Find out which course is for you: study childcare in Brisbane
The first step towards a rewarding career in childcare? Completing the right childcare course in Brisbane!
You can’t work as an educator without the right qualification. A love for children, while important, won’t be enough to get you started!
Choosing the right institution is one thing you’ll have to research when deciding to study childcare in Brisbane – another is making sure you’ve chosen the right childcare course.
In Australia, there are two different TAFE-level childcare courses available throughout the country:
While they both aim to transform you into the best childcare worker possible, the content and focus of both are different – and they can help you fulfil different goals.
So, which childcare course in Brisbane is right for you?
Should you study the Certificate III or Diploma in childcare?
While these childcare courses sound similar, the devil is in the details – while both qualify you to enter the industry, they’re adapted to meet the different career goals of students.
What’s shared between these two childcare courses?
Both of these courses feature a mix of classroom and workshop learning that lets you put theory into practice.
What’s more, both also include mandatory work placements with an accredited childcare facility in Brisbane:
- Certificate III = 150 hours
- Diploma = 240 hours
While the duration of the placement is different between these two courses, they both help you get the hands-on experience you need to succeed as a childcare worker.
After all, a lot of the work you’ll perform as a childcare worker is hands-on – it’s incredibly important that your childcare course in Brisbane prepares you for this type of work.
Apples and oranges: what makes these two childcare courses different?
While there are some things that are the same, these are still two entirely different qualifications, targeted towards different students with different goals.
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care is focused on preparing you for the frontline of childcare, with a heavy emphasis on providing you the skills you’ll need as part of your day-to-day work:
- Administering first aid
- Nutrition and diet planning
- Handling emotions and tantrums
- Developing activities that encourage healthy development
While a Diploma in Early Childhood Education covers much of the same ground, it also goes over additional content such as:
- Creating lesson plans
- Leading teams
- Managerial tasks
- Timetabling and scheduling
- Policy development
These “higher level” skills make a Diploma better suited for students who are already working in childcare, who want to take their careers to the next level, or people who want to open and manage their very own daycare.
By contrast, with its focus on day-to-day childcare, the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education is better suited for students who want to play a bigger role in the operational side of things rather than the management aspects.
Which childcare course is right for you?
Start by looking at what you want to gain from your career
It all depends: what do you want from your career?
The answer will depend on whether or not you want to enter a frontline position where you’ll be working with children directly or you want to get qualified to transform yourself into management material.
Are you looking to get a start in the industry? Do you want to do more hands-on work?
If so, it sounds like the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is just what you need.
By contrast, say you want to take on a more senior position – in these cases, the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care might be more your speed.
Think about your career options
Not everyone has a solid idea of where they want to work. There’s nothing wrong with that – however, it does make it a little bit harder to find out which childcare course in Brisbane is best suited for you.
If you’re having a hard time choosing, you can also look at where each of these qualifications can take you.
For example, you might dream of one day opening your very own daycare centre.
While it may not help now, the extra content in a Diploma could help you in the future when you decide to branch off on your own.
Think about the duration
Part of your decision in choosing between Certificate III or Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care comes down to course duration:
- A Certificate III lasts 38 weeks, including 150 hours of practical work placement in a childcare centre
- On the other hand, a Diploma packaged with the Certificate III requires 94 weeks plus 240 hours of practical work placement in a childcare centre
- A standalone Diploma can be completed in 52 to 70 weeks inclusive of 240 hours of practical work placement in a childcare centre
While study is flexible, this is a choice you must make for yourself to ensure that you can meet your obligations and successfully complete your course.
What childcare course in Brisbane should you choose?
Ultimately, the final decision is up to you. Hopefully however, this article has helped you figure out which one is a better fit for your needs.
If you’ve still got more questions, Academia is here to assist!
Whether you are a local or international student, our friendly team is here to help you unpack each course and understand which one may be better suited for your needs and career goals.
Our friendly team is committed to making sure that you choose with confidence when you enrol in our childcare courses in Brisbane.;
This support extends beyond your enrolment, too – we will also take care of you while you study with us, offering ongoing guidance and assistance.
Get started today – don’t hesitate to contact us on (03) 9671 4755 or fill in the form to find out more about our school and courses.
