Shape the minds of the next generation and help young children build strong foundations for their future. With a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, you'll gain hands-on skills to support children's learning, development and wellbeing while preparing yourself for a rewarding career.
This qualification reflects the role of educators in early childhood education and care who work in regulated children's education and care services in Australia. They support children's wellbeing and development in the context of an approved learning framework and within organisational policies and procedures, within the requirements of the Education and Care National Quality Framework. Attaining the required skills and knowledge of an Early Childhood educator provides you with an understanding of how to engage children in play-based learning activities, that contribute to reaching individual children's developmental milestones.
To complete this course, students are required to undertake placement and complete a minimum of 160 hours of Vocational Placement. Students who are currently employed in a regulated early childhood service, may undertake their placement with their existing employer.
Units within the course are grouped together in clusters, with each cluster having its own specific Vocational Placement hours. Placement hours completed under one cluster can be carried over to the next cluster until the minimum 160 Vocational Placement hours are met.
These Vocational Placements aim to provide students with hands-on experience and real-world exposure, complementing their academic knowledge and fostering their professional development.
This is a nationally recognised course.
QUALITY EDUCATION, WHEREVER YOU ARE
Between our reputation for learning, teaching and research, our renowned online education offering, and our status as Australia’s largest regional university, rest assured you will get a world-class education when you choose CQUniversity.
A UNI THAT KNOWS CREDIBILITY IS KEY
In just 25 years, CQUniversity has achieved some amazing feats and emerged as one of Australia’s truly great universities. We have been ranked among the best in the world for our teaching and learning, and are internationally recognised for our focus on Social Innovation. Our graduates are some of the most sought-after in Australia, due to our reputation for work integrated learning and industry-aligned courses, and experience some of the nation’s best graduate outcomes in terms of full-time employment and starting salary. CQUni is also regarded as the nation’s most inclusive and engaged university, with our award-winning academic and research staff making a real impact on the communities and industries we serve.
A UNI THAT LEADS IN ONLINE EDUCATION
A pioneer in online study, CQUniversity has more than two decades of experience providing high quality online learning experiences across the country and even internationally. We work hard to deliver the latest techniques in online study, and have even planned our physical sites to provide more services to our widespread online study cohort.
A UNI THAT KNOWS CONVENIENCE COUNTS
CQUniversity is truly focused on our students’ needs, and that means responding to what, how and where they want to study. It is why we are now Australia’s largest regional university, with more than 20 metropolitan and regional locations across five states, delivering TAFE and university qualifications in on-campus, online and supported online modes to more than 30 000 students.
A UNI THAT KNOWS YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS
CQUniversity’s strong focus on student experience ensures that you are prepared and supported on your student journey. Support services include on-campus or online orientation to assist your transition into university life, course and career advice, financial support options, study support, ongoing assistance through the Student Mentor program, counselling services, support for students with disability or medical conditions, Indigenous student support and more.
CHC30125 Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care is a pre-requisite to the CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. Students can further their study opportunities with unit credits towards other qualifications within CQUniversity.
Occupations include but are not limited to Early Childhood Educator in long day care services, family daycare, in-home care, pre-schools or kindergartens.
This course is delivered over a 50-week period (full-time) and 84-week period (part-time) however, as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.
Students studying full-time should plan to dedicate approximately 23 hours per week to their coursework. Part-time students should expect to allocate around 11.5 hours per week.
The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory minimum work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia.
If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.
This course is delivered over a 50-week period (full-time) and 84-week period (part-time) however, as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.
Students studying full-time should plan to dedicate approximately 23 hours per week to their coursework. Part-time students should expect to allocate around 11.5 hours per week.
The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory minimum work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia.
If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.
This course is delivered full-time over a 50 week period, however as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.
Students should plan to dedicate approximately 16 hours per week to their coursework. outside of the allocated class time.
The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory minimum work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia. As part of the assessment conditions, a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor is required to observe students completing designated tasks while on placement. For more information about placement observations, visit the Work Integrated Learning And Placements tab.
If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.
Classes are conducted one day per week, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, except public holidays and Queensland School holiday periods on the following campuses:
Note: If minimum enrolments for class are not met, a video link will be provided to conduct training.
This course is delivered over a 50-week period (full-time) and 84-week period (part-time) however, as it is competency and cluster-based, it may be possible for students to complete their training sooner if they have reached the required skill level.
Students studying full-time should plan to dedicate approximately 23 hours per week to their coursework. Part-time students should expect to allocate around 11.5 hours per week.
The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within an early childhood setting, with a mandatory minimum work placement of 160 hours in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia.
If you have previously completed study, you may be eligible to receive a credit towards your study. Please discuss this with your teacher at the beginning of your study.
This course has no residential schools.
The course is organised to reflect the learning and work activities that take place within a regulated early childhood service, with a mandatory minimum vocational placement of 160 hours. Within this time allocation, students can demonstrate the required vocational placement tasks and skills for other units as required for the qualification. Students are required to find placement; however, staff are able to assist where needed.
