Courses - Diploma of Children's Services
Diploma in Children’s Services Congratulations for considering a career in a fantastic industry working with Children!
You are considering a career in the industry of Childcare, one of the fastest growing industries in the country!
This career choice is an incredible journey, which will take you all over the world and provide you with opportunities to become an integral part of Early Childhood Professionals.
- Are you genuinely interested in the various development stages of children?
- Are you strong, creative and have great organisational skills?
- Are you dynamic, flexible and spontaneous?
- Are you open to continuous methods of professional development and training?
- Do you respond patiently and lovingly to children?
Does this sound like you?? Yes!!
These are the important personality strengths of a passionate child care professional.
Advanced Careers College trainers are passionate about this industry. Our expertise in training and development will give you the best possible opportunity to achieve your personal goal and gain employment in a wide variety of workplaces.
Child Care Industry
The child care industry consists of a broad range of settings where children, ranging from infancy to 12 years, are cared for by people other than their parents. Some 23 percent of all Australian children under 12 years of age are involved in formal care arrangements.
Formal care arrangements include Before and After School Care Programs, Preschool/Kindergarten, Long Day Care Centres, Family Day Care, Occasional Day Care and other situations. Formal care is regulated and occurs away from the child’s home.
The child care industry well defined and is an industry that is experiencing steady and continuous growth. This growth in child care is consistent with demographic patterns relating to the employment of women with dependent children. The increasing demand for child care has resulted in an increasing need for qualified child care workers and a subsequent expansion of training.
The Diploma provides study and practical knowledge in:
- Child Development
- Relationships with families
- Design and provision of play
- Workplace participation
- Ethical and legal frameworks
In the centre-based sector, legislative requirements govern the ratio of qualified staff to children of varying ages, depending on the centre’s licensed members. All centre employees must have a basic qualification in child care/child development, and Senior First Aid and undergo a Working with Children Check.
Personal Requirements
- Childcare workers need to be alert, observant, active and able to lift and carry children and play equipment.
- Childcare workers must be willing to accept responsibility and to work co-operatively with others.
- Childcare workers must be able to use judgement and initiative.
- Childcare workers must be able to communicate well both with children and adults.
- Childcare workers must have a thorough understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
Course Requirements
- Minimum completion of HSC or equivalent
- Interest in dealing with and caring for children
- Appropriate references
- Must be able to read, comprehend and write complex information in English
- Personal interviews (if less than 18 years old with a parent/guardian preferred)
- Successful completion of literacy/numeracy assessment
Employment Opportunities
The Diploma of Children’s Services is part of a suite of courses which provides a comprehensive package of training to meet the needs of the Children’s Service Industry up to AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) Level 5. The Diploma is designed to meet the needs of students seeking to join the industry, as well as people currently employed in the industry who are seeking to upgrade their qualifications or skill base.
The Diploma of Children’s Services is accepted in the industry as a Qualified Team Leader in children’s services, including supervision of staff, responsibility for planning, implementation and monitoring of the quality of the service provider.
This qualification will enable you to work in the following roles:
- Childcare worker – qualified
- Service manager
- Team leader
- Service director
- Group leader
- Special needs inclusion worker
- Program leader
On the Job Experience
As part of your training and assessment you will organise three separate ‘practicums’ to give you experience in the field.
Students need to complete all core theory subjects and gain a reasonable level of practical skill before proceeding to work experience.
During the practicums, you will practice the skills learned in class and must achieve the required competency in all areas.
A daily attendance sheet is to be signed by the Centre Director/Teacher and a lecturer will visit you to assess and oversee your progress.
Units of Competencies
The Diploma of Children Services is comprised of a total of 35 units (20 units-13 Compulsory and 7 electives).
The first 15 units form Certificate III in Children’s Services (11 compulsory and 4 electives).
