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Study Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care online through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

The Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care is designed to provide qualified registered teachers the opportunity to teach in pre-school settings (1-5 years) as well as specialise in the early years of school (5-8 years) to enhance their development as a professional.

Learn to teach children in early childhood settings, like schools, kindergartens and long day cares. Designed to let qualified registered teachers specialise in teaching these formative years, this is a great way to enhance your degree.

Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care

The Graduate Certificate in Education has been designed to provide a vehicle for postgraduate level students from a variety of disciplines to advance their knowledge and skills in the field of education.This fully flexible program enables students to choose course content that aligns to their interests and career development aspirations, in the context of their existing experience. It covers fundamental understandings about learning and teaching in different contexts.You can fully customise your degree by selecting from the complete list of available subjects, or you can choose from a recommended set of subjects which have been selected to strengthen your knowledge in a particular context and optimise your capacity to transition into further study in education.Please refer to the Recommended Study Pattern for more information.If you are considering applying for entry to Curtin’s Master of Teaching, in order to qualify for registration as a school teacher, it is important to note:·        Successful completion of this degree cannot be used as the basis for entry to the Master of Teaching. You will still be required to meet all the entry requirements for that course, which include a recognised bachelor degree, non-academic entry requirements, a higher level of English proficiency and Working with Children clearances.·        You must follow the recommendations regarding subject selection in this degree to ensure you maximise your eligibility to receive credit for recognised learning, should you subsequently be admitted to the Master of Teaching.If you are considering applying for entry to Curtin’s Master of Education it is important to note:Successful completion of this degree cannot be used as the basis for entry to the Master of Education. You will still be required to meet all the entry requirements for that course.

Shape your career in education or further studies by choosing the subjects that are relevant to you. Choose your educational focus, including early childhood or primary education. Explore curriculum, assessment, and evaluation in a relevant context.

Graduate Certificate in Education

Child Development for Educators

Child Language Development

Supporting Literacy and Numeracy Development for Diverse Learners

Arts Education: Music & Visual Arts

The Professional Educator: Developing Teacher Identity

Play, Pedagogy and Learning

Creative Literacies

Educators Inquiring About the World

Performing Arts for Educators

Project-based iSTEM Education

This subject will provide an overview of local and international, historical and philosophical perspectives that have influenced contemporary Australian early childhood education and care contexts. Their impact on early childhood education and care and its leadership and management will be critically examined. The subject affords the opportunity to explore and critique policy and procedure development in the light of current legislative and accountability requirements. Pre-service teachers are invited to examine approaches to: leading professional learning communities; engaging with families; sustaining advocacy for children; relating theory to practice and supporting professional research; and creating a climate for continuous debate and improvement of Early Childhood settings.Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Philosophy, Management and Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care

This subject will enable pre-service educators to develop a sound understanding of the importance of supporting the physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing of young children for their development and learning. The subject explores the characteristics of children&#39;s physical development and motor coordination. Using a play-based approach to curriculum and safe and supportive environment, students will be able to plan quality fundamental movement experiences to enhance the outcomes for young children in the early years making links to the relevant National and State curriculum and Frameworks.Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Strengthen your understanding of the nutritional and physical support children need during early development. Get a grip on the fundamentals of upper and lower body motor skills. Extend your studies to focus on child protection policies.

Health, Safety and Physical Education in Early Childhood

This subject explores contemporary issues of culture, equity, values, and social justice in early childhood pedagogy. Historical and contemporary images of childhood, and their relationship to images of teaching, are examined. Diverse family and community contexts are investigated, with a focus on promoting early childhood settings and services as democratic forums that are welcoming to and respectful of all cultures and beliefs. Children’s rights perspective is emphasised, and anti-bias approaches are analysed with a view towards enhancing reconciliation between diverse cultures and communities. Pre-service teachers reconceptualise their perspectives on families, gender, language, beliefs, and sexual identity to consolidate an ethical approach to the profession of educator.Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Consider what it takes to create an ethical approach to teaching – considering diversity in family and community. On your journey, you’ll compare historical and contemporary ideals of childhood. Think about how these interact with education.

Family and Community Contexts

This subject was previously known as EDE282 Health and Physical Education in Early Childhood.
This subject investigates health, and wellbeing factors related to the development and care of young children (birth - 6 years). This includes examining social and emotional, linguistic, and cognitive development of children from birth to 8 years. Mandatory health, safety and child protection policies are examined together with appropriate strategies that educators in early childhood settings can effectively implement to enhance the outcomes for young children. These strategies will not only help maintain a healthy early childhood environment, but will also improve outcomes for the whole community within an early childhood educational context. The subject also explores the characteristics of children&#39;s physical development and motor coordination and how educators can provide children with quality fundamental movement experiences.
Please Note:  If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Investigate the health and wellbeing factors related to the development and care of children aged 0-6 years. Study social and emotional, linguistic, and cognitive development alongside mandatory health, safety and child protection policies. 

