Children’s Services
Certificate III in Children’s Services
Course Length: 6 or 12 months
This qualification is aimed at both new entrants to the Children’s Services sector and those seeking to build on their industry knowledge and experience or those wishing to gain the prerequisite units for the Diploma in Children’s Services. This qualification is ideally suited to people who wish to gain knowledge and theory on how to use organisational policies, procedures and individual children’s profiles to plan activities, provide care for children, and provide activities that encourage developmental growth. The course consists of 15 units of competency ranging from first aid to working within a legal and ethical framework, child development, behaviour management as well as interacting with and caring for children.
Entry Requirement
The pre-requisite for entering this course is either the satisfactory completion of Year 10 English or an IELTS score of 5.5 (or equivalent).
Career and study pathway
Successful completion of this qualification may lead to further study such as the Diploma of Children’s Services, or employment in the child care sector as a Child Care Assistant, Family Day Carer, Nanny, Out of School Hours Care Assistant, Recreation Assistant Teacher Aide, Kindergarten Assistant or Preschool Assistant.
Units of Competency
Students must complete the 11 Core units plus a further 4 electives chosen from the list below. Students who have previously completed any units of competency from the lists below, or any other eligible units may have them credited towards this qualification.
Core units
CHCCHILD1C Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm
CHCCN1D Ensure children’s health and safety
CHCCN2C Care for children
CHCCN4D Respond to illness, accidents and emergencies
CHCCS301A Work within a legal and ethical framework
CHCFC1C Support the development of children in the service
CHCIC1C Interact effectively with children
CHCOHS301A Participate in workplace safety procedures
CHCPR1C Deliver services/activities to simulate children’s development and enhance their leisure
CHCPR3C Develop an understanding of children’s interests and developmental needs
HLTFA2A Apply advanced First Aid (depending on jurisdiction)
Electives
Candidates may choose any 4 of the electives listed below. (Candidates who have completed other Certificate III level units or higher in the Community Services Training Package, or Certificate III level units from other relevant training packages may have those units credited as electives.)
CHCFC6C Provide experiences which facilitate children’s expressive development
CHCFC7C Use music as a medium to enhance children’s experience and development
CHCFC8A Provide experiences which enhance children’s development and learning
CHCCHILD2C Support the rights and safety of children within duty of care
CHCCN3C Prepare nutritionally balanced food in a safe and hygienic manner
CHCCN5C Care for babies
CHCCS405A Effectively work with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
CHCORG3B Participate in the work environment
CHCRFIC Work effectively with families in caring for the child
Organisation
Units of competency will be grouped into clusters of units based on the learning materials available from International Child Care College. A list of these clusters may be provided upon request.
Students may choose their own pace of study opting to study for 6 months or at a slightly slower pace for 1 year.
Diploma of Children’s Services
Course Length: 2 years
This qualification is aimed at both new entrants to the profession and those seeking to build on their Certificate III qualifications and experience and gain employment as a qualified child care worker, group or program leader. It is ideally suited to people who wish to gain knowledge and theory in substantial depth, in such areas as program planning, planning and research, and the leadership role of a team leader in the children’s services industry.
Entry Requirement
The pre-requisite for entering this course is either the satisfactory completion of Year 12 English or an IELTS score of 5.5 (or equivalent) and the completion of Certificate III in Children’s Services.
Career and study pathway
After completing the Diploma of Children’s Services students may gain employment as a Group leader, Team Leader, Qualified Child Care Worker, Program Leader, Kindergarten or Preschool Assistant, Primary School Teacher Aide, Service Manager or Centre Director in a child care facility, or may choose to go onto further study such as the Advanced diploma of Children’s Services or gain credit towards a university degree such as Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
Advanced Diploma of Children's Services
Course Length: 3 years
This qualification is aimed at people wishing to expand on their Diploma of Children’s Services qualifications, or those wishing further their employment opportunities within the childcare industry to gain employment working as a director of a child care centre. Individuals would likely have supervisory responsibility for staff including volunteers, work intensively with clients, act as a resource to other workers and liaise with the community. This course is ideally suited to people who wish to gain a somewhat in depth awareness and understanding of the child care industry and its range of operations.
