QLD Apprenticeship – CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

There are 15 units in total – 12 compulsory units and 3 elective units must be completed for this qualification.

Compulsory Units

1. CHCECE041 Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children
2. CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
3. CHCECE050 Work in partnership with children’s families
4. CHCECE043 Nurture creativity in children
5. CHCECE049 Embed environmental responsibility in service operations
6. CHCECE042 Foster holistic early childhood learning, development and wellbeing
7. CHCECE048 Plan and implement children’s education and care curriculum
8. CHCECE047 Analyse information to inform children’s learning
9. CHCECE044 Facilitate compliance in a children’s education and care service
10. CHCECE045 Foster positive and respectful interactions and behaviour in children
11. CHCECE046 Implement strategies for the inclusion of all children
12. BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness

Electives

The following units are suggested electives based on consultation with the Education and Care sector. Where a student wishes to complete a different elective this may be discussed with their ECTARC Training and Development Officer.

1. CHCMGT003 Lead the work team
2. BSBHRM413 Support the learning and development of teams and individuals
3. BSBSTR501 Establish innovative work environments

Please note:

For a full list of electives, please visit training.gov.au/Training/Details/CHC50121

Work placement requirements – 280 hours

• 40 hours – Birth-23 months – Babies
• 40 hours – 2-3 years – Toddlers
• 80 hours – 3-5 years – Preschool
• 40 hours – must include a child with additional needs (any age group)
• 80 hours – service management

Please note: Where you are employed in an education and care service that has the required ages/groups, these hours can be completed within your workplace. Where all required ages/groups are not available in your workplace these hours must be completed as a practicum at another regulated education and care service. Employers must agree to release a trainee during work hours to complete this requirement.

Certain units have work placement hours that are required to be completed before the unit is deemed competent. ECTARC Training and Development Officers can provide further information.

Training is provided by flexible delivery. This means training will be delivered in a mode that best meets the individuals needs and includes a combination of face to face one-on-one training sessions, webinar training and/or group training sessions. Self paced study is required by the apprentice to support learning and complete assessment tasks.

ECTARC apprentices also receive support from their personal ECTARC Training and Development Officer by phone, portal messaging and email.  ECTARC apprentices have access to the online ECTARC Training Portal where they can access learning materials and submit assessments. Apprentices will require access to a computer and the internet to undertake this course. Through the ECTARC Training Portal apprentices can also:

– message their Training and Development Officer
– upload forms and documents
– view marked assessment tasks – students are notified as soon as an assignment is marked
– access resources – additional information and documentation to support learning.

The ECTARC Training Portal is available through secure market leading technology and students find it very easy to use. The ECTARC Training Portal increases communications with students and ensures valuable information is available when required and provides access to their student records 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If for some reason you do not have access to the internet, please contact our office to arrange an alternative study solution. Hard copies of learning materials can also be provided on request.

ECTARC guarantees that a Training and Development Officer is always available to speak to Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Tuesday evenings 5pm to 7pm.

Workplace Supervisor

A qualified educator from the service is given the role of being the mentor/workplace supervisor to assist and guide the trainee/apprentice during the traineeship/apprenticeship. The mentor/workplace supervisor is also responsible for completing Third-Party Reports.

Employers allocated off the floor time

Employers allocate trainees/apprentices time off the floor to attend regular training with ECTARC and to complete study as part of their training contract.

Access to the Training Portal on completion

All students will have 14 days access to the ECTARC Training Portal after their course completion date to download content and any completed assessments for future reference. To download completed assessments, go to the relevant unit and click on the ASSIGNMENTS link to view your assessment tasks. Click on the assessment task you wish to copy and then right click on your mouse and choose the PRINT function. Change the destination from your printer to the PDF setting and click SAVE. If you have any questions regarding the saving of your online content, please call 02 4223 1111.

The contract duration for traineeships and apprenticeships varies depending if employment is full-time or part-time. Apprentices are usually given approximately 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time to complete their qualification.

No fees for Under 25s

People under the age of 25 years do not have to pay any traineeship or apprenticeship fees. The fees are covered by the funding which is part of the Queensland Government’s Skills for Queensland strategy.

Over 25 years fee structure

All traineeship and apprenticeship programs are mandated by the QLD Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, to charge a student/employer co-contribution fee towards the cost of their course. The co-contribution fee is calculated at a set rate per nominal hour as outlined by the Department. Fees will be invoiced and a number of payment options are available to assist in choosing a method that best suits individual financial needs. A full list of fees is available upon enquiry.