Health and Physical Education in Early Childhood

This subject was previously known as EDC151 Child Development for Educators.Situated in the context of theory and research, this subject provides an overview of typical and atypical human development from conception to adulthood across physical, cognitive, social and emotional domains. Biological and environmental influences on development are examined. Implications for contemporary educators are explored with a focus on maximizing developmental outcomes from birth through young adulthood. In addition to emphasis on knowing your students and how they learn, this subject focuses on effective engagement and interaction with parents/carers and maintaining safe school and care environments for children and adolescents. This includes developing awareness of child development services in the community.Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Gain an overview of human development from conception to early adolescence. Interpret aspects of development related to age—exploring how the interactions between the child, caregivers, home and school impact children's development.

This subject explores the features of child language and how children acquire language. From infancy to primary schooling years, it examines the development of specific linguistic features and also the cognitive processes behind language acquisition. The focus is not just on first language acquisition but also considers the acquisition of additional languages and children who are multilingual from a very early age. This subject will be a useful introduction to the topic for those who are generally interested, thinking about their own child(ren)&#39;s development or planning to work with children.

This is the first in the suite of three English subjects in the Master of Teaching. The focus of this subject is on an in-depth understanding of what reading entails and the characteristics of the good reader. Theories and practices of reading will be situated in the context of broader perspectives of literacy and language. Students will learn and understand the multiple components of reading to inform the comprehensive identification of children’s skills as readers at various stages of their development. Using the English curriculum, the subject will provide students with a basis for the symbiotic process of planning and assessment to develop a systematic sequence of learning.Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Explore the key concepts of effective reading. You’ll cover theories and practices that get children started on their reading journey. Think about inclusive strategies that deepen students’ engagement. Inspire young learners to open a book and enjoy it.

Introduction to English: Reading

This subject examines early literacy theories and perspectives, with an emphasis on play-based pedagogies, research approaches and documentation of young children’s literacy learning. Students will develop understandings of the experiences and perspectives of families and the relationship between home literacy practices and early literacy learning. These understandings will inform the design of literacy rich environments, incorporating play-based learning and intentional teaching.Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Early Literacies and Play-Based Pedagogies

This subject is the second in the suite of professional experience subjects and includes both a theory and a practical component (a placement in a school). It is also the second in the suite of three English subjects. The subject covers writer identity and theories and practices of writing to provide foundational understandings for planning, assessment and reporting. Scaffolded by the placement, the subject explores theories, pedagogical practices and effective planning related to teaching English to support all learners. Specific attention is given to lesson planning in educational settings for 3, 4 and 5 year-olds, which includes selecting objectives, resources and strategies for teaching, learning and assessment in diverse contexts. The professional experience practical assessment is a three-week full-time block placement intended to enable practical application of the knowledge and skills gained along with providing further insights into the complexity of an Early Childhood Educator’s role. All required clearances to work with children must be obtained and valid, and all other professional experience requirements met. Both theory and practical components must be passed in order to pass the subject.To view the Professional Experience Calendars, please see below:<a href="https://www.open.edu.au/-/media/degree-advice/2025-curtin-master-teaching-professional-experience-placement-dates" target="_blank">2025 Master of Teaching Prof Exp Calendar</a> (PDF)Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Study and experience hands-on how early childhood educational practices are planned out, evaluated and reported. See what goes into devising a teaching program and design your own. Look into assessment methods for children, including data and reporting.

Early Childhood Professional Experience 2: Planning for Writing, Assessment and Reporting

This unit was previously known as ECHX829 Early Childhood Postgraduate Internship.This unit enables students to refine their roles as early childhood teachers. During their final placement students will have opportunities to strengthen their autonomy and independence as a teacher of young children as they explore their role within the centre and its local community. With increasing confidence, students will be able to justify their decision making as a teacher responding to the challenges of daily work in an early childhood centre. This unit contains a 30 day placement to be completed as three days a week over ten weeks. Students may apply to complete the placement requirements in their own workplace where appropriate.

Refine your role as an early childhood teacher during a 30-day placement, 3 days a week over 10 weeks. Collaborate with children, parents and staff, and consider the context of the centre and characteristics of the children, families and community

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