Diploma of Education

Students undertake 60 days (480 hours) of professional placement during this course in two environments — a preschool setting for children aged 3-5 years and an infant and toddler setting. Students are responsible for travel to attend placements, which may not always be within their local area, and are strongly encouraged to consider undertaking a placement in rural and remote regions.

The Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) offers a direct pathway to the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), facilitating advanced education opportunities. However, Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) students who entered the course via a diploma-experience pathway are ineligible to progress to a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood). Those students are advised to consider a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education pathway.

Yes, the Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) is accredited by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) under the National Quality Framework. Under this framework, graduates can be recognised as an early childhood teacher to practice in settings for children aged from birth to five years in most jurisdictions. Please note that each Australian state/territory has their own teacher registration requirements for Early Childhood Teacher Registration.

For domestic students, the indicative fee is $4,736 (first year only) as a Commonwealth supported place. For international students, the annual tuition fee is $26,000 ($3,250 per unit), based on completing 8 units per year. Tuition fees are in Australian dollars and are subject to change, including annual increases over the duration of the course. International students are also required to pay OSHC for the duration of their visa in advance.

The Southern Cross Model uses shorter, six-week unit structures designed around immersive and interactive learning experiences. The shorter unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum as they achieve milestones quickly, resulting in increased student success rates, and course and teacher satisfaction. Lectures are a thing of the past — students will be engaged in active, interactive and discussion-based learning. Online study options are highly interactive and may include a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.