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Early Childhood Education and Care is an expanding sector for those with a passion for the care and education of young children up to the age of 5 years. The sector is demanding higher qualifications and training from educators to ensure consistently high standards of education and care for children placed in these services. This can be achieved by completing the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
When completing the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care you will:
- Learn to interact and foster the development of young children
- Work within legal requirements
- Ensure children's health and safety is prioritised
- Work with children of different backgrounds and cultures
- Provide support to children in different child care environments
- Undertake work placement to apply the practical skills and knowledge you have learned
Students are required to obtain a Working with Children Check before attending work placement.
This course is available for online study.
Look out for the self-paced option below to apply. Once enrolled, you will receive information about how to login to our eCampus and instructions for getting started studying this course online.
This qualification is directly aligned with priority industry areas where the jobs are today, and into the future. As part of the state government Lower fees, local skills initiative, from 1 January 2020 through to 31 December 2021 you'll only pay half the course fees, capped at $1,200; or $400 if you're aged 15—24 or eligible for a concession. Find out more.
Entrance Requirements
Course requirements
Work placement
Job opportunities
Study pathway
| School Leaver | Non-School Leaver | AQF |
|---|---|---|
| OLNA or NAPLAN 9 Band 8 | C Grades in Year 10 English and Maths or equivalent | Certificate I or Certificate II |
This course is available as a traineeship.
Entrance requirements for traineeships
You must be employed in a training contract by an appropriate organisation to study an apprenticeship or traineeship.
In a traineeship you also gain hands-on skills and work experience, and improve your employment prospects, while earning a wage. On successful completion you will gain a nationally recognised qualification which can lead to rewarding career options. The difference between a traineeship and an apprenticeship is that a traineeship can be either a full time or part time employment based training arrangement, usually for a nominal duration of 12 months or more, generally in a non-trade related area.
To find out how to arrange a traineeship and study at South Metropolitan TAFE, please contact the Jobs and Skills Centre closest to you.
Work placement is a requirement for this course
Work placement is mandatory for completion of this course. SM TAFE will arrange a suitable work placement within industry for you which will involve your attendance at a workplace.
[Other instructions will follow for work placement such as gaining police clearance etc]
Work placement is a requirement for this course
This course has a mandatory work placement component that all students must complete. South Metropolitan TAFE will assist students in finding a suitable work placement by working with our industry partners. Please be aware that industries and employers have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic which has meant that some work placements have been cancelled, put on hold or student places significantly reduced. While every effort is being made to work with our industry partners to secure work placements during this unprecedented time, there may be delays in students being placed. As a result of these delays some students may take longer than the expected time to complete their course. Lecturing staff will keep all students up to date, and will inform students if this may affect them and cause a delay in finishing their course.
Please note this list should be used as a guide only as job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.
SM TAFE actively promotes the employment availability of course graduates to key industry partners and organisations. We also seek expressions of interest from organisations for the placement of our students into work experience. In addition, this course involves work placement, giving you further opportunity to develop relationships with potential employers. We endeavour to assist students into a career pathway, but please be aware that employment is not guaranteed by us.
To access free career planning and job search assistance, visit the Jobs and Skills Centres page.
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care - This course Delivery location, important dates and study options
This course may be offered with a blended, flexible delivery model to enable social distancing measures to be undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach may include a mix of online and classroom based delivery, as well as practical and work experience placements. Lecturers will provide any specific instructions if your training delivery style needs to change.
All year round
Armadale - Workplace-TraineeshipOverview
Fees and charges
Units
| When | All year round |
| Where | Armadale |
| How |
Part Time Traineeship Workplace |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| When | All year round |
| Where | Rockingham |
| How |
Part Time Self Paced |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| When | All year round |
| Where | Rockingham |
| How |
Part Time Traineeship Workplace |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| When | All year round |
| Where | Thornlie |
| How |
Part Time Self Paced |
Semester 1
Armadale - Full Time-ClassroomOverview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 1 |
| Where | Armadale |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 1 |
| Where | Mandurah |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 1 |
| Where | Murdoch |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 1 |
| Where | Rockingham |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 1 |
| Where | Thornlie |
| How |
Full Time |
Semester 2
Armadale - Full Time-ClassroomOverview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 2 |
| Where | Armadale |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 2 |
| Where | Mandurah |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 2 |
| Where | Murdoch |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 2 |
| Where | Rockingham |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 2 |
| Where | Rockingham |
| How |
Full Time |
Overview
Fees and charges
Units
| Duration | 1 semester |
| When | Semester 2 |
| Where | Thornlie |
| How |
Full Time |