Steps to take when taking on a new apprentice

1. Owners/Directors contact their local Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider – Find your local provider at www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au to discuss the requirements of taking on a trainee or apprentice and information on the financial incentives available.
2. Visit the DESBT website www.desbt.qld.gov.au for further information on traineeships and apprenticeships.
3. Owners/Directors employ a trainee/apprentice.
4. An ECTARC Training and Development Officer conducts a sign up with the trainee/apprentice and develops a training plan. Training takes place both on and off the job. Trainees/Apprentices are issued with online learning materials that provide them with all the information they require for self study. Employers give trainees/apprentices time off the floor each week to complete learning materials. A qualified child care worker from the service takes on the role as the trainee/apprentice’s Workplace Supervisor. The Workplace Supervisor provides support and advice to the trainee/apprentice throughout the program.
5. ECTARC provides support to the trainee/apprentice and employer through regular visits to the centre for training throughout the traineeship/apprenticeship and regular communication via the ECTARC Training Portal, email and phone. Employers are regularly updated on the progress of their trainee or apprentice to ensure progress is being made in line with the Training Plan contract.

Once a service tells their Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) they wish for ECTARC be the nominated training provider for the traineeship or apprenticeship, ECTARC will receive a notification from the AASN to commence the sign up process. ECTARC will contact the service and organise the sign up meeting.

What you need to read…

Students are required to read the following documentation and ECTARC policies prior to commencing the online Enrolment Application Form (this will be sent to you by email from ECTARC) to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities before enrolling:

• QLD Traineeship & Apprenticeship Information Handbook (CHC30121, CHC50121 & 10983NAT)
• ECTARC Fee Schedule
• ECTARC Course Guide

What you need to get ready…

To complete the online enrolment application form, apprentices need to provide:

• a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) number.
• photo identification – driver’s licence, passport or proof of age card – take a photo of the document so it is ready to upload.
• evidence of citizenship – birth certificate, passport or green medicare card – take a photo of the document so it is ready to upload.
• permission on the USI website for ECTARC to view their USI records (if applying for credit transfer only). Note: Where study was completed prior to 2015 or has not yet been reported, the student must provide a copy of their transcript for ECTARC to verify with the training provider.

Foundation Skills Questionnaire

Once you have submitted your online Enrolment Application Form you will be required to complete a Foundation Skills Questionnaire – ‘Foundation skills’ is the term that Australian Government agencies use to cover both Core Skills and Employability Skills. The five Core Skills are reading, writing, numeracy, oral communication, and learning; and the Employability Skills are teamwork, problem solving, initiative and enterprise, planning and organising, self-management, learning, and technology. ECTARC is required to identify needs of students throughout the enrolment application process and to ensure that the qualification is suitable for the student. After ECTARC receives the Enrolment Application Form, students will be provided access to the relevant Foundation Skills Questionnaire on the ECTARC Training Portal, which must be completed for the enrolment process to be finalised. ECTARC will contact the student to complete the oral component and discuss the outcomes of this questionnaire where required.

It’s a regulatory requirement that if you’re studying nationally recognised training in Australia from 1 January 2015, you will be required to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). Your USI links to an online account that contains all your training records and results (transcript) that you have completed from 1 January 2015 onwards. When applying for a job or enrolling in further study, you will often need to provide your training records and results (transcript). One of the main benefits of the USI is the ability to provide students with easy access to their training records and results (transcript) throughout their life. You can access your USI account online from your computer, tablet or smart phone anytime.

How do you get a USI?

Visit www.usi.gov.au/students/get-a-usi

Follow the steps here to get a USI. It is easy and quick to do. When you enrol online you will be required to enter your USI number.

For detailed information on the USI please visit the Australian Government’s Department of Industry website at visit www.usi.gov.au

Identification

On enrolment you are required to upload a copy of photo identification (e.g driver’s licence, passport or proof of age card). Your ECTARC Training and Development Officer will need to sight the original document during your sign up which may occur in person or via webinar.

Evidence of Citizenship

On enrolment you are required to upload a copy of a document that demonstrates your citizenship such as birth certificate, passport or green medicare card.

Your ECTARC Training and Development Officer will need to sight the original document during your sign up which may occur in person or via webinar.

Previous Qualifications

The Australian Governments’ Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s) 2015 requires RTO’s, such as ECTARC, to authenticate VET qualifications, Statement of Attainments and transcripts that are provided by students for the purposes of granting credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). To do this students must provide copies of qualifications, Statements of Attainments and/or transcripts to ECTARC and grant permission for ECTARC to view their records on the USI Portal at www.usi.gov.au

Where permission is not granted, ECTARC will contact the issuing RTO for verification.

Please note

ECTARC requires all documentation and relevant information before fully processing enrolments. Training will not commence until all documentation is received. We want to ensure that you get any credit transfer or RPL you are entitled to and that all regulatory requirements are met.

What is RPL?

RPL is an assessment process where candidates provide evidence of previous experience to demonstrate that they hold the required skills and knowledge of one or more units of competency. Previous experience may include (but is not limited to) paid or voluntary work, life experience, professional development or formal qualifications.

Can I apply for RPL?

