UPC Child Care

CHILD CARE

Certificate III in Children's Services (CHC30402) CRICOS Code 062081C

This course covers interesting aspects of child development, play support, behaviour management and health and safety including essential First Aid*.

* First Aid Training is provided by Surf Life Saving NSW Inc RTO ID 90394

Diploma of Children's Services (CHC50302) CRICOS Code 062082B

Covering theory in child development, centre programming and evaluation this course can lead to careers up to Child Care Supervisor.

For information on UPC Course Fees and Intake Dates click here

Download a Child Care leaflet here

More detailed information follows below

Community Services Program Childcare Courses

University Preparation College (UPC) offers courses in Childcare at the Certificate III and Diploma levels. Our courses are nationally recognised qualifications through the Australian Government's Vocational Education and Training Advisory Board (VETAB) of New South Wales.

The UPC Childcare courses are small classes with excellent teachers and facilities. There is a high demand for well qualified childcare assistants and managers in Australia. Our courses prepare students for this career with work placement in a child care centre built into the course.

General Course Information

The Certificate III in Children's Services is offered as a 6 month full time course including work placement. You will be qualified as a Childcare Worker.

The Diploma of Children's Services is offered as an 18 month full time course. You will be qualified as a Childcare Coordinator. In this role you are expected to supervise staff and manage a centre. There is work placement built into the Diploma level course.

Entry requirements

Under the Children's Services Regulation 2004 you cannot be employed in children's services until you are 18 years of age. The Certificate III in Children's Services or equivalent is a pre-requisite for the Diploma of Children's Services (this is set down by the NSW Department of Community Services)

Entry for Local students

Entry requirement is a NSW school certificate (year 10) or equivalent. You must be 18 years or older. Local students must complete a Declaration of Prohibited Employment or a Working with Children Check before commencing work placement in a centre.

Entry for Overseas students

Education:
The Higher School Certificate (HSC) or an equivalent Senior Secondary School completion is required. Overseas students will be checked for criminal records and Prohibited Employment regulations as part of their student visa application. These checks must be completed before you go to work placement in a centre.

English Language Proficiency for overseas students
Students should have an English proficiency of at least 5.5 on IELTS score or equivalent. If English level is less than 5.5, students need to successfully complete English courses for a minimum of 10 weeks to the Intermediate English level. UPC can offer these English courses.

Course Structure and Assessment

The Childcare courses are structured around four 9-week terms (36 weeks per calendar year). Typically, you complete 2-3 Subjects per term. These Subjects are completed in a combination of classroom lectures and practicals and work experience.
Assessment is competency-based which means you will show your knowledge through completion of written exercises and exams, your communication and practical skills are tested through demonstrations and observations reports during the course, in play sessions and from supervisors in the work experience.

Course Content
The Subjects for Childcare focus on areas such as Workplace and Professional Skills, Families and Community, Child Protection and Safety, Child Development and Experiences You progress through the Subjects, starting at Entry level, through to Diploma. The list of Subjects at each level is shown below.

Attending Classes at the College

You attend this course three days per week (excluding school holidays). This includes work experience in a Child Care facility. A total of 20 hours per week is timetabled for every week.

Complete Work Placements in a Child Care Facility

(Certificate III – 80 hours work placement)

The College arranges Work Experience
Students enrolled in the Certificate III level course will complete 80 hours of work placement – average 10 days in a childcare setting across the six months. You will be provided with the opportunity to work with children in different ages and situations. This may be in the same centre or different centres.

(Diploma – 280 hours work placement)

Students enrolled in the Diploma level course complete 280 hours of work placement in Childrens' Services organisations. There are 35 days allocated to placement.

Students gain experience in different child care setting and organisations The College childcare teachers are also Work Placement Co-ordinators. We find the facility that suits your interests and may move students to different child care settings to work with different ages – long day care and kindergartens, family day care and out-of school care and recreation programs. Your work experience is recorded and signed off by the centre supervisor. Assessment is part of the work placement and it is a mix of practical projects, observation of your work and some written activities.

Research and community projects are required at Diploma level. We support you through the assessments and our childcare teachers will visit and monitor the work placement.

Extra tuition in English to help with students understand child development terminology

The College is aware that some student are studying in English as their second language. We also know there is a lot of language about child development that is quite technical and academic. As part of the course our subjects include extra time on the language and terms specific to Children's Services.

At Diploma level students are working towards an English level equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or higher to gain employment in the child care industry and recognition through the Australian accreditation body.

Recognition

Students who have successfully completed any units of these qualifications at an other RTO or through other forms of formal study or overseas qualifications may be eligible for recognition in our courses. Please discuss this with our staff prior to enrolment.

Overseas students that gain recognition will have their course length and student visa duration reduced and course fees may be adjusted. Read more about Recognition and download our application forms in the general information section of the website.

Articulation to University
Credit Transfers and Learning Pathways UPC Diploma graduates in Childcare will be working towards achieving English at IELTS 6.0 academic. You can continue studies in Early Childhood Studies in the second year of a related undergraduate program at most Australian Universities, provided you meet all the University's requirements. If you are interested in this pathway, please make enquiries at UPC.

