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Home > CHC50125 DIPLOMA OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
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. Educators at this level are responsible for designing and implementing curriculum that meets the requirements of an approved learning framework and for maintaining compliance in other areas of service operations. They use specialised knowledge and analyse and apply theoretical concepts to diverse work situations. They may have responsibility for supervision of volunteers or other educators.Â
Early childhood educators work in long day care centres, family day care, pre-schools or kindergartens.Â
To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 280 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency. Â
Course Name: DIPLOMA OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
VET National Code: CHC50125
CRICOS CODE:Â 118911C
Start your career as a Lead Educator or Centre Manager with Melbourne Metro College’s industry-focused diploma.
Course Code | CRICOS Code | Duration | Location | Placement | Intakes |
CHC50125 | Available on Request | 1 Year Full-Time / 2 Years Part-Time | Melbourne CBD | 280 Hours Minimum | February & July |
Enrol Now or Enquire Today — Limited Places Available | melmc.edu.au
The CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a nationally recognised AQF Level 5 qualification that prepares educators to design and implement curriculum frameworks, lead teams, and manage compliance in regulated children’s education and care services across Australia. Delivered in Melbourne by Melbourne Metro College (MELMC), this diploma meets ACECQA requirements and qualifies graduates for leadership roles in long day care, kindergartens, and family day care settings under the National Quality Framework (NQF).
The entry requirements to get into this course are as below:
To enter this qualification, applicants should have successfully completed:
OR,
AND
OR,
International students must demonstrate English language proficiency with minimum score of:
IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic), or
PTE (Pearson Test of English) 46; or equivalent.
Prior to the commencement of the course, all students are required to undertake a language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) test mapped at Australian Core Skills Framework and required to attain score at ACSF Level.
Learning skills: | 4 |
Reading skills: | 3 |
Writing skills | 3 |
Oral communication skills | 4 |
Numeracy skills | 3 |
The qualification is delivered over 52 weeks comprising of:Â
8 weeks for Work placement (280 hours)Â
Students are required to attend 20 hours of classroom training per week. Â
Homework is expected to be approximately 10 hours a week. Â
The training and assessment schedule shows the weeks during which training is delivered and assessment conducted for each unit. Â
Unit of Competency
Code | Title  | Core or Elective |
CHCECE041 | Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children | Core |
CHCECE047 | Analyse information to inform children’s learning | Core |
CHCECE050 | Work in partnership with children’s families | Core |
CHCECE045 | Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children | Core |
CHCECE042 | Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing | Core |
CHCECE048 | Plan and implement children’s education and care curriculum | Core |
CHCECE044 | Facilitate compliance in a children’s education and care service | Core |
CHCECE049 | Embed environmental responsibility in service operations | Core |
CHCECE043 | Nurture creativity in children | Core |
CHCECE046 | Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children | Core |
CHCPRP003 | Reflect on and improve own professional practice | Core |
BSBTWK502 | Manage team effectiveness | Core |
CHCPOL003 | Research and apply evidence to practice ECEC | Elective |
BSBOPS502 | Manage business operational plans | Elective |
BSBPEF502 | Develop and use emotional intelligence | Elective |
All student enrolling in this course is expected to have basic computer skills including use of internet, email and word processor.
Students are required to complete 280 hours of work placement as part of the qualification. Students will commence their work placement in term 4.
A face-to-face training mode is employed for this qualification. All classroom-based training will take place at the Melbourne Metro College training facilities.
The structured supervised self-study component of this course amounts to 4 hours a week. Students are provided with access to self-study guide for completion of a range of activities. The estimated time to complete activities is documented in the guide for each unit. This is a mandatory component of a student’s study and student’s attendance and participation will be monitored.
• Prior to the enrolment and at enrolment, students are made aware of the availability of Credit Transfer (CT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• Students are required to apply for CT of any relevant units and may also apply for RPL prior to course commencement.
• Students must show evidence that can be verified such as a statement of results for credit transfer to be granted.
Students are provided with:
• Student Assessment Booklet
• Other documents specific to the workplace simulation task requirements
After successfully completing CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, learners may choose to undertake further study pathways including the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, through university.
This qualification provides pathway to work as a Childcare educator, Centre manager, in regulated education and care service such as child care centres and Family Day Care.
Melbourne Metro College (MELMC) delivers the CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care with a curriculum built on real industry standards, not theory alone. Educators trained at MELMC enter the workforce prepared to lead services, implement the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), and meet the National Quality Standards (NQS) from their first week on the job.
The Victorian Government projects a need for more than 11,000 additional early childhood educators over the next decade. With early childhood employment booming across Melbourne and regional Victoria, enrolling now puts you in the most in-demand workforce in Australia’s education and care sector.
Every MELMC student receives personalised placement support. The college coordinates your mandatory 280-hour industry placement in registered education and care services across Melbourne, so you spend your time learning, not searching for a host venue. Placement officers work directly with childcare centres, kindergartens, and family day care operators to match placements to your study schedule and career goals.
