning Plan Evaluation
• Obtain a Working with Children Check

All students considering a self-paced, online course should give consideration to the following, prior to enrolment:

• Ability to access any required technologies
• Information technology skills in accessing and using online programs
• Experience and self-motivation to learn on their own
• Competing pressures, such as work and family commitments, that may impact self-paced study time

Take our “Online Study Readiness Survey” to do a self-assessment! Visit the Inspire FAQ page for more info.

Australia’s latest accredited CHC30121 – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care supersedes the older CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification.

This course is suitable for anyone looking to begin or formalise their education in the children’s services industry under an approved learning framework, and seeking entry-level employment in the child care industry.

After completing this course, learners may wish to study other courses that will support them in their early childhood education skills.  Other options available for students may include:

• CHC50121 – Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• CHC30221 – Certificate III in School Based Education Support
• CHC40221 – Certificate IV in School Based Education Support
• CHC50221 – Diploma of School Age Education and Care

The latest CHC30121 – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is comprised of 15 core units, and 2 electives. This qualification includes elective units which have been carefully selected to ensure they meet the needs of a wide range of child care professionals.

CORE UNITS:

CHCECE030 – Support inclusion and diversity
CHCECE031 – Support children’s health, safety and wellbeing
CHCECE032 – Nurture babies and toddlers
CHCECE033 – Develop positive and respectful relationships with children
CHCECE034 – Use an approved learning framework to guide practice
CHCECE035 – Support the holistic learning and development of children
CHCECE036 – Provide experiences to support children’s play and learning
CHCECE037 – Support children to connect with the natural environment
CHCECE038 – Observe children to inform practice
CHCECE054 – Encourage understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultures
CHCECE055 – Meet legal and ethical obligations in children’s education and care
CHCECE056 – Work effectively in children’s education and care setting
CHCPRT001 – Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
HLTAID012* – Provide First Aid in an education and care setting
HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and safety

ELECTIVE UNITS:

CHCDIV001 – Work with diverse people
CHCPRP003 – Reflect on and improve own professional practice

*NOTE: The HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting must be completed at another RTO provider of the student’s choice; it will be processed as credit transfer into their course.

To support your studies Inspire will provide:

• Access to a student account in the Learning Management System (LMS) for submission
• Learning Materials and Assessment Workbooks
• Simulations, where applicable
• Templates for completing Project Documents
• A qualified observer* for the direct observation requirements

*Qualified observer – A VET practitioner qualified to provide assessments in accordance to Clauses 1.13-1.16 of the Standards for RTOs 2015.

To complete your studies you will need to have access to:

• Computer with:
  • Internet access through Google Chrome
  • MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or equivalent applications
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Printer and scanner
• Video recording equipment (e.g. mobile phone or video recorder) to record role-play activities
• At least five (5) volunteers for assessment tasks

Inspire Education (RTO #32067) will provide you with first-class training and student support while you undertake your studies in the CHC30121 – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Prior to starting your course, you will complete a Personal Learning Plan Evaluation as part of your enrolment.  You will then be provided with a training plan that identifies your Cohort, taking into account your existing level of relevant knowledge and skills.

The amount of training and support required for each learner will vary on these 4 Cohorts:

• Beginner (Full Study Model) – includes learners who are interested in an entry-level early childhood educator role without any previously completed formal qualifications; also those who may be unemployed or looking for a career change; study hours is up to 1283 hours
• Intermediate (Partial Study Model) – includes learners who are interested in working in an early childhood educator role without any previously completed formal qualifications, but may have some minor work experience related to early childhood education or assistance for less than a year; also those who are currently employed and are seeking career advancement; also those who may have previously completed a Certificate II qualification that is within the CHC Training Package; also those who have completed a recent first aid certification, including CPR and Anaphylaxis and Asthma Awareness Training; study hours is up to 1048 hours
• Advanced (Partial Recognition Pathway) – includes learners who have previously completed the qualifications below, but has not worked in the industry in the last 2 years; also those who have previously completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree specialising in Early Childhood Education and Care, but has not worked in the industry in the last 2 years; also those who have previously completed superseded versions of skill sets or units of competency in this qualification; study hours is up to 613 hours
  • CHC30113 – Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
  • CHC40113 – Certificate IV in School Age Education and Care
  • CHC50113 – Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

• Expert (Assessment only) – includes learners who have previously completed the abovementioned courses and are currently working in the industry for at least 2 years; also those who have previously completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree specialising in Early Childhood Education and Care and working in the industry for at least 2 years; study hours is up to 553 hours

Expected Study Hours

This child care course has an expected study time of up to 1283 hours (including the required vocational placement), however students can work at their own pace and complete the course faster if they like.