Certificate III in Children's Services, 6 months
Diploma of Children's Services, 18 months
(not including the lower level Certificate III course)

CHILDCARE Subject Summary
Qualification Level	Subject Code	Subject	Certificate III in Childcare	Diploma of Childcare
CERTIFICATE III 6 months 2 terms	CC1	Child Protection	P
	CC2	Work in Childcare	P
	CC3	Workplace Safety	P
	CC4	First Aid	P
	CC5	Caring for Children	P
	CC6	Deliver Children's Programs	P
	CC7	Work with Families	P
DIPLOMA 18 months 6 terms	CC8	Child Development and Care 1		P
	CC9	Programming for Development and Care 2		P
	CC10	Planning for Development and Children's Experiences		P
	CC11	Workplace and Professional Skills 1 Safety and Health Management		P
	CC12	Workplace and Professional Skills 2 Duty of Care		P
	CC13	Manage an Accreditation Process		P
	CC14	Workplace and Professional Skills 3 Leadership		P
	CC15	Families and Community		P
	CC16	Childcare Program Design and Evaluation		P

Certificate III in Children's Services

Description: This qualification covers workers who use organisational policies, procedures and individual children's profiles to plan activities and provide care to children, facilitating their leisure and play and enabling them to achieve their developmental outcomes.

The course covers interesting aspects of child development, play support, behaviour management and health and safety. Students are complete Work Placement in which they conduct activities, make observations and collect a portfolio of children's work.

Workers at this level are required to have an understanding of Indigenous culture and history and are able to work with local communities in the provision of services.

Course Length: 6 months

Job Roles

Child Care Assistant

Family Day Carer

Nanny

Out of School Hours Care Assistant

UPC students who receive this award must complete all of the following Subjects:

SUBJECTS

Subject Code	Subject Name	Unit Code	Unit Name
CC1	Child Protection	CHCCHILD1C	Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm
CC2	Work in Childcare	CHCCS301A	Work within a legal and ethical framework
		CHCORG3B	Participate in the work environment
		CHCCN3C	Prepare nutritionally balanced food in a safe and hygienic manner
CC3	Workplace Safety	CHCCN1D	Ensure children's health and safety
		CHCOHS301A	Participate in workplace safety procedures
		CHCCN4D	Respond to illness, accidents and emergencies
CC4	First Aid	HLTFA2A	Apply First Aid (depending on jurisdiction)
CC5	Caring for Children	CHCCN2C	Care for children
CC5	Caring for Children	CHCCN5C	Care for babies (required for centre based care and family day care in some jurisdictions)
CC6	Deliver Children's Programs	CHCFC1C	Support the development of children in the service
		CHCIC1C	Interact effectively with children
		CHCPR1C	Deliver services/activities to stimulate children's development and enhance their leisure
		CHCPR3C	Develop an understanding of children's interests and developmental needs
CC7	Work with Families	CHCRF1C	Work effectively with families to care for the child (required for centre based care and family day care in some jurisdictions)

Diploma of Children's Services

Description This qualification covers workers who are responsible for developing and evaluating the program. Workers at this level have responsibility for the supervision of other staff and volunteers. It is the highest qualification required at director or service manager level.

The course covers interesting aspects of child development and experiences, staff support, child support and behaviour management, health and safety, planning and programming. Students complete work placement and community projects. Workers at this level are required to have an understanding of Indigenous culture and history and are able to work with local communities in the provision of services.

Course Length: 18 months, (after Certificate III in Children's Services is completed in the first 6 months) Total study time, 2 years.

Job Roles

Child Care Worker– Qualified
Team Leader
Group Leader
Program Leader
Service Manager
Service Director

UPC students who receive this award must complete Certificate III in Children's Services plus all of the following Subjects:

SUBJECTS

Subject Code

Subject Name

Unit Code

Unit Name

CC8

Child Development and Care 1

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

CC9

Programming for Development and Care 2

CHCPR2C

Arrange/organise experiences which facilitate and enhance children's development

CHCCN8B

Plan care routines

CHCIC10C

Establish and implement plans for developing responsible behaviour

CC10

Planning for Development and Children's Experiences

CHCPR9C

Document, interpret and use information about children

CHCFC6C

Provide experiences which facilitate children's expressive development

CHCFC7C

Use music as a medium to enhance children's experience and development

CHCFC8A

Provide experience which enhance children's development and learning

CC11

Workplace and Professional Skills 1 Safety and Health Management

CHCCN11C

Establish, manage and monitor the implementation of a safe and healthy environment

CHCOHS501A

Manage workplace OHS management system

CC12

Workplace and Professional Skills 2 Duty of Care

CHCCHILD2C

Support the rights and safety of children within duty of care requirements

CC13

Manage an Accreditation Process

CHCQM601A

Manage an accreditation process

CC14

Workplace and Professional Skills 3 Leadership

CHCORG11B

Lead and develop others

CC15

Families and Community

CHCINF7B

Meet information needs of the community

CHCRF11B

Work in partnership with families to care for the child

CHCIC11B

Implement and promote inclusive policies and practices

CHCIC12C

Plan the inclusion of children with additional needs

CC16

Childcare Program Design and Evaluation

CHCPR10C

Design, implement and evaluate programs of the service