CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care

Launch a rewarding career supporting the growth, learning, and wellbeing of young children. The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30125) equips you with the fundamental skills, practical blueprints, and industry knowledge required to provide high-quality care for individuals and groups of children.

Throughout this course, you will learn to plan and facilitate play-based activities that support children’s development, build safe and effective learning environments, and implement approved early learning frameworks. This accredited qualification is the definitive industry standard for entry-level educators and serves as the official prerequisite for advancing into the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Core Career Opportunities

Graduating with this qualification qualifies you for immediate employment across a variety of regulated early childhood, residential, and community settings, including:

• Early Childhood Educator / Assistant
• Family Day Care Worker
• Professional Nanny
• Play Group Supervisor

Foundational Skills You Will Master

• Early Years Care: Master the specialised care routines required for babies, toddlers, and young children.
• Educational Frameworks: Learn to interpret and apply approved learning frameworks to daily programming.
• Relationship Building: Develop positive, respectful, and culturally inclusive relationships with children.
• Holistic Health & Safety: Ensure rigorous health, hygiene, and safety compliance across early childhood environments.
• Child Observation: Gather and analyse behavioural data through observation to inform curriculum-planning cycles and share meaningful progress updates with families.

Course Delivery, Scheduling & Placements

To fit around your lifestyle, the College offers flexible part-time day schedules and occasional evening class options.

• Blended Learning Model: Training is delivered through a structured mix of timetabled classroom or virtual classroom sessions, 15 hours per week of flexible directed self-study, and 160 mandatory work placement hours.
• Regulated Practicum Experience: Your 160 hours of work placement must be completed in an approved, regulated early childhood center providing care for children from birth to 5 years old. Please note that work placement hours will differ from your standard theory class hours.
• On-Campus Requirements: While theory components can be accessed via our virtual classroom, you will still be required to attend our fully equipped on-campus training rooms for specific practical skills training and assessments.
• Term Breaks: To maintain a sustainable study-life balance, there are no scheduled classes during NSW school holidays or on official Public Holidays.

Digital & Virtual Classroom Requirements

Online theory modules are delivered live via Microsoft Teams, while all course materials, units, and templates are managed through our Learning Management System (LMS).

Hardware Check: While smartphones or tablets are perfectly suitable for viewing live lectures, all students must have access to a personal laptop or computer equipped with an internet connection, a webcam, a microphone, and a scanner (or smartphone scanning app) to complete and submit formal assessments.

View our simple instructional video for help getting started.

Required Digital Literacy Skills: To progress smoothly through your 17 units of competency, you must be comfortable performing the following tasks on a computer:

• Downloading and uploading template documents.
• Saving, organising, and quickly locating files within folders.
• Utilising tables and inputs to complete structured assignment sheets.
• Minimising windows, reducing page sizes, and switching between programs rapidly.

New to virtual learning? If you are not already fully confident using Microsoft Teams, you are required to watch our simple online instructional video prior to enrolling.

Pathways to Further Study

The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30125 can provide a pathway to the Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care CHC50125 and a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Fees, Funding & Traineeships

• Subsidised Training: Subsidised training is funded by the NSW Government for eligible participants. Enquire today to confirm your status.
• Fee-Free Traineeships: This qualification can be completed via an official traineeship pathway. For new entrant trainees, the program is currently entirely fee-free. To evaluate your eligibility, contact Julie Lindfield at julie@nbmc.nsw.edu.au or call 9970 1053. You can also learn more about traineeships here – https://nbmc.nsw.edu.au/course-funding-option/traineeship/
• Competency-Based Assessment: Progress is evaluated through a blend of real-world case studies, theoretical projects, written tasks, and live practical demonstrations—including mandatory assessments of your practical skills by an assessor during your work placement. Clear instructions and reassessment pathways are provided for all units.

To Enrol or Learn More

• Submit Your Application: Complete the course application form below.
• Coordinator Review: Once submitted, our Training Coordinator will review your application and contact you.
• Direct Enquiries: For immediate assistance regarding upcoming intake dates, course fees, or traineeship onboarding, connect directly with Julie Lindfield on 9970 1051 or email julie@nbmc.nsw.edu.au.

• 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
• 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. It is currently determined by each individual centre’s policy as to whether they will accept non-vaccinated students to complete work placement.
• Basic computer skills.
• Students will access course resources through the NBMC learning management system CANVAS to complete this course. Students enrolling must have access to a laptop/computer; the internet and a scanner or scanner app on their smart phone. (The College will provide training to students in the use of CANVAS). Students are welcome to print the course resources at home and bring them along to class or access these electronically via their personal laptop.
• Provide current evidence of your identity including: Photo ID, proof of age, citizenship/residency/eligible visa, and proof of living or working in NSW.  For a full list of eligible documents please view our Identification Documents page.