RPL is suited to candidates who have demonstrated experience in an education and care service or equivalent. ECTARC recommends experience of a minimum of 5 years for those wishing to apply for RPL for a full qualification, in a variety of roles within an education and care service.  This however, is very dependent on the individual experiences, so we encourage anyone wanting to learn more about RPL to contact ECTARC to discuss this further.

What evidence is required?

The candidate must provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate their competence against an entire unit of competency. For each unit, the following tasks provide the candidate with the opportunity to ensure that sufficient evidence can be gathered:

• Competency Conversation – An ECTARC Training and Development Officer (TDO) will discuss with the candidate their previous experiences to determine the extent of their skills and knowledge for each unit of competency. In addition to this, throughout the assessment process, and where appropriate, Competency Conversations may also be used to confirm competence where sufficient evidence has not been provided.
• Practical Assessment – Every unit of competency includes practical skills that must be demonstrated within a regulated education and care service within Australia. The candidate will be observed in the workplace to ensure that they are performing these skills to the standards required. In some cases, simulations may be conducted and evidence may be submitted by video to support the practical assessment.
• Portfolio – The candidate provides a portfolio of evidence of previous experiences, such as testimonials, copies of former qualifications, statements of participation in professional development, photographs and examples of their own work. This evidence is assessed and mapped by an ECTARC TDO to the requirements of a unit.

Credit Transfer

Credit Transfer is different to RPL in that the student already has completed a unit of competency in a previous qualification. To be granted Credit Transfer, ECTARC requires evidence of successful completion of the unit; this can be provided through the USI Portal or a certified copy of a transcript or Statement of Attainment. Once this evidence is verified, Credit Transfer will be granted.

Example: Tania has been working in a primary school as an education support worker for  the past 6 years. Two years ago she completed the CHC40213 Certificate IV in Education Support, which included the unit CHCPRT001 Identify and respond to children and young people at risk. Over the past year, Tania has also been volunteering in the outside school hours care that is provided within the school and has decided she would like to complete the CHC50213 Diploma of School Age Education and Care. Tania enrols with ECTARC and has a competency conversation with an ECTARC TDO and an assessment plan is developed for her. Tania is granted a credit transfer for the unit CHCPRT001 Identify and respond to children and young people at risk and the TDO decides that she has sufficient experience to apply for RPL for a number of units relating to the development of children aged 5-12 years, developing relationships with children and supporting the behaviour of children. The remainder of units will be completed through the training and assessment pathway, where Tania will receive her learning materials and assessment tasks on the ECTARC Training Portal and will be supported by her ECTARC TDO to complete these.

Eligible?

If you think you may be eligible for RPL or credit transfer be sure to discuss this with ECTARC and/or provide relevant information and documentation when enrolling as it can save you time and/or money.

The CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is for educators in early childhood education and care services who are responsible for planning, implementing and managing programs in accordance with approvals, quality rating systems and duty of care requirements.

The Education and Care Services National Regulations state under Section 126: Centre-based services – The qualification requirements for educators at centre-based services for children preschool age or under are at least 50 per cent of the educators who are required to meet the relevant educator to child ratios for the service must have, or be actively working towards, at least an approved diploma level education and care qualification.  Section 128: Family Day Care Co-ordinator qualifications state: A family day care co-ordinator must have an approved diploma level education and care qualification.

QLD Skills Assure

ECTARC has been awarded Skills Assure contract to deliver traineeships, apprenticeships and funded training throughout Queensland. To enrol your educator in a traineeship or apprenticeship course please call Natalie Fernandes on 02 4223 1111 or email Natalie@ectarc.com.au  For more information on Skills Assure please visit www.desbt.qld.gov.au/training/docs-data/strategies/vet-strategy/skills-assure

User Choice

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training supports traineeships and apprenticeships under the Further Education and Training Act 2014. The Department is committed to improving education and care for children by assisting people to gain recognised qualifications, through the provision of the QLD User Choice program.

The QLD User Choice program requires the parties to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider to facilitate the signing of a training contract. The State government pays Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) for training, with a nominal fee for training charged to the trainee/apprentice. An Australian traineeship or apprenticeship consists of a combination of training and paid employment, either under the National Training Wage or a workplace agreement. The QLD User Choice program enables trainees, apprentices and their employers to select a preferred Registered Training Organisation (RTO) from a list of Pre-qualified Suppliers for the delivery of accredited training to meet their specific needs.

The QLD User Choice program also reflects the Department’s priority for supporting the creation of genuine new job opportunities, and for allowing young people the opportunity to more easily make the transition from school to work. Further information about eligibility, rights, roles and requirements for employers, employees, parents and staff is available from the DESBT website www.desbt.qld.gov.au or by calling 1300 369 935.

For more information on ECTARC’s policies such as complaints, refunds and privacy please click here.