QUALIFICATION

Skill Set Entry Program for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

TAFE SA Code: CP00326

Incorporating: Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50125)

2026 start

Description

Further your career in early childhood education by gaining the skills and knowledge to become a team leader, director or educational leader in a range of education settings. The Skill Set in Entry to Diploma of Early Education and Care will be completed over 6 months in Semester 1 before commencing the Diploma in Semester 2.

Award Course

Duration

Example Career Profile

Print Course Page

18 months

Full Time or Part Time equivalent

Child Care Educator

Locations & Applications

Campus / Location

Code

Study Mode

Study Load

Scheduled

Gilles Plains

Closed

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

Part Time

Apply 1 Dec 2025

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On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

Online

Online – learn at your own pace, in your own space. Lecturer support will be provided via email and interaction with fellow students may be available via forums and chat groups. Online courses require access to a computer with an internet connection.

Blended

Blended – learn in a mixture of classroom and online environments. On campus learning will be scheduled but online learning can provide more flexibility. Lecturer support will be provided for all study. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required.

Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom – online classes are delivered by Collaborate. Collaborate is a web-based online classroom collaboration tool that acts as a real-time virtual classroom.

Workplace

Workplace – if you are currently employed in the industry but do not have a formal qualification TAFE SA can recognise the skills you already have. The duration of the course will be determined by your individual study plan.

Full Time

Part Time

Day Classes

Evening Classes

International

A course available to International students

Course Admission Requirements

No course admission requirements

Please Read Before Applying

Industry Conditions and Skills
You will need a reasonable level of fitness to physically care for infants and children and carry out manual handling and first aid. You will have an interest in working with children from birth to 6, awareness of the physical care needs of infants and children, the ability to communicate with children and diverse families, collaboration and teamwork skills and the ability to multitask, the ability to access information and use technology and good literacy to manage documentation. You will need a computer with a camera and reliable internet connection.

Additional Uniforms, Equipment and Costs
You are required to pay for:

A Working with Children Check
Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect (RRHAN) certificate
A TAFE SA polo shirt for Vocational Placement
You will be advised of the associated costs prior to registration.
You may be eligible for up to $6000 in financial support to offset the cost of your early childhood study.
Please see Additional Resources below for details.
Study must be completed by 2028.

Vocational Placements
You will need to complete vocational placement in a regulated early education and care service throughout the duration of the qualification. If you are not working in a regulated early education and care service, you will be placed by TAFE SA's Placement team. To make sure that you are able to be placed, you will need to provide the required clearances, documentation and certificates by the date advised.

Mandatory Requirements
You will require a current Working with Children check and a Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect (RRHAN) certificate. If you do not have these checks and certificate, you will not be able to commence your vocational placement. Individual Early Education and Care services may have their own policies on vaccination requirements. You may need to show evidence of vaccination.

Fees

Average cost per semester

Total Fees for the 18 month course

Subsidised

$1,688

$5,063

Concession

$1,039

$3,116

You may be eligible for government subsidised training.

Subsidised Training Eligibility

Subsidised training may require applicants to complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (LLN).

What is the LLN?

This course is part of the Fee Free TAFE initiative. Fee Free places are limited and eligibility criteria applies. If all Fee Free TAFE places are filled, you may be offered a subsidised place instead.

Fee Free Training Eligibility

Full Fee

$2,337

$7,010

Help with Fees

Upfront Payment

Each semester, fees can be paid online with VISA or Mastercard or at an Australia Post outlet.

Read More

VET Student Loan

This is an interest-free personal loan from the Australian Government that provides eligible students access to capped funding to help pay for their studies.

Read More

Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

Employment Outcomes

Team leader, assistant director, director, educational leader.

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Skills Covered

Skill Set Entry Program for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
This qualification covers cultural competence, health and safety, food and drink, respectful relationships, learning frameworks, holistic development, compliance, nurturing creativity, curriculum and workplace safety. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 12 core units and 3 elective units.

Qualification/Certification

Successful completion of this course provides you with the following qualifications:

Qualification	TAFE SA Code	National Code
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care	TP01553	CHC50125

Note: Students who successfully complete only one or more units of competency but not the full qualification are eligible to receive a Statement of Attainment.

90%*
of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.

87%*
of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.

* 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

Children's Education and Care

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Children's Education and Care

Skill Set Entry Program for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Description