• 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 Kids Guardian NSW 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)

This training is subsidised by the NSW Government under the Smart & Skilled Training Program. To be eligible you must be

• An Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen, Australian permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder or a partner visa holder whose sponsor is a humanitarian visa holder
• Aged 15 years or older
• No longer be at school (excluding registered home schooled students)
• Living or working in NSW.
• Provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI) on enrolment – for more information on USIs and how to obtain one, click here.

If you meet the above criteria, along with the Course Entry Requirements, you can apply to study this course at a subsidised price (includes course resources). Subsidised places are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

The fee amount you pay and the government contribution depends upon your eligibility. The courses are subsidised for all eligible participants but no concession rate is available under Smart & Skilled for Diploma level qualifications. Fee free scholarships may be available for the following:

• An Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
• A person with a disability
• A person who is the dependant of a person on a Disability Support pension

For more information on concession/scholarship eligiblity criteria click here.

Terms and conditions of enrolment (including withdrawals, refunds and deferrals) under Smart and Skilled at NBMC are contained in the Smart and Skilled Student Information booklet and NBMC Student Handbook both of which are available at Smart and Skilled.  Important information regarding all aspects of your enrolment at NBMC can also be found here.

For further information please contact the College on 9970 1000.

For full qualification courses NBMC has several payment options for students to choose from.  Please discuss your preference with the Training Coordinator during the enrolment process.

Course Cost is Less than $1500

1. In full at time of enrolment; or
2. By two (2) instalments – half on enrolment and half midway through the course; or
3. Interest-free payment plan paying $240 on enrolment, followed by fortnightly direct debit payments by Visa or MasterCard (an initial admin charge of $10 will be added for direct debit set up)

Course Cost is between $1501 and $3000

1. By two (2) instalments – half on enrolment and half midway through the course; or
2. Interest-free payment plan paying $240 on enrolment, followed by fortnightly direct debit payments by Visa or MasterCard (an initial admin charge of $10 will be added for direct debit set up)

Course Cost is over $3000*

1. By three (3) instalments – first instalment on enrolment, instalments 2 and 3 approximately every 3 months, depending on length of course; or
2. Interest-free payment plan paying $500 on enrolment, followed by fortnightly direct debit payments by Visa or MasterCard (an initial admin charge of $20 will be added for direct debit set up)

Please Note:

• In full or instalment payments can be made by Visa, MasterCard, electronic funds transfer, cheque, cash or BPay at our Brookvale Campus.
• Direct Debt fortnightly payments can be made using Visa or MasterCard
• Full payment, first instalment or $240/$500 must be paid on enrolment – enrolments cannot proceed unless initial payment is made.

*If not eligible for Smart and Skilled, payment will be by instalments of no more than $1500 each.  Please contact the College for payment options.

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: https://www.usi.gov.au/students/get-a-usi.

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.

This is a means of measuring skills acquired through work or life experiences, or through qualifications obtained from formal studies or training.

There are two options for recognising prior learning:

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This is an assessment process to evaluate skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience or non-accredited training.

Credit Transfer (CT)

This is recognition of current qualifications/units of competency previously gained through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

For more information please head to our Recognition of Prior Learning page.

Please advise our Training Coordinator during your initial telephone or in-person meeting if you require additional learning support. This allows a support plan to be developed before you commence your course. Support services may be available for students with a disability, impairment or long-term condition, and/or learning, language, literacy or numeracy difficulties. As outlined in the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment, students are encouraged to contact the College at the time of enrolment to confirm whether appropriate support can be provided for their individual needs.

Throughout your studies, you may experience personal challenges that could affect your enrolment. This may include stress at home, difficulties at work, financial pressures, or other personal issues. Our Wellness Coordinator is available to assist as needed. If you are experiencing stress or facing personal difficulties, please inform your Trainer or Training Coordinator, who can refer you to the Wellness Coordinator.

All conversations with the Wellness Coordinator remain confidential unless disclosure is required by law or you provide consent for relevant information to be shared with your Trainer.  Counselling offers a confidential space where you can discuss concerns that may be impacting your academic performance or mental health and wellbeing. All NBMC counselling services are free and available to all students. Please note that counselling at NBMC is short-term; if you require ongoing or long-term support, we can provide details for an appropriate external provider.

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

With classes available across the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore in 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.

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 go to our Trainer & Assessor page to view our trainer’s bios.