Child Care Courses
Start Dates: February & July
| New Child Care Campus - Opened February 2005 |
With most children today living in a family where both parents work, the need for quality child care is growing rapidly. Many child care centres have long waiting lists, which means that more centres are needed - and with the need for more centres, comes the need for greater numbers of child care workers.
What this means for the qualified Child Care Worker is that employment prospects are excellent. Employment opportunities are many and varied as the need for workers continues to increase.
How Our Child Care Courses Work
Child Care courses at Bedford are run differently than those at other training providers. Bedford students attend College Monday to Wednesday and then participate in the Online Classroom one day per week. Students work one day per week in a registered Child Care Centre and also complete 2x2 week blocks in a Child Care Centre at the end of Term 2 and again at the end of Term 3. A 30 hour block in an OOSH Centre is also scheduled during term 4.
To further enhance our students interactive opportunities with children and their parents/carers, a Children's Play Session is held one morning each week at the College. Children from birth to 5 years attend our Play Sessions which have proven to be an extremely popular addition to our Child Care course.
Our specialised training methods ensure that students are provided with exceptional skills and knowledge in both the theory and the practical component of the children's services industry.
Diploma of Children's Services | CHC50908 | 40 weeks |
| Certificate III in Children's Services | CHC30708 | 20 weeks |
(International Students - CRICOS CODE 067944J - 48 weeks)
Please note: The Certificate III course is a pre-requisite for the Diploma qualification i.e. Certificate III - 24 weeks, Diploma - 24 weeks. Total 48 weeks (including holiday breaks)
Courses Available
Diploma of Children's Services (CHC50908) - 40 weeks
(International Students - CRICOS Code 067944J - 48 weeks)
This course provides participants with the skills and knowledge in both a theoretical and practical manner. Diploma Graduates are qualified to work in Long Day Care and Occasional Care Centres in the following roles:
- Authorised Supervisor
- Child Care Centre Director
- Group Leader
- Qualified Child Care Worker
- Service Manager
- Team Leader
- Special Needs Inclusive Worker
- Nanny - National and International
Students who successfully complete the diploma course have automatic entry (with credit) into a university degree. See the University Pathways tab on this website for more information
Certificate III in Children's Services (CHC30708) - 20 weeks
(International Students - CRICOS Code 067943K - 24 weeks)
Graduates will be qualified to work as:
- A Childcare Assistant
- A Family Day Carer in Long Day Care, Occasional Care Centres and Pre-School Kindergartens
- Nanny - National and International
Course Structure
Course consist of a number of competencies (units) which when packaged together provide participants with theoretical and practical knowledge which will enable them to carry out a range of tasks from introductory/intermediate levels (Cert III) to more advanced/management level functions (Diploma).
Child Care courses are conducted on campus three days per week from Monday to Wednesday from 9am–3pm, an additional one day per week is spent in the Bedford Online Classroom and one day per week in a Registered Child Care Centre. A free Supervised Study Period from 3.00pm to 4.00pm is also offered from Monday to Wednesday
University Pathways
| Playsession - Held Weekly at College |
Students who successfully complete the Diploma of Children's Services course (40 weeks) will receive automatic entry (with up to 2 years credit) into B.Early Childhood/Teaching degree at university and may also choose to undertake further study to include the B.Teaching (Primary Education). See the University Pathways tab or the Downloads page on this website for more information.