Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
International StudentsCertificate 3 in Childcare for International Students: CHC30125
Coming to Melbourne to study early childhood education? The qualification you want is CHC30125, formally the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and widely called a Certificate 3 in childcare. For international students it runs 52 weeks, face to face at our Lonsdale Street campus, under CRICOS 04180C. It includes 160 hours of practical placement in a regulated service. Email info@tpc.edu.au for current intake dates and fees.
Begin Your Career in Early Childhood Education
This is the entry qualification for the sector. It is designed for people who want to make a difference in the early and formative years of children, and it gives you both the knowledge and the supervised practical experience to start work in a room.
You will cover health and safety, children's emotional wellbeing, play-based learning, and creating environments children genuinely engage with. The units are practical rather than theoretical: nurturing babies and toddlers, developing positive and respectful relationships with children, supporting inclusion and diversity, using an approved learning framework to guide practice, and helping children connect with the natural environment.
Studying On Campus on a Student Visa
International students learn directly from experienced trainers at our campus, in interactive classroom sessions with guided practical activities.
The campus is Level 5, 398 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, in the centre of the city.
Intakes for international students fall on set dates rather than running continuously, so contact us for the next one.
Face to Face Learning
Learn directly from experienced trainers in our Melbourne campus with hands-on, interactive classroom sessions.
Comprehensive Curriculum
15 core units and 2 electives covering child development, safety, play-based learning, and cultural awareness.
160 Hours Placement
Mandatory work-based training in a regulated children's education and care service in Australia.
Where This Qualification Takes You
Students entering this course at The Performance College must meet the following entry requirements:
Pre-Training Review
All learners will undertake an initial skills assessment to determine suitability for the course and student needs. The review aims to identify their training needs through questions on previous education or training, the relevance of the course and relevant experience. Determination of course suitability and additional support (if any) will be made by a qualified assessor.
Language Literacy and Numeracy
All students will be required to complete an LLN assessment prior to the onset of the course. The Performance College uses the LLN Robot platform for the assessment. All reports and training supplements are generated by the LLN Robot system after comparing the learner’s ACSF spiky profile to the profile of this course.
Hardware / Software Requirements
For students to work on assessments, tasks and self-study all learners are expected to have access to a laptop or computer with Windows operating system and office application like Microsoft Word at their own cost. Where needed, The Performance College will provide access to computers or laptops, through an MoU setup with an external IT company.
Academic Requirement
Satisfactory completion of Australian Year 11 or equivalent (for International Students — satisfactory completion of studies in applicant’s home country equivalent to an Australian Year 11 qualification is required for entry into all qualifications).
Work Based Training
A mandatory 160 hours of work-based training in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia is required as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency. The total number of hours is applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.
English Language Requirements
Minimum IELTS score of 6 or equivalent. For equivalency of various English Language proficiency testing, and other forms of equivalency please refer to the Student Handbook. OR a minimum of two (2) years of study at an AQF Level 4 or higher completed in Australia.
Age Requirement
Students must be a minimum age of 18 years or above at the time of course outset.
Core Units (15)
Elective Units (2)
About The Performance College
We are a registered training organisation, RTO 46069, and a CRICOS registered provider, CRICOS 04180C. That places us under ASQA and the Standards for RTOs, and under the ESOS Act and the National Code for international students. Every qualification we issue is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Rekha Sehrawat founded the college in 2023, after years as a trainer and assessor watching capable students struggle for want of support rather than ability. Much of what shaped the college was watching international students in particular arrive into a new country, a new system and no support network.
Since then, 100+ domestic students have graduated, out of more than 1,200 trained across all cohorts. We record 90% satisfaction in our student experience survey and hold 5 stars from 63 Google reviews.
Which Version of This Course You Need
We deliver this qualification to two different cohorts and the courses are not the same.
This page is CHC30125 for international students: 52 weeks, on campus, under CRICOS. Domestic students study the same qualification online with live Zoom classes over 6 to 9 months, which is covered on the online Certificate III page.
If you are looking for the level above this one, the Diploma is CHC50125 for international students.
Your 160 Hours in a Service
A minimum of 160 hours of hands-on work-based training in a regulated children’s education and care service is required. The hours are applied collectively across the units of competency that include a workplace requirement.
A current Working with Children Check is required before placement can begin. Start that application early, because it is the most common reason a placement start date moves.
We arrange your placement and have partner sites across Victoria.
Who This Course Is For
International students interested in a career in childhood education and care. Graduates are able to support children’s wellbeing and development in the context of an approved learning framework.
It suits people looking to work in long day care centres, family day care, preschools, kindergartens, or outside school hours care settings. No prior experience in the sector is required; students at this level are usually new entrants.
What You Need to Be Accepted
You must be 18 or over at the time the course commences.
Academic entry is satisfactory completion of Year 12 or an equivalent qualification from your home country, or completion of a Certificate IV level course at an Australian RTO.
English language entry is a minimum IELTS band score of 6 or equivalent, with results no more than two years old. Alternative evidence includes five or more years of education in an English-speaking country, six months or more of a Certificate IV at an Australian RTO, or a successful English placement test. PTE and TOEFL are accepted where equivalent to IELTS 6.
Every student completes a language, literacy and numeracy assessment before the course begins, through the LLN Robot platform, plus a pre-training review and course entry interview to confirm the course is suitable.
The Jobs It Qualifies You For
- Early childhood educator
- Childcare worker
- Family day care educator
- Outside school hours care educator
The qualification is nationally recognised, so it is not limited to Victoria. The natural next step is the Diploma, which opens educational leader and centre director roles.
What It Costs
International student fees are quoted on enquiry rather than published, because they depend on the course and the intake. Email info@tpc.edu.au and we will send you the current figures.
A flexible payment plan is available, monthly or quarterly, with no extra fees and no interest. The fee is simply divided into instalments.
Course pages by location
- Aged Care Course Bendigo
- Aged Care Course Dandenong
- Aged Care Course Frankston
- Aged Care Course Geelong
- Aged Care Course Hoppers Crossing
- Aged Care Course Pakenham
- Aged Care Course Werribee
- Childcare Course Bendigo
- About The Performance College
Applying
Most applicants at this level have never worked in a service before, and that is expected rather than a problem. What we do need from you is the English evidence and a sense of when you want to arrive, because those two things determine which intake you can realistically join.
Email info@tpc.edu.au or call 03 9008 4043. We answer enquiries within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
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