MELMC trainers are qualified early childhood professionals with current industry experience. Every unit of competency is taught with a direct link to ACECQA-approved practice, the National Quality Standard (NQS), and the Education and Care Services National Law. You graduate with the practical skills that employers in Melbourne’s early childhood sector expect from a diploma-qualified educator.
MELMC’s Melbourne campus features purpose-built early childhood training rooms that replicate authentic childcare environments — from infant and toddler spaces to preschool learning areas. Students practice curriculum planning, behaviour management, and safe environment setup using the same tools, layouts, and materials found in registered education and care services.
MELMC supports students throughout their study journey with academic mentoring, language and literacy support, career advice, and flexible study scheduling. Whether you are a school leaver, career changer, or internationally trained educator, the college provides the scaffolding to help you complete your diploma and enter the workforce with confidence.
Graduates of the CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care qualify for senior and leadership roles in a wide range of children’s services settings across Melbourne and throughout Victoria. The following roles are open to diploma-qualified educators:
For Cert 3 of Early Childhood and Care : click here
The CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care sits within a clear, nationally structured education pathway. Each stage builds directly on the last, and each qualification is ACECQA-recognised.
Stage | Qualification / Outcome |
Step 1 — Entry Qualification | CHC30121 or CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (prerequisite — must be completed before enrolling in the diploma) |
Step 2 — Diploma Study at MELMC | CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care — 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, including 280 hours of mandatory work placement |
Step 3 — Leadership Roles | Eligible to work as Room Leader, Educational Leader, Centre Manager, FDC Coordinator, or Nominated Supervisor in a regulated service |
Step 4 — Pathway to University | Use your MELMC diploma as credit toward a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Leadership — reducing the time and cost of your degree |
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Students who complete the CHC50125 Diploma at MELMC may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or credit transfer toward a bachelor degree at participating universities. Contact MELMC’s admissions team to confirm available pathways. |
Immunisation evidence is an industry requirement for early childhood placement in Victoria. Students must provide a current vaccination record or discuss any exemptions with the MELMC placement coordinator before commencing placement. |
Ready to Enrol? Apply Now at melmc.edu.au or Call MELMC Admissions Today
Melbourne Metro College operates from a central Melbourne campus, placing students at the heart of one of Australia’s most dynamic early childhood employment markets. Victoria’s early childhood sector is growing at a rate unmatched by most other states, driven by the expansion of funded kindergarten programs, the introduction of three-year-old kindergarten, and sustained government investment in educator workforce development.
Studying in Melbourne CBD means:
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is listed as a priority course under Victoria's Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative. Eligible domestic students may study at no tuition cost. To qualify, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, hold a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and not have previously used a Free TAFE place. Free TAFE places are limited — contact MELMC to confirm current availability before applying.
Yes. Many students in the part-time pathway work in early childhood services while completing the diploma. Part-time students studying through the blended delivery mode are typically required to provide evidence of current employment in a regulated education and care service (minimum 15 hours per week). This employment can also count toward your practical placement hours. Full-time students should plan their work hours around the four-day-per-week class and placement schedule.
Full-time students complete the CHC50125 diploma in approximately 12 months. Part-time students typically complete the course over 18 to 24 months. Duration depends on your chosen study mode, the pace of placement completion, and the credit transfer or RPL applied at enrolment. MELMC offers intakes in February and July — contact the admissions team to plan your start date.
CHC30121 is the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care — the entry-level qualification that prepares educators to work under supervision in regulated children's services. CHC50125 is the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care — a higher-level AQF qualification that qualifies graduates for leadership and management roles, including Room Leader, Educational Leader, Centre Manager, and Nominated Supervisor. You must hold the Certificate III before enrolling in the diploma.
The cost depends on your eligibility for government funding. Eligible domestic students in Victoria may access Free TAFE (no tuition cost) or Skills First subsidised fees (approximately $7,450 to $9,467). Without government funding, full tuition fees range from approximately $15,650 to $17,839 depending on the registered training organisation. Materials and student services fees are additional. Contact MELMC for a personalised fee assessment based on your circumstances.
MELMC delivers the CHC50125 diploma through a mixed mode that combines face-to-face classes at the Melbourne campus with structured eLearning tasks. A fully online pathway is not available for this qualification because ACECQA and the Education and Care Services National Regulations require students to demonstrate practical competency through direct, observable interactions with children. However, some theory content is delivered online to support flexible study around work and placement schedules.
Yes. Eligible Victorian residents can access government-subsidised (Skills First) funding, which significantly reduces tuition fees. The Victorian Government has increased funding for early childhood education qualifications in response to projected workforce shortages. Free TAFE funding is available as a higher-level subsidy for eligible students. International students are not eligible for government subsidies but may access MELMC's flexible payment arrangements. Use the Victorian Government's online eligibility checker at vic.gov.au or contact MELMC admissions to confirm your funding status before enrolling.
Apply Now at melmc.edu.au | Enrol in Melbourne’s Leading Early Childhood Diploma Program
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Website: melmc.edu.au | Melbourne CBD Campus | Delivering CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care