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Course: Certificate III in Children's Services CHC30708 (in partnership with the International Child Care College)

Set to become the minimum standard for childcare workers, this nationally recognised qualification is for those currently in the industry who need to formalise their practical experience as well as for new entrants.

The course is delivered by Open Colleges (formerly Cengage Education) in partnership with the International Child Care College, a highly respected industry leader in childcare education. It will train you to interact with children and to respond effectively to their physical, social, emotional and developmental needs. Occupational health and safety, nutrition, and legal considerations are also covered, and students will also undertake a work placement to provide useful 'real world' experience.

With a 2011 Productivity Commission report highlighting the need for more highly qualified childcare workers and the potential for wage rises in response to government reforms, it's never been more important to have the right skills and qualification.

Potential jobs:

  • Family day care worker
  • Childcare worker
  • Childcare assistant
  • Playgroup supervisor

Extras

When you enrol in the Certificate III in Children's Services with Open Colleges, you'll enjoy the benefit of a full year's membership to ECA, which comes with:

  • a quarterly Every Child magazine
  • a fortnightly ECA Web Watch e-newsletter
  • a quarterly ECA Voice member newsletter
  • discounts to ECA conferences and events.
Course Number E0090
Course Fees From $46.35 per week View our payment options
Delivery mode: Print or online
Course duration: Max 24 months
Assessments: 6 written assessments, 5 workplace assessments
Qualification: Certificate III
Nationally Recognised Yes
Government Funding Yes
Career One jobs for:
Early Childhood 369
Nanny & Babysitting 52

ID

Subject

Subject Lists toggleexpand all
CHCIC301E
  • Interact effectively with children
    • Communicate positively with children on an ongoing basis
    • Promote positive behaviour
    • Collaborate with children about their interests
    • Respect similarities and differences and encourage children to respect these differences
    • Support children in learning about the decision-making process
CHCCN302A
  • Provide care for children
    • Provide physical care
    • Create opportunities for children to develop their understanding of physical needs
    • Establish an environment that encourages children to complete tasks themselves
    • Respond to the emotional needs of children
    • Settle new arrivals
CHCCN301B
  • Ensure the health and safety of children
    • Maintain a clean and hygienic environment
    • Recognise and respond to signs of potential illness
    • Provide a safe environment
    • Supervise the safety of children
    • Travel safely with children
    • Administer medication within guidelines
    • Manage and respond to allergy/anaphylaxis
CHCCHILD401A
CHCPR303D
CHCFC301A
  • Support the development of children
    • Support the development of children
    • Support the physical development of children
    • Support the social development of children
    • Support the emotional and psychological development of children of the same age
    • Support the language development of children
    • Support the creative development of children
    • Support the cognitive development of children
CHCPR301B
  • Provide experiences to support children's play and learning
    • Create a stimulating positive and developmentally appropriate environment to foster development play and learning
    • Actively guide and encourage children to undertake a variety of developmentally appropriate activities
    • Facilitate children's play learning and physical activity
HLTFA301C
  • Apply first aid Students are required to hold a current First Aid Certificate as a mandatory part of this course. This unit is not delivered by Cengage Education. Students should contact St John Ambulance on 1300 360 455 or the Red Cross on 1300 367 428.
HLTOHS300B
  • Contribute to OHS processes
    • Plan and conduct work safely
    • Support others in working safely
    • Contribute to OHS participative processes
    • Contribute to hazard identification, OHS risk assessment and control activities
    • Participate in the control of emergency situations
CHCCN303A
CHCCS400B
  • Work within a relevant legal and ethical framework
    • Demonstrate an understanding of legislation and common law relevant to work role
    • Follow identified policies and practices
    • Work ethically
    • Recognise and respond when client rights and interests are not being protected
CHCORG303B
  • Participate effectively in the work environment
    • Contribute to the effective operation of the workgroup
    • Review and develop own work performance
    • Work cooperatively with others
    • Contribute to the development of policies, practices and structures of an organisation
CHCCHILD301A
  • Support behaviour of children and young people
    • Use positive support techniques
    • Observe and collect data to assist with development of appropriate support strategies
    • Implement strategies to support children or young people with additional needs
CHCRF301E
  • Work effectively with families to care for the child
    • Establish a positive relationship with family members
    • Exchange information with family members about the child's physical and emotional care needs
    • Respond to a family member's concern about their child
    • Reach agreement with family members about care practices
    • Facilitate child's transition into care
CHCCN305B
  • Provide care for babies
    • Respond to cues and needs of babies/infants
    • Develop and maintain a nurturing relationship with babies/infants
    • Settle new arrivals
    • Provide an environment that provides security for babies/infants

