The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care gives the skills and knowledge required to provide care for individuals and groups of children. It allows you to plan activities facilitating their leisure and play, allowing them to achieve their learning outcomes.

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30121 is the newly updated entry level qualification into the Children’s Services industry and allows graduates to gain employment as Child Care Assistants, Family Day Carers, Nannies and Child Care Workers.

This qualification gives the knowledge and confidence to work in a number of early childhood settings. You will learn to provide high quality care for children as well as creating safe and effective learning environments and implement an approved learning framework to support children’s wellbeing, learning and development. Either this course or its predecessor course, code CHC30113 are a prerequisite to enrolment into CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Learn new skills including

• How to provide care for babies, toddlers and children
• Use an approved learning framework
• Develop positive and respectful relationships with children
• Ensure the health and safety of children
• Gather information about children through observation and other sources as a basis to inform program-planning cycles and to share with children and their families

Employment opportunities with this qualification include:

• Early Childhood Educator
• Childhood Educator Assistant
• Nanny
• Family Day Care worker
• Play Group Supervisor

Course outcomes include

• Completion of a nationally recognised industry qualification
• A First Aid Certificate
• Experience providing care in a childcare facility

Available as a Traineeship

This qualification can be completed through a traineeship pathway. Please contact Natalie Thornberry at natalie@nbmc.nsw.edu.au or call 9970 1053 for further information. New entrant traineeship: $0.

Course entry requirements

• Telephone or personal meeting with our Training Coordinator who will provide course information and answer your questions to ensure this is the right course for you before you enrol.
• Current Working with Children Check.
• Unique Student Identifer (see information below).
• Successful completion of an NBMC English language, literacy and numeracy quiz to determine that you have appropriate skills to successfully complete the course.
• Reasonable level of fitness to carry out manual handling tasks and, as part of First Aid training, perform CPR while kneeling on the floor.
• Full COVID vaccination is no longer required to work in Early Childhood Education and Care under a Public Health Order. However, it is currently determined by each individual centre’s policy as to whether they will accept non-vaccinated students to complete work placement, therefore a Covid vaccination certificate may be required to complete work placement.
• Basic computer skills. If you require basic computer training, please ask us about our Essential Computer Skills course.

What you need to know about this course

• The College offers part time day courses. See below for class options.
• Course delivery mainly on campus – some sessions may be offered via Zoom (see below for online learning requirements) – practicum work experience delivered in an approved regulated centre birth – 5 years.
• The course is delivered using a blended learning model which includes timetabled classroom/virtual classroom attendance, weekly flexible directed self study hours and 160 work placement hours.
• Students will need to allow regular weekly hours (approx 15) throughout the course for directed self study for the completion of learning and assessment tasks.
• There are no classes during school holidays.
• If attending the theory component of the course by virtual classroom, there will be some training sessions when you will need to attend the campus for practical skills training.
• The course is delivered in the College’s fully equipped training room by our qualified and industry experienced trainer/assessor.
• Work placement hours will differ to normal class hours.
• 17 units of competency must be successfully completed to achieve this qualification. These are listed in the pop up list located above the class options below.
• A timetable will be provided on course commencement detailing theory, practical and work placement training sessions.
• There are no classes during school holidays or on Public Holidays.
• On Campus study during COVID-19 – please click here to learn about the additional safety measures being taken at College Campuses to help protect everyone on site.
• The resources for this course will be delivered via our NBMC learning management system, CANVAS. Training to use CANVAS will be provided at the beginning of the course. Once access to the course resources is provided, students can either print them and bring them along to class, or access them electronically via their personal laptop. Students enrolling must have access to the following:

            - A laptop / computer
            - The internet
            - A scanner, or a scanner app downloaded on their smart phone

About work placement

• A minimum of 160 hours of unpaid work placement in a regulated Early Childhood Education and Care setting aged birth – 5 years.

            -70 hours – 0-2years
            -30 hours – 2-3 years
            -60 hours – 3-5 years

• Anyone in child-related work (including student placements and volunteers) MUST have a current Working with Children Check (students/volunteers free). Visit Office of the Children’s Guardian for more information on obtaining a WWCC.
• The college will arrange a suitable workplace for any student not already working in a regulated Early Childhood Education and Care setting aged birth – 5 years.
• Work placement provides you with the opportunity to respond to situations and circumstances that cannot be replicated in a simulated environment.
• Your trainer will visit you regularly during work placement hours to guide and support you as well as assess practical skills.

