What's the difference between the Bachelor and the Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care? (CHC50113)
Working in childcare is an appealing career for so many Australians. According to the Department of Employment, it’s a massive industry which will grow to around 170,000 workers by 2022. That’s a lot of jobs in child care that will need to be filled by qualified workers.
A few years ago, the Australian government put some new requirements in place for child care workers, namely that they had to now be properly accredited, with at least a Certificate III qualification gained. It makes sense, child care is being professionalised, and child carers are now rightly seen as education and development professionals.
“Certificate III level is considered the national minimum qualification and training requirement for childcare workers and educators caring for children from birth to preschool age,” according to the National Quality Framework, as discussed here.
The rules on what roles you can undertake in child care and education are constantly being updated, so it’s important to check this list of qualifications from the National Quality Framework. Some older qualifications might need updating and there are other requirements of workers, such as first aid skills and Working With Children checks.
Two of the most popular courses students undertake in this career area are the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth-5) and the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113). Both are qualifications that prepare you for slightly different roles and requirements. Here is some information on the difference Between the Bachelor and the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth - 5)
Length: 4 years
Job roles you could gain: This degree qualifies you to work as a teacher in preschools and long day care within Australia. It is an accredited teaching degree.
Entry Requirements: You will need to have completed Year 12; or a Certificate IV (or above). If you have not, then; the completion of at least 1 year full-time or equivalent in a degree course at a higher education institution might count towards RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning).
Other requirements of the industry: If you are looking for employment in an early childhood setting (such as a child care centre) you will need to complete a senior first aid course to meet WorkCover requirements. A Working With Children Check may be required.
What can you earn? The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth-5) might prepare you for a role such as Preschool Teacher. According to Job Outlook, Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers earn $1019 per week, or $53,000 per annum.
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care(CHC50113)
Length: 12 months
Job roles you could gain: This diploma qualifies you to work in a child care setting (such as a child care centre) in a variety of roles. Examples of this are Centre Manager (children's services), Group/team coordinator/leader (children’s services) or Educational Support Leader.
Entry Requirements: The good news is that there are no pre requisites to enrol to study this qualification, although students are expected to have Year 12 or equivalent.
Other requirements of the industry: If you are looking for employment in an early childhood setting (such as a child care centre) you will need to complete a senior first aid course to meet WorkCover requirements. A Working With Children Check may be required.
What can you earn? The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113) might allow you to gain a role as a Child Care Centre Manager. Although managers may earn more, depending on where they are located, the hours they work and the experience they have, according to Job Outlook, Child Carers earn $800 per week, or $41,600 per annum.
How to get a job working in child care in Australia
If you need more information on the child care industry in Australia, check out our other SkillsTalk blog articles on the subject. For a quick career overview, head to this article.
To read about the benefits of a child care career, check out Stepping into childcare with online childcare courses. To find out more about what personality types would suit careers in child care, read How To Be a Child Care Worker & Study Child Care & Education Online.
Explore child care courses online
Ready to choose a course in Education or Child Care?
Read though the entry requirements and potential job roles you can undertake with Upskilled’s Education courses. Or check out our Industry Profile on the sector here.
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