Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
CHC50125
Duration: 24 Months
Price: $5650 up front | $260.77 per week (payment plan)
How it works: Study online. With a difference.
Start date: Immediately, or whenever you're ready.
Entry requirements: Available in Victoria only | Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (or equivalent) | RPL available | Work Placement required
Qualification type: Diploma
CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is designed for qualified educators ready to take the next step with Monarch Institute, this course prepares you for leadership roles in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector - available exclusively in Victoria.
CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is designed for qualified educators ready to take the next step with Monarch Institute, this course prepares you for leadership roles in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector - available exclusively in Victoria.
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Nationally recognised
Course Summary
Working with children is one of the most meaningful careers you can choose. Whether you're leading a room of curious three-year-olds, mentoring a team of educators, or designing curriculum that shapes how children learn and grow — your work has a lasting impact on the lives of the families you serve.
Monarch's Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is built by ECEC professionals who understand what it takes to step into a leadership role in a regulated service. From day one, you'll be learning from people who've worked in the sector and know exactly what's expected of you when you get there.
You'll study online at your own pace, with access to the Little.ly Early Learning Centre — a simulated ECEC setting that prepares you for the workplace before you set foot in one. Flexible trainer support, knowledge-check quizzes, and 300 hours of real work placement mean you'll graduate job-ready.
Key opportunities include:
Early Childhood Educator
Education Leader
Family Day Care Coordinator
Childcare Centre Manager
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Leader
This course is designed to be completed in up to 24 months. You are expected to submit assessments by the due dates within each block to maintain progress. The course is delivered across three structured study blocks, with Study Block 1 completed over approximately 9 months, Study Block 2 over 12 months, and Study Block 3 over 3 months.
The course includes approximately 1,600 scheduled hours of learning, including 300 hours of work placement.
Students with significant industry experience may be able to complete the qualification in less than 18 months.
More than online
You’ll get:
Easy-to-follow digital lessons
Knowledge-check quizzes throughout
Access to the Little.ly Early Learning Centre — a simulated ECEC setting
Support from your trainer (email, Zoom via Calendly)
Dedicated support team on hand to guide you
Online assessments
Access to a closed student Facebook group
Assessments are completed unit by unit across 12 modules
Assessment types include short answer questions, projects, case studies, role plays, portfolio tasks, journals, and interview questionnaires. Work Placement assessments include direct observation by an assessor, third-party reports, and workplace practice verification. You must complete all theoretical and practical assessment requirements before being deemed competent in a unit.
You can start immediately — or whenever you're ready. There are no fixed intake dates. Once enrolled, your 24-month training plan begins and you work through at your own pace.
Get in touch about enrolling
Work Placement is a core part of this course, and like all early childhood education and care programmes, you'll need to source an approved placement in a regulated ECEC service.
The good news? Most students find a placement themselves through their current workplace, a local centre, or word of mouth. Once you've identified a placement, Monarch handles everything else, we'll assess and approve the host organisation, onboard your supervisor, and make sure everything meets the regulatory requirements before you set foot through the door.
If you get stuck, we've got you covered. Our Placement Matching Service guarantees to find you an approved placement for a small administrative fee of $250. We do the searching, you do the learning.
*Get in touch for more details
"Excellent support from tutors. They even reply afterhours and on weekends too. Highly recommend Monarch Institute."
- Pushpinder Singh, Monarch Institute graduate
Entry Requirements
To enrol in the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you'll need to hold a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121 or CHC30113), or an equivalent qualification with relevant work experience. Once we receive your enrolment, our course consultants will be in touch to complete a pre-training review and confirm the course is right for you. We'll also assess your language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy before you begin.
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is exclusively available to Victorian residents.
Work Placement requirements: Before commencing Work Placement, students must hold a valid Working with Children Check, vaccinations, appropriate clearances, and complete national child safety training (Geccko). It is the student's responsibility to arrange and maintain these prior to placement, at their own expense.
We may be able to take into account relevant knowledge and skills you’ve gained through previous formal or informal training, education and employment. To find out more, refer to our Student Information Handbook by clicking here, or get in touch with one of our friendly course consultants.
A computer or laptop with reliable internet access
A video recording device (e.g. smartphone or webcam) — required for some assessment activities
Microsoft Office or equivalent word processing software
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Pathways
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is your pathway into leadership roles across the ECEC sector — and beyond. Upon completion, you may be eligible to apply for credit towards a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education at participating universities. You will generally need to discuss credit arrangements directly with your chosen university.
Block 1: Compliance in early childhood
Module 1: Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
CHCECE041 Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
Module 2: Work in partnership with children’s families
CHCECE050 Work in partnership with children’s families
Module 3: Compliance in Childhood Services
CHCECE044 Facilitate compliance in a children’s education and care service
CHCECE049 Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
CHCECE053 Respond to grievances and complaints about the service (Elective)
Module 4: Reflect on and improve own professional practice
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Module 5: Work Placement Block 1
Work Placement: This module is dedicated to the information related to the Work Placement for units within Block 1. You are required to complete 20 hours of Work Placement, then submit Work Placement-related assessments and other relevant documents here.
Block 2: Working in an early childhood setting
Module 6: Behaviour and Inclusion
CHCECE046 Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
CHCECE045 Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
Module 7: Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
CHCECE042 Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
Module 8: Planning and Curriculum
CHCECE047 Analyse information to inform children’s learning
CHCECE048 Plan and implement children’s education and care curriculum
CHCECE043 Nurture creativity in children
Module 9: Manage and promote diversity
CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity (Elective)
Module 10: Work Placement Block 2
Work Placement: This module is dedicated to completing the required Work Placement hours linked to key early childhood practice modules. You will complete 280 hours of Work Placement in an approved early childhood education and care service and apply your skills in areas such as inclusion, behaviour guidance, curriculum planning, holistic development and diversity.
Block 3: Working in an early childhood setting
Module 11: Support the learning and development of teams and individuals
BSBHRM413 Support the learning and development of teams and individuals (Elective)
Module 12: Manage team effectiveness
BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness
Advance your early childhood education career
This qualification is designed for educators who are ready to move into leadership and coordination roles. Build the skills to lead a team, design curriculum, and take responsibility for the quality of an early childhood service.
Victoria only
This course is currently available exclusively in Victoria, Australia. It is not available to offshore students or Australians residing outside of Victoria.
300 hours work placement included
Gain real-world experience in a regulated early childhood education and care setting. Your placement is supported by Monarch assessors who will guide you through the process and conduct direct observation visits.
Nationally recognised
The CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and listed as an approved qualification by ACECQA. It also provides a pathway into a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education.
Early childhood education training. For the real world.
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