Entry requirements

Minimum education

  • Year 10 or equivalent OR
  • relevant qualification OR
  • relevant vocational experience.

Minimum age

Minimum age of 16 years. If you are under 18 your application must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Computer requirements

Students will need access to a computer and the internet. For students who do not have access to either a computer or the internet please contact a student support officer to discuss alternative methods of communication.

Minimum specifications for the computer are:

  • Microsoft Office 2003 or equivalent, and
  • Microsoft Windows 98, or
  • Mac OS X, and
  • CD-ROM drive.

Students will also need access to a printer and the following applications:

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader and
  • Macromedia Flash player.

English language requirements

If English is your second language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English, you are required to provide evidence of English language competency before enrolling into the course. Examples of appropriate evidence are listed below:

Evidence

Example
IELTS Overall score of 5.5
TOEFL 530 (paper), 197 (computer) or 71 (internet)
12 months in English-speaking employment Testimonial, statutory declaration

Open Colleges will endeavour to provide additional assistance to students who experience difficulties with language, literacy and numeracy.

Workplace requirements

Students must complete 120 hours of work placement to receive this qualification. Work placement can be completed by block placement and/or over full, half or partial days at a registered childcare facility.

Students are able to undertake work placement hours at a facility in which they already work, or are required to find casual or volunteer work to meet the work placement requirements.

Additional requirements

Manual handling: In order to complete the mandatory work placement for this course you will need to be able to meet the physical requirements of workplace performance such as manual handling and lifting.

First Aid Certificate: Students must hold a current First Aid Certificate (competency HTLFA301C) to complete the course.

Working with Children Check: Students in most states must apply for and obtain a Working with Children Check. Please check below by state:

  • New South Wales: NSW Working with Children Check requires students to complete the Volunteer/Student Worker Declaration located at https://check.kids.nsw.gov.au/index.php#are-you-volunteer and provide this to the employer.
  • ACT: Currently there are no legal requirements for people working with children to undertake a police check in the Australian Capital Territory. However, organisations which require employees and/or volunteers to work with children may have their own policies in this regard.
  • Northern Territory: Students need to apply and obtain a Clearance Notice before commencing work and volunteer placement. Individual organisations may also have their own policies regarding working with children and may require employees to undergo a Police Check. For more information visit the Northern Territory Police Department or website www.pfes.nt.gov.au.
  • Queensland: In Queensland, people working or volunteering with children need to hold a Blue Card. The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian is responsible for administering and conducting criminal history checks on people who want to work with children to determine whether or not they are eligible to hold a Blue Card. For more information please visit www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/index.html.
  • South Australia: Under the Children's Protection Act (Section 8B), people in SA who work in jobs which require regular contact with children are required to obtain police clearance before they commence employment. A National Police Certificate application form is available from the South Australian Police Department.
  • Tasmania: Currently there are no legal requirements for people working with children to undertake a police check in Tasmania, however, organisations which require employees and/or volunteers to work with children may have their own policies in this regard.
  • Victoria: The Victorian Government has introduced the Working with Children Check, which is compulsory for people who wish to work with or volunteer with children. To apply please visit www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren.
  • Western Australia: A Working with Children Check is compulsory for people who carry out child-related work in Western Australia. Students should apply at www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au/checkwwc.