(Note: additional workplace hours may be required if assessment tasks have not been satisfactorily completed within the mandatory 160 hours)

Are there Assessments?

• Competency based assessment of each unit of competency in the course will be conducted through a mix of assessment methods including case studies, theory tasks, projects and practical demonstration.
• Some units of competency require assessment of practical skills during work placement.
• You will receive clear assessment instructions and an opportunity will be provided for resubmission of assessments if required.

Pathway to Further Training

The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care can provide a pathway to the Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care CHC50121 and a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Eligibility for “NSW Fee Free” Training – LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE

The NSW and Federal Governments have signed an agreement to deliver more fee free vocational education places in NSW in 2025 for priority qualifications including Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care – training to commence between 1 January and 30 June 2025. Note: There are very limited fee-free places available and cannot be guaranteed. If you wish to apply for a fee free position, it is recommended that you do so as soon as possible after 1 November 2024.

To be eligible you must be:

• an Australian Citizen/Perm Resident/NZ citizen/humanitarian visa holder or a partner visa holder whose sponsor is a humanitarian visa holder
• aged 15 years or older, and
• live or work in New South Wales, and
• no longer be at school or equivalent (excluding registered home schooled)

If you meet the above criteria, along with the Course Entry Requirements, you can apply to study this course fee free (includes course resources).

Course cost

If you do not meet the above eligibility criteria the cost for this course is: $8000 – please contact the College for payment options.

College Trainers

All NBMC Trainers/Assessors are current industry professionals with the required qualifications to deliver and assess this course. Trainers draw upon and share their own experiences in the industry to ensure that the training delivered to you is current and relevant. For information about individual trainers, please click on the trainer name in the class details below for the trainer’s bio.

Student Support

Please advise our Training Coordinator at your initial telephone or personal meeting if you require additional support in your learning. This will allow a support plan to be devised before you commence your course.

Why study at Northern Beaches & Mosman College?

Enjoy smaller class sizes, a personalised relationship with your trainer, face-to face teaching sessions and qualifications that include real life work experience, when you choose to study at the three-campus Northern Beaches & Mosman College (NBMC).

With campuses available across the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore in Narrabeen, Brookvale and Mosman, the College offers increasing numbers of accredited and vocational qualifications. Students include those looking to upskill, to change career direction and school leavers keen to step onto a career pathway. Courses on offer can lead directly to employment and/or go towards future learning opportunities.

The NSW Department of Education has recognised our organisation as a High Performing Provider.

Virtual Classroom using Zoom

Zoom is easy to use video conferencing software with a simple set up. You will be able to see your trainer and classmates and interact as though you were in the same room, all from the comfort of your own home!

This is what you need to join a Zoom classroom:

• Understanding the basics of using Zoom – see our free Zoom tutorial by clicking here.
• Access to a computer, iPad/tablet or smartphone; and
• A webcam* so that you can be seen by the trainer; and
• A microphone* so that you can participate in the class and be heard by the trainer; and
• A good Internet connection.

*If you have a laptop computer a webcam and microphone is usually built into the top of the screen frame. Smartphones and iPad/tablets also contain cameras and microphones.

Once you have watched our free tutorial and experimented with Zoom, if you still have questions, we are offering free Q & A Zoom sessions with one of our experienced trainers prior to the commencement of each term. See our Zoom page for available dates by clicking here.

National Recognition

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) - is a process of acknowledging previously completed qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience relevant to your course. This may reduce the amount of learning required, reduce your course fees and allow you to achieve your qualification faster. Any student who believes they may be eligible for RPL should discuss this with our Training Coordinator on enrolment.

Unique Student Identifier (USI)

From 1 January 2015 it is a requirement of the Federal Government that all students undertaking nationally recognised training will need to obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI). This involves an easy online application. See USI Fact Sheet for information on how to apply for a USI go to the Unique Student Identifier (USI) Website for additional information.

Please ensure when completing your enrolment information, that the details relating to your name are identical to those on the identification evidence (eg passport or driver’s licence) used when creating your USI, eg no abbreviations or nicknames should be used. Once created, it is important that you keep a record of your USI and access to your accredited training records in a safe place. You will need this information for any future enrolments into accredited training in Australia. Please contact the College on 9970 1000 if you require assistance.

To Enrol or for Further Information

• Commence the enrolment process by completing the application below.
• Contact Natalie Thornberry on 9970 1053 or email natalie@nbmc.nsw.edu.au for further information.

Training in priority qualifications is fee-free and fully funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.