Unit of study (*elective) |
A simple explanation of what the unit is about |
Ensure children’s health and safety |
A look at children’s health issues in today’s society |
Respond to illness accidents and emergencies |
Responding to incidents and reporting them in an appropriate way |
Support the development of children in the Service |
An overview of how children develop, theories and facts |
Develop an understanding of children’s interests and developmental needs |
Observing the way children behave and how to design interesting activities to suit their needs |
Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm. |
A sensitive look at what child abuse is and how to deal with it in a sensitive and appropriate way |
Work within a legal and ethical framework |
A study in legal practices in the childcare setting |
Participate in the work environment |
How to get along with people through good communication skills |
Care for babies |
From conception, through to the terrible 2’s and then the independent 3’s |
Work effectively with families in caring for the child |
A sensitive look at how to deal with stressed families on issues of concern |
Plan Care Routines |
Planning exciting routines through song and movement |
Deliver services/activities to stimulate children’s development and enhance their leisure |
Design motivating, educational activities to extend and challenge children |
Participate in workplace safety |
OHS planning and participating in evacuation procedures and lockdown emergencies |
Care for children |
How to respond to the needs of pre schoolers and design individual activities which correct their behaviour |
Interact effectively with children |
Learn to give Praise and Encouragement with a special flavour of self esteem |
Apply Basic First Aid (Outsourced). |
How to deal with a variety of emergencies
|
Support the rights and safety of children within duty of care environment |
Understanding your role and your colleagues roles, in caring for the child |
Foster and enhance children’s development |
Learn to see children as one part made of many parts |
Foster and enhance children’s social and emotional and psychological development |
Learn to identify children’s emotions and how to help them get along with their peers |
Foster and enhance children’s cognitive and language development |
Learn to assist children to develop their language and thinking skills through story telling |
Establish and implement plans for developing responsible behaviour |
Designing creative ways of bringing children to a place of understanding of their behaviour and taking responsibility |
Design, implement and evaluate programs of the service |
Learn how to develop sound documentation which ensures the progress of the children in your care |
Document, interpret and use information about children |
Learn how to use documentation to further the development of the child |
Plan the inclusion of children with additional needs |
Learn how to cater for children who have additional needs and integrate them into our environment |
Establish, manage and monitor the implementation of a safe and healthy environment |
OHS how to document and maintain sound systems for improvements |
Arrange and organise experiences which facilitate and enhance children’s development |
Designing “learning corners’ so that children can understand the world they live in |
Work in partnership with Families |
Learn how to relate to parents with sensitivity |
Provide experiences which enhance children’s expressive development |
Making puppets from all over the world and developing stories to tell about their journeys |
Manage workplace OHS management systems |
OHS Systems and how to set up a routine of recording and following through on duties of safety |
Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co workers |
Making families from other cultures feel welcome and accepted through understanding their practices |
Manage a services organisation |
Practice being a director for a day! |
Lead and develop others |
Learn how to delegate and get the most out of your staff |
Manage an accreditation process |
What is accreditation? A legal standard of performance recognised by law |
Use music as a medium to enhance children’s experiences and development |
Learn ways of using music as an exciting tool to manage children and assist their behaviour |
Provide experiences which enhance children’s development and learning |
Teaching children the importance of the environment through activities developed in the Australian bush |
Unit Code |
Unit Title – Core |
CHCCHILDI |
Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm |
| CHCCN1D | Ensure children’s health and safety |
| CHCCN2C | Care for children |
| CHCCN4D | Respond to illness, accidents and emergencies |
| CHCCS301A | Work within a legal and ethical framework |
| CHCFC1C | Support the development of children in the service |
| CHCIC1C | Interact effectively with children |
| CHCOHS301A | Participate in safety procedures |
| CHCORG3B | Participate in the work environment |
| CHCPR1C | Deliver services/activities to stimulate children’s development and enhance their leisure |
| HLTFA2A | Apply advanced first aid |
| CHCCN5C | Care for babies |
| CHCPR3C | Develop an understanding of children’s interests and developmental needs |
| CHCCHILD2C | Support the rights and safety of children within duty of care requirements |
| CHCCN11C | Establish, manage and monitor the implementation of a safe and healthy environment |
| CHCCN8B | Plan care routines |
| 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 |
| CHCIC10C | Establish and implement plans for developing responsible behaviour |
| CHCIC12C | Plan the inclusion of children with additional needs |
| CHCOHS501A | Manage the OHS management system |
| CHCPR10C | Design, implement and evaluate programs of the service |
| CHCPR2C | Arrange/organise experiences which facilitate and enhance children’s development |
| CHCPR3C | Develop an understanding of children’s interests and developmental needs |
| CHCPR9C | Document, interpret and use information about children |
| CHCRF11B | Work in partnership with families to care for the child
|
| Unit Title - Electives | |
| CHCORG11B | Lead and develop others |
| CHCORG5B | Maintain an effective work environment |
| CHCQM601A | Manage an accreditation process |
| CHCFC6C | Provide experience which enhance 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 |
| CHCIC11B | Implement and promote inclusive policies and practices |
PRACTICUM 1 Supervised Practicum One (Babies 0-3 Years)
PRACTICUM 2 Supervised Practicum Two (Children 4-7 Years)
PRACTICUM 3 Supervised Practicum Three (Children with Special Needs)
Work Experience
In addition to the practicums, you will need to arrange your own work experience of one day per week for the duration of the course in a Child Care Centre of your choice, in order to apply the theory from class lessons and obtain additional hours of experience.
Qualification attained on successful completion: Diploma in Children’s Services
On successful completion of part of course: Statement of Attainment
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
If you have had previous experience in Children’s Services and would like to apply for RPL, please speak with our Head of Faculty, Anne Calabria. Please refer to the information about Advanced Careers College RPL Policy in your information pack.