Units within the course are grouped together in clusters, with each cluster having its own specific Vocational Placement hours. Placement hours completed under one cluster can be carried over to the next cluster until the minimum 160 Vocational Placement hours are met.
These Vocational Placements aim to provide students with hands-on experience and real-world exposure, complementing their academic knowledge and fostering their professional development.
As part of the assessment conditions, a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor is required to observe students completing designated tasks while on placement. This ensures that competency is demonstrated in a real-world setting and aligns with training package requirements.
Students located in the following areas may be eligible for in-person observations conducted by a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor:
Students who are not located in the approved in-person observation areas must arrange for virtual observations with their Trainer and Assessor. These will be conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams using a service device (e.g., a tablet or laptop provided by the service). The observer will watch live, replicating the process of an in-person observation.
To meet these requirements, students must complete their placement at a service that permits virtual assessment, including the use of video conferencing and devices for live observation by a CQUniversity Trainer and Assessor.
To participate in placement, it is a requirement to successfully obtain a Working with Children Check relevant to your state in Australia. Students who are employed in a regulated Early Childhood service can use their current employment for placement provided the service has babies under 23 months of age and children over 2 years of age.
To apply for this course at CQUniversity, you will need to be 15 years of age before the commencement date of your chosen intake.
To help us understand how best to support you, you’ll need to complete the bksb (Basic Key Skills Builder) online literacy, numeracy and digital literacy assessments to progress your application. Alternatively, completion of an equal or higher level course may exempt you from this testing.
Start TAFE Now students must be in Year 11.
Start TAFE Now students must supply a completed and signed Start Study Now Authorisation form.
Fee for Service/Full Fee occurs when the full tuition fee is charged to students. This may occur when the course is not included in government subsidy program/s or the student is not eligible for a government subsidy. These students are obligated to cover the entire cost. Learn more about Paying for TAFE.
Some government-funded training programs, such as Career Start and Career Boost, require students to contribute to the cost of their education through a co-contribution fee. This fee varies depending on the course and the student's eligibility for a concessional rate. Additional costs, such as uniforms and course resources, may also apply. More details on eligibility and exemptions can be found on How to Apply for TAFE Certificates and Diplomas.
Please carefully consider your training options before committing to a training course, as this may exhaust your entitlement to further Queensland Government subsidised training. CQUniversity is an approved Skills Assure supplier with the Government Department of Trade, Employment and Training.
If you are unsure of your eligibility or wish to discuss your options further, please connect with us on 13 27 86.
Fee for Service/Full Fee occurs when the full tuition fee is charged to students. This may occur when the course is not included in government subsidy program/s or the student is not eligible for a government subsidy. These students are obligated to cover the entire cost. Learn more about Paying for TAFE.
Some government-funded training programs, such as Career Start and Career Boost, provide a contribution that reduces the cost of training. Eligible apprentices and trainees will be charged $1.60 per *nominal hour. Concession rates apply to eligible students based on provided evidence. If you are required to pay Student Contribution Fees, you may be eligible for partial or full exemption, you can find more information on Apply for TAFE Certificates and Diplomas. Learn more about eligible courses and funding eligibility criteria by visiting Career Start or Career Boost.
Free apprenticeships for under 25s covers the cost of training for employers who commence an eligible new or existing apprentice or trainee in a priority qualification. Learn more about eligible courses and funding eligibility criteria by visiting Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s.
Some employers may optionally choose to sponsor all or part of a student’s full fees or co-contribution fees. Please carefully consider your training options before committing to a training course, as this may exhaust your entitlement to further Queensland Government subsidised training. CQUniversity is an approved Skills Assure supplier with the Government Department of Trade, Employment and Training.
*Nominal hours is a value assigned to a VET course or unit and nominally represents the anticipated hours of supervised training deemed necessary to conduct the training and assessment activities associated with the course or unit.
*Some qualifications require students to pay for additional items, for example, the cost of a uniform or other compulsory resources which are not included in free or subsidised enrolments.
If you are unsure of your eligibility or wish to discuss your options further, please connect with us on 13 27 86.
At CQUniversity, we believe that studying should be for everyone. No matter your situation, we know that everyone needs a helping hand from time to time, and we are proud to offer scholarships, bursaries and stipends.
Our scholarships could help you pay for things like relocation, living on campus, laptops and technology, childcare, study and living expenses, travel and more
Check what you need to do to apply to study this course.
Our easy-to-use online application system will guide you through the process of applying for a TAFE course. If you need help along the way with your application, talk with one of our Student Advice team members by calling 13 27 86.
Applications for 2027 intakes open on 1 September 2026.
CQUniversity acknowledges Traditional Owners and Custodians and pays respect to the Elders of all First Nations peoples of Australia.CQUniversity Australia is a trading name of Central Queensland University
ABN: 39 181 103 288
RTO Code: 40939
CRICOS: 00219C
TEQSA: PRV12073
