← Certificate III qualifications
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
CHC - Community Services
ACECQA-approved entry qualification for educator roles in long day care, family day care and outside-school-hours care.
Entry requirements
- Working With Children Check
- Police Check
What you will learn
The CHC30121 covers the knowledge and practice required to work as an educator in long day care, family day care, outside school hours care and pre-schools. Core units include providing care for children, providing experiences to support their learning under the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), supporting children's wellbeing and safety, working in partnership with families, complying with the National Quality Standard and Education and Care Services National Law, and providing first aid. You learn to plan and document play-based learning experiences, observe and record children's development, and respond to child protection concerns under mandatory reporting laws.
Skills you build
- Planning play-based learning under the EYLF
- Observing and documenting children's development
- Child protection and mandatory reporting
- First aid (HLTAID012) for children
- Family and stakeholder communication
- Nappy changing and toileting support
- Behavioural guidance and positive discipline
How the course runs
Most students study full-time over 12 months or part-time over 18 to 24 months. Around 480 hours of formal training including theory, simulation and case studies, plus a mandatory minimum of 160 hours of work placement in an approved early childhood education and care service. Theory and practical split around 60/40. Online and blended delivery is common for the theory components.
How you will be assessed
- Workplace observation by a qualified educator
- Learning experience plans and observation portfolios
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- First aid practical assessment (HLTAID012)
- Child protection scenario assessments
Workplace and placement
Minimum 160 hours of supervised work placement in an ACECQA-approved early childhood service is mandatory. Placements arranged through RTO industry partnerships. You hold a Working With Children Check and National Police Check before placement begins. Educator wages are set under the Children's Services Award. Most graduates are hired by their placement employer.
Typical employers
- Long day care centres (Goodstart, G8 Education, council-run)
- Family day care schemes
- Outside school hours care (OSHC) providers
- Pre-schools and kindergartens
- Occasional care and community-managed services
- In-home care and nanny agencies
Pay after this qualification
$50,000 - $65,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/child-carers. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You genuinely enjoy spending all day with young children
- You can stay calm during nappy changes, tantrums and tears
- You can plan learning activities creatively
- You can document observations clearly in writing
- You can pass a Working With Children Check
It is probably not for you if
- You cannot handle the noise and energy of a busy room
- You react badly to bodily fluids or illness exposure
- You have a back condition that limits lifting children
- You cannot keep up with documentation requirements
After you finish
After Cert III you can progress to Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50121) for lead educator and service director roles, or cross-skill into the Cert IV in School Based Education Support (CHC40221). Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) at ACU, QUT, Charles Sturt and Macquarie offers credit for the Diploma and leads to teacher registration with AITSL. Many educators move into family support work or out-of-home care careers.