Who is this qualification for?
CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification is an entry-level qualification in the early learning sector. It covers the fundamentals of childhood development and educating young children. Studying this qualification will arm you with the skills and expertise to provide quality education for children in various environments.
This is the qualification for you if you are passionate about starting a career as an educator. This is the minimum qualification required to work in an Early Education and Care sector.
What can I gain out of this qualification?
Completion of this qualification is the minimum requirement to work in the early childhood education sector. You will develop skills in:
- Effective interaction and communication with children
- Appropriate care for babies, toddlers and children
- Nutrition
- First aid, health and safety
- Working legally and ethically with children
- Working with children and families with diverse needs
This sector-focused qualification will prepare you for a rewarding career in children’s services. Our graduates find employment in a variety of positions such as an:
- Early Childhood Educator
- Family Day Care Educator
- Outside of School Hours Care Educator
- In Home Carer
- Education Support Worker
If you successfully complete the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, you can also enrol into and complete the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (and even move into a Bachelor of Education – Early Childhood level qualification within the Australian University system) if you wish to accelerate your career as an educator.
What are the Entry Requirements to enrol into this qualification?
1. Online/Digital Access: To enrol into the CHC30121 qualification with CPLE, you will need to have personal access to a digital device (such as a computer, laptop etc with webcamp capabilities), an internet connection, speakers/headphones to engage with videos/webinars, software such as MS Word, and an active email account for communication processes. This is because a large part of this qualification is delivered through online classes (our Learning Management System Canvas).
2. Work Experience/Placement: Work experience is a critical part of skill development and mandated within this qualification. Every module you complete within this qualification contains assessment that must be conducted within a regulated early learning service to successfully demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to obtain the qualification. This qualification cannot be completed without it.
Therefore, it is an essential requirement that you complete consistent work experience or gain employment in an early learning service when you enrol into this qualification (working in an early learning service requires you to be ‘actively working towards‘ your qualification study, and studying the qualification requires you to be engaging in work experience)! It will be your responsibility to source a work opportunity within a regulated early education and care setting in the ACT. However, CPLE can assist in sourcing employment within the Communities at Work’s children’s services, if required.
Our Ascend Program is a structured on-the-job development program that enables you to study this qualification while employing you full-time in our children’s services (fixed term 15-18 months).
3. Foundation, Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills & Assessment
Assessment of the required foundation skills will be determined during the pre-enrolment process via the administration of the Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment. This is a pre-training written assessment and interview that identifies your LLN skill levels in each area.
Through this process, it must be determined that you hold an ACSF* Level 3 in Learning, Reading, Writing, Oral Communication, and Numeracy in order to hold the foundation skills applicable and be offered enrolment into this qualification. To find out more about this assessment, get in touch with the CPLE team on cple@commsatwork.org
For more information on entry requirements and other important details pertaining to the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification, please download our qualification handbook: CHC30121 Cert III Qualification Information Guide.
How is this qualification delivered?
This qualification is delivered through blended delivery mode. Learning and assessment materials will be on offer to you in our online Learning Management System (Canvas), alongside the provision of face-to-face support sessions to those who wish to attend. CPLE facilitate the following support sessions:
- Monthly 3-hour face to face support sessions offered after hours between 5 pm and 8 pm.
- Weekly face to face support sessions offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm.
- Schedules to these support sessions will be provided to you upon enrolment with locations varying between Weston and Denman Prospect.
Refer to the CHC30121 Cert III Qualification Information Guide for details.
How long will it take to complete the qualification?
The learning duration for this qualification is 15 months.
You will be encouraged to complete assigned modules within a 4-11 week time period depending on the assessment requirements specified within the module and the hours required to demonstrate competency. If you are to follow timeframes set by CPLE, learning duration equates to 65 weeks or 15 months for completion.
When can I start studying this qualification?
As this qualification is delivered within a rolling intake framework, students can commence and exit this qualification at will, and there is no set cohort. Upon enrolment into the qualification, you will have a personalised schedule designed for you which will set completion due dates for the modules you need to complete based on your enrolment application paperwork and previous completed study where applicable.
What will I be studying in the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification?
You must be assessed as competent in a total of 17 units to be awarded the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Educational and Care: 15 core units and 2 elective units. Consistent with the qualification packaging rules, the units listed below will be delivered in this qualification:
Core Units:
- CHCECE030 Support inclusion and diversity
- CHCECE031 Support children’s health, safety and wellbeing
- CHCECE032 Nurture babies and toddlers
- CHCECE033 Develop positive and respectful relationships with children
- CHCECE034 Use an approved learning framework to guide practice
- CHCECE035 Support the holistic learning and development of children
- CHCECE036 Provide experiences to support children’s play and learning
- CHCECE037 Support children to connect with the natural environment
- CHCECE038 Observe children to inform practice
- CHCECE054 Encourage understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultures
- CHCECE055 Meet legal and ethical obligations in children’s education and care
- CHCECE056 Work effectively in children’s education and care
- CHCPRT001 Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
- HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety
- HLTAID012* Provide First Aid in an education and care setting (outsourced by CPLE for training and assessment).
Elective Units:
- CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
- CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
How will I be assessed?
Our trainers and assessors will assess you using a range of methods during your engagement with this qualification including:
- Written questions
- Case Studies
- Projects
- Workplace portfolios
- Recorded role plays
- Observation reports (to be completed in the workplace by a suitably qualified workplace supervisor and CPLE Trainer & Assessor).
Each module is assessed both in theory and practice. This means that you will need to complete both the theoretical assessment as well as a practical assessment in the workplace to complete the requirements in full.
Refer to the CHC30121 Cert III Qualification Information Guide for more information.
Downloadable Resources with more information
CHC30121 Cert III Qualification Information Guide
How to apply to study for Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care?
You can apply for this course by filling in the enquiry form here. You can also email us at cple@commsatwork.org, or call 02 6293 6220.
Communities at Work is a Registered Training Organisation, trading as the Centre of Professional Learning and Education (RTO 88148).