Assessment is conducted using a combination of Questioning (e.g. written questions/questionnaires, knowledge assessment, self-reflection, self-evaluation), Product-based Methods (e.g. project, practical assessment, case study, structured tasks), Direct Observation (e.g. assessments that involve observing the learners as they complete tasks relevant to course requirements), Third-Party Evidence (e.g. observation, skills workbook, workplace assessment workbook, logbook, third-party reports), and Credit Transfer.

To successfully complete this qualification, you will need to complete a total of at least 160 hours of work in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia.

This will help give you practical skills and knowledge in working with young people, and allow you to demonstrate your practical competencies in a real workplace.

To view what is required by your Vocational Placement Provider, click here >> Vocational Placement FAQs

Your Vocational Placement Provider must provide access to a workplace in an approved and registered Child Care Service, which must include:

• A supervisor and other educators for guidance and collaboration
• Curriculum documentation
• National Quality Framework including the National Quality Standard and the relevant approved learning framework
• Access to service policies and procedures
• Materials and equipment to facilitate play and leisure
• Cleaning equipment and materials
• Access to a diverse range of children and parents
  • Gender
  • Race and culture (including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children)
  • Age
  • Interests and preferences
  • Social context and lifestyle
  • Communication style
  • Personality
  • Length of time attending service/child care
• Appropriate opportunities with infants and toddlers ages of birth and six (6) years
• A range of experiences in the childcare centre, including:
  • Formally organised activities
  • A time and place for unplanned interaction
  • Meetings
  • Traveling
  • Walks
  • Setting up environment/venue

Note: Eligible students are required to complete a Police Check, Blue Card or Working With Children Check, and additional manual handling training prior to commencing their vocational placement at their chosen facility. Any costs will be shouldered by the student. For students planning to do their vocational placement, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends immunisation for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and influenza.

Some units of competency within this qualification require students to be directly observed by a qualified assessor during a site visit.

Students have three (3) options to complete these trainer observation requirements:

1. Attend an Inspire Education Partner Centre – Students residing in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne can attend one of our Partner Centres at their own cost

2. Qualified Assessor – Students can request for a qualified assessor* to conduct the trainer observation within their preferred centre.  The qualified assessor* must hold the following:

• One of the following TAE qualifications:
  • TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
  • TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment plus TAELLN411 Address adult language, literacy and numeracy skills AND TAEASS502 Design and develop assessment tools
  • A diploma in higher education (must have focus on adult education)
  • TAESS00011 Assessor Skill Set
• CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, or EQUIVALENT units
• Evidence of Industry Currency and VET Professional Development within the last 12 months

3. Inspire Education Trainer – Students can request for an Inspire Education trainer to conduct the trainer observations at their preferred centre for a fee of $500 per day plus travel and accommodation expenses.

*Inspire Education will assess and approve the allocation of a qualified assessor according to the requirements of Standards for RTOs Clauses 1.13-1.24.

Under the Education and Care Services National Law (2011) the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has set minimum training standards for all educators who are directly working with young people from Birth to Preschool age Long Day Care centres. Educators must hold an approved Certificate III level child care qualification (or higher). All Family Day Care educators must also hold an approved Certificate III level qualification (or higher).

RPL is offered to any Learner who can provide evidence of competency for the units offered in this early childhood course. See the RPL Guide for more information on this process and how to apply.

After successful completion of this latest Cert III Child Care course, you are now qualified for a career in the child care industry.  Career information provided by My Skills says that individuals who successfully complete their Certificate III are most often employed as:

• Family Day Care Educator
• Kindergarten Assistant
• Long Day Care Educator

You can also search for child carer, child care worker, or family day care coordinator to see all the opportunities available right now.