Entry Requirement
The pre-requisites for entering this course are:
The pre-requisite for entering this course is either the satisfactory completion of Year 12 English or an IELTS score of 5.5 (or equivalent) and the completion of Diploma of Children’s Services.
Please note that you must be 17 years of age by the completion of this course and also be aware that you must undergo a police check for a criminal background in order to work in Child Care.
Career and study pathway
After completing the Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services students may gain employment as a Service Director in long day care centre, occasional child care, outside school hours care centre or family day care coordinator, or may choose to go onto further study such as a university degree such as Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
Units of Competency
Students must complete the 12 prerequisite units from Certificate III in Children’s Services as well as the 16 Compulsory units and choose a further 4 Elective units from the list below. Students who have already completed the prerequisite units may start immediately on the core units of competency. Students who have completed any eligible units of competency may credit those units towards this qualification.
Prerequisite - Certificate III units (not necessary for those who have completed certificate III)
CHCCHILD1C Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm
CHCCN1D Ensure children’s health and safety
CHCCN2C Care for children
CHCCN4D Respond to illness, accidents and emergencies
CHCCS301A Work within a legal and ethical framework
CHCFC1C Support the development of children in the service
CHCIC1C Interact effectively with children
CHCOHS301A Participate in workplace safety procedures
CHCORG3B Participate in the work environment
CHCPR1C Deliver services/activities to simulate children’s development and enhance their leisure
CHCPR3C Develop an understanding of children’s interests and developmental needs
HLTFA1A Apply basic First Aid and/or
HLTFA2A Apply advanced First Aid (depending on jurisdiction)
Compulsory units
CHCCHILD2C Support the rights and safety of children within duty of care requirements
CHCCN8B Plan Care Routines
CHCCN11C Establish, manage and monitor the implementation of a safe and healthy environment
CHCFC2C Foster and enhance children’s development
CHCFC3C Foster and enhance children’s social, emotional and psychological development
CHCFC5C Foster and enhance children’s cognitive and language development
CHCIC10C Establish & implement plans for developing responsible behaviour
CHCIC12C Plan and implement the inclusion of children with additional needs
CHCOHS501A Manage workplace OHS management systems
CHCPR2C Arrange/organise experiences which facilitate and enhance children’s development
CHCPR9C Document, interpret and use information about children
CHCPR10C Design, implement and evaluate programs of the service
CHCRF11B Work in partnerships with families to care for the child
CHCFC6C* Provide experiences which facilitate children’s expressive development
CHCFC7C* Use music as a medium to enhance children’s experience and development
CHCFC8A* Provide experiences which enhance children’s development and learning
* These units may be compulsory in some jurisdictions and therefore have been included in the list of compulsory units.
Electives
Candidates may choose any 4 of the electives listed below, and need only to complete those units from the resource materials. (Candidates who have completed other diploma level unit or higher in the Community Services Training Package, or diploma level units from other relevant training packages may have those units credited as electives.)
CHCCS405A Effectively work with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
CHCPR14B Observe children and interpret observations
CHCPOL2A Contribute to the policy development
CHCINF7B Meet information needs of the community
CHCINF5B Meet statutory and organizational information requirements
BSBFLM506A Manage workplace information systems
CHCCN20B Advocate for the rights and need of children and young people
CHCIC11B Implement and promote inclusive policies and practices
CHCRF21B Promote equity in access to the service
CHCORG11B Lead and develop others
CHCORG5B Maintain an effective work environment
CHCORG6B Co-ordinate the work environment
BSBMGT608A Manage innovation and continuous improvement
CHCQM601A Manage an accreditation process
CHCORG28A Reflect and improve upon professional practice
Program Structure
All prerequisite Certificate III level units will be delivered first. The elective units will be taught after the sectorial core units as students may choose to use previously completed units to credit towards their qualification. This way students who have already completed prerequisites or have gained credit for some electives save their time in only having to attend classes for the cluster of units that they require.
Students may choose their own pace of study opting to study for 1 year or at a slightly slower pace for 2 years.
