Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education

The Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education (ECE) is a post-graduate qualification at Level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
The qualification aims to provide opportunities for self-motivated, socially engaged, knowledgeable and skilled teachers to develop their practice with the assistance of a university mentor and through engaged professional inquiry into their practice as an early childhood professional.
You are supported to build your expertise and inquire into your professional practice as a teacher in settings such as kindergartens, pre-schools and long day care centres, including special needs settings.
The course aims to foster early childhood professionals who:
* critically evaluate their practice and seek to maintain a learning culture
* are lifelong learners and contribute to a wide range of learning communities
* appreciate the learning needs of children as individuals, in groups, and in families and communities
* provide children with enriching, stimulating and motivating learning environments that will cater for their diverse needs
* have an understanding of the curriculum requirements of schools and early childhood settings
* are innovative and enterprising in planning and organising learning environments
* use integrated approaches to build on children's skills and interests, using real-life situations to make learning engaging and relevant
* value the culturally specific knowledge about children and their identity, wellbeing, learning and development that is embedded in their communities
* use intentional teaching strategies that are always purposeful to support achievement of well-considered and identified goals
* create physical and social environments that expose children to learning experiences and physical activity, both indoors and outdoors in the natural world
* reflect on and inquire into their practice to build their expertise as effective teachers.
There are options to study full-time (one year) or part-time through blended delivery involving both online and on-campus study mode.
Most students are admitted on the basis of satisfactory completion of a three-year Bachelor in Early Childhood Education or a bachelor degree with a significant ECE component.
The Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education offers an upgrade to the equivalent of a four-year qualification for three-year qualified ECE teachers. This upgrade would secure an increase in pay for these teachers. The graduate diploma is also available to four-year qualified ECE teachers looking to complete a post-graduate qualification at diploma level.

Day care educator
Preschool teacher
Kindergarten teacher
Early childhood educator