Police Check: In all states of Australia, child care centres may request a police check before a student begins placement. This can be obtained from the students local police station and is known as a National Name Check.

Students who successfully complete this course will meet the prerequisite entry requirements for the Diploma of Children's Services CHC50908.
Diana Penson

Diana Penson

Diana Penson started her teaching career as a graduate of Sydney Day Nursery Teachers' College and Mitchell College of Advanced Education. She taught in a number of preschools, infant and primary schools whilst completing her Bachelor's degree.

In recognition of her work operating a mobile preschool for isolated regions, the NSW Department of School Education awarded Diana a full-time scholarship to undertake post graduate studies in Early Childhood Special Education.

On completion, Diana was commissioned to undertake a pilot program to identify and set up programs for young children requiring specialist assistance. The program flourished and grew from one location to eight locations within a major NSW regional area. This experience led Diana into the training of adults and workplace assessment.

In addition to tutoring students in our Certificate III in Children's Services and Diploma of Children's Services since 2005, Diana has also lectured at universities and written content for a range of vocational courses.

Sandra Petts

Sandra Petts

An Open Colleges trainer and assessor for more than four years, Sandra Petts is dedicated to passing on her knowledge and experience. She hopes that all her students will come to share her passion for providing quality care to children across Australia.

Sandra has more than 20 years' experience in the childcare industry. She has taught in classrooms, conducted practical assessments in childcare centres, and worked with additional needs children. For 11 years, Sandra was the director of a childcare centre, and has been employed as a play therapist, child development officer and as a home-based carer in family day care.

Sandra holds a Diploma of Children's Services and Certificate IV in Training & Assessment – as well as the Open Colleges Tutor of the Year Award for 2008. She is also a student of Open Colleges, having completed our Professional Children's Writing course.

Rhonda Wilson

Rhonda Wilson

Having worked in the area of early childhood care and education for nearly 30 years, Rhonda is a genuine expert in her discipline.

She has been a preschool teacher and TAFE lecturer, and has extensive experience of working with disadvantaged communities. To support her practical experience, Rhonda has a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood) and both Bachelor and Master of Education degrees. She is also a qualified workplace trainer and assessor, as well as a workplace health and safety officer.

Rhonda currently works as a prep teacher in addition to being a trainer and workplace assessor for Open Colleges where she was named Tutor of the Year in 2007.

No Jobs found for this Course.

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Government Funding

In some instances, students may be eligible for Austudy, Centrelink or other government-funded programs to help with study. Please check with Centrelink regarding eligibility, or contact a course and careers advisor on 1300 853 033.

Work Placement

Why is a Work Placement Required?

This Course includes 120 hours of work placement. Work placement is required to ensure that the student is able to demonstrate and apply what he or she has learnt in an industry context.

Workplace assessments and training must be undertaken in workplace organisations that are suitable for the course. The student must be under the direction of an appropriately qualified and experienced supervisor. The workplace assessments will be conducted by Open Colleges Workplace Assessors, who will contact both the workplace organisation and the student to arrange mutually convenient times to conduct the workplace assessments.

Open Colleges will assist students to identify work placement opportunities in an appropriate organisation however, it is the responsibility of the student to find and complete the work placement. In the event that the student has previously arranged a work placement Open Colleges will check the suitability of this arrangement.

Open Colleges will make reasonable efforts to organise for assessment to be conducted in the workplace however, the student may be required to attend assessment events at other locations. If the student does not complete a mandatory work placement within the duration of the course Open Colleges is not permitted to issue the qualification.

You will need to complete this part of your studies in an Australian workplace.

Insurance

Open Colleges is pleased to offer our students insurance cover for any mandatory work placement they undertake as part of their course.

Please note that this policy does not provide professional indemnity coverage.

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Student story

Read Bhavani Selvakumaran's story about completing her Certificate III in Children's Services

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