Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood)

The course takes 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time to complete, with intake periods available in Term 1 (March), Term 3 (July/June), and Term 5 (October).

Students undertake 60 days (480 hours) of professional placement during the 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. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, including a Working with Children Check, must be met prior to attending professional experience placement.

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.

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 a course. International students are also required to pay OSHC for the duration of their visa in advance.

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. Graduates must meet the English language and other requirements set by the relevant State or Territory professional or registration authority and are advised to confirm Teacher Registration requirements with the appropriate authority in the state in which they intend to work.