Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Teaching
Overview
Embrace your passion for early childhood education with the Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Teaching. Nurture the learning and development of young minds (birth to 5 years) by creating engaging and supportive learning environments. Deepen your knowledge of early childhood curriculum, develop essential communication skills, and collaborate effectively with children, families, and communities.
Regional Outreach Model
All fees covered for residents in Gippsland, Wellington, Shepparton and Bendigo.
Partnering with the Victorian Department of Education, Swinburne offers a unique opportunity for early childhood educators in regional areas and individuals seeking a career change. Seize the chance to progress in your career and make a meaningful impact in your local community.
Applications for the Quarter 3 2024 intake are now open.
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Victorian State Government
Our innovative Regional Outreach Model (ROM) program is a collaborative, local, place-based approach to education.
It is specifically designed for residents in Gippsland, Wellington, Shepparton, and Bendigo local government areas.
Key features of the program include:
Hybrid course delivery that caters for working educators
Local place-based support for assignment and study completion
Subsidised study materials
VR-simulated classroom environments
Supervised professional placements at the workplace
Employment networking opportunities
Want free, on-the-spot advice about courses, careers, and applying?
Whether you're just starting your career or switching it up, our experts at the Swinburne Skills and Jobs Centre are on hand to help you understand your career and study options.
Upgrade your skills
- Understanding child behaviour
- Twenty-first century teaching practices
- Curriculum planning
- Emotional intelligence
- Excellent communication
Stretch your career further
- Early childhood teacher
- Early childhood services team leader
- Early childhood centre coordinator
- Early childhood centre director
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Professional accreditations
Why Swinburne?
5-Star rating for PG Learning Resources – top 20% of universities in Australia – #1 in Melb/Vic
86.7% of recent PG graduates were satisfied with their overall experience (#1 in Melb/Vic)
91.9% of PG graduates found employment 4 months after completing their course (5th highest in Melbourne)
5-Star rating for PG Teaching Quality – top 20% of universities in Australia – 4th highest in Aust – #1 in Melb/Vic
Qualifications
Students must have successfully completed one of the following:
- A Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline or
- A graded Australian Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or recognised ungraded equivalent) and a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience (undertaken within the last 7 years), in an early childhood education setting with related leadership responsibilities.
Students must have successfully completed one of the following:
- A Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline or
- A graded Australian Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or recognised ungraded equivalent) and a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience (undertaken within the last 7 years), in an early childhood education setting with related leadership responsibilities.
Other requirements
All enrolled students must maintain a current Working with Children Check (from the appropriate State Authority).
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
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Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies (Non teaching Swinburne Online)
How credit points work
To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Teaching, students must complete 100 credit points comprising:
- Four core units (25 credit points each for a total of 100 credit points)
- 60 days of supervised professional experience
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Child Growth, Health and Wellbeing
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
EDU60052 |
|
Child Play with Literacy and Creative Pedagogy
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
EDU60053 |
|
Child Play with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
EDU60054 |
|
Professionalism with Family, Community and Industry
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
EDU60055 |
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$25,680
Total fee* ($AUD)
$25,680
Commonwealth Supported Yearly Fee* ($AUD)
$4,627
Commonwealth Supported Total Fee* ($AUD)
$4,627
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$33,880.00
Fees are estimates only
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
All fees covered for residents in Gippsland, Wellington, Shepparton and Bendigo | Regional Outreach Model
As part of the Regional Outreach Model, all fees are covered for residents in Gippsland, Wellington, Shepparton and Bendigo local government areas. This includes the Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and student services and amenities fees.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Finances
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Eligibility for FEE-HELP
You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:
- are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
- are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
- have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.
Eligibility for HECS-HELP
You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:
- are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.
Student services and amenities fee
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.
Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!
Applications are open from Q3 2024 intake onwards.
Regional Outreach Model | Gippsland, Wellington, Shepparton and Bendigo residents.
Applications will be evaluated based on your post code. Apply online!