Early Childhood Education and Care Qualification Review

The primary objective of this project is to support the development and growth of the early childhood education and care workforce.

A review of the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education will consider relevant skills and training and workforce development findings and recommendations in recent reports including:

• Job and Skills Australia’s ‘The Future of Early Childhood Education Profession’ (2024)
• Australian Government Productivity Commission, ‘A path to universal early childhood education and care’ (2024)
• Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (2023), ‘Review of child safety arrangements under the National Quality Framework’
• 2019 National Quality Framework Review Decision Regulation Impact Statement (DRIS): ‘Legislative change to require compulsory training on safe sleep practices for all FDC educators subject to governments undertaking further research, costing and impact analysis of any proposed training and the implementation approach’.

Analysis of the various reports and reviews will be jointly undertaken with the Department of Education and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations which will confirm the recommendations being addressed through this project.

The project also aims to complement and build on related initiatives and reform opportunities including:

• establishment of the TAFE SA-led Centre of Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care (CoE), The National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy (2022-2031) Shaping Our Future, the Qualification Reform Design Group (2024) Final Report
• priorities for the ECEC sector identified in HumanAbility’s Workforce Plan (2024)
• Opportunity and Productivity: Towards a Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap (2025)

Due to the size and complexity of this project, implementation will be structured into 2 phases:

• a review of the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• other associated activities that respond to recommendations and insights.

You can provide us with any initial feedback on the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care by emailing us at [email protected].

Project fact sheet

June to December 2025

Details to come 

January to March 2026

Details to come

March to August 2026

Details to come

August to November 2026

Details to come