GD204 - Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education

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Plan: GD204 - Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Campus: Bundoora Campus

Overview

Program details
Purpose of the Program
Articulation and pathways
Entrance requirements
External accreditation and industry links
Student expenses and charges in addition to fees
Library, IT and specialist resources

Program details

Award title: Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Award abbreviation: Grad Dip Early Childhd Ed
Total credit points: 96
Career: PGRD
Duration: 1 year full-time (2 semesters); 2 years part-time (4 semesters)
Location: Onshore, Bundoora Campus
Owning school: Education (360H)
Owning school URL: www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/education
ASCED code: 070101
CRICOS code: 0100711

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Purpose of the Program

The GD204 Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education is designed to enable you to work as a professional teacher in early childhood education contexts. You will be equipped with the necessary critical and pedagogical strategies to become an effective teacher across a range of early childhood education contexts. The program primarily provides qualification as an early chilldhood teacher in early childhood settings in Australia. The progarm also incorporates global perspectives, and is designed for you to develop a range of transferable skills to work here and overseas in related settings.

Based on Australia’s national Early Years Learning Framework for early childhood teachers, this program prepares you to extend and enrich learning across the curriculum for infants, toddlers and young children from birth to five years. You will support and design high quality learning experiences for young children that enable global citizens in yet-to-be-imagined futures. Exploring possibilities for children as advocates, enablers, custodians and thinkers will underpin your philosophy of learning and teaching. 

You will join a community of inquiry located in the RMIT Pedagogies of possibilities Lab (PoPLab) - a virtual and physical space for innovative industry partnered research. Here, you will have access to video technologies that will enable you to explore your practice with ‘real’ children in on-line and/or face to face modes of delivery. 

The program pays special attention to indigenous perspectives and approaches. International trends and policies will also inform your practice. You will explore inclusive learning and teaching practices including issues age, gender, ethnicity and ability. You will interrogate a wide range of diverse philosophies and theories concerning ‘belonging, being and becoming’ in curriculum which shape the field, and you will develop dispositions of inquiry and advocacy accordingly.  

On completion of the program you will become an innovative and attuned professional teacher in the field of early years education (birth to five years) with an edu-portfolio that represents your professional narrative that you will be able to share proudly with potential employers. You will also have the knowledge, skills and experience to work in private enterprise, government agencies and community based early childhood education settings locally and globally.  

The program employs innovative applications of communication technologies to deliver on-campus, on-line and in-practice learning experiences facilitated by an interdisciplinary team of experts. Some courses are offered in intensive mode to facilitate a balance between theory and practice across the program. 

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Articulation and pathways

Upon successful completion of this program you may be eligible to undertake further studies in related programs at RMIT University, such as a Master of Education, subject to program entry requirements.

If you have already developed areas of skill and knowledge included in this program (for example, through prior studies or work experience), you can apply for credit once you have enrolled in this program.

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Entrance requirements

You must have successfully completed an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification) in any discipline.

Please note that to undertake the Professional Experience courses in this program, you must provide a satisfactory working with children check. If you are not able to provide this, you will be unable to complete the program.

English language requirement.

If you did not complete your bachelor degree in English at an approved institution in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, you must complete one of the following English proficiency tests or an approved Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) English Language Test:

  • IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band below 6.5)
  • TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 94 (with minimum of 19 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 24 in Writing)
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 58)
  • C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency: minimum of 185 with no less than 176 in any component.  

The test must be taken no more than two years prior to the RMIT program commencement date. 

Working with Children Check (WWC)

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children (WWC) Check (valid for 5 years) prior to undertaking professional placement as part of this program.

Note: For placements undertaken interstate a valid WWC Check is required for that state.

For more information visit the Working With Children Check website.

Vaccination

Some child care centres may require you to provide evidence of vaccination prior to undertaking professional experience.

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External accreditation and industry links

The Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education is externally accredited by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Graduates may apply for registration and work in Australian early childhood education and care settings with children aged birth to five years. Graduates are also eligible to apply for registration as an early childhood teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).

Industry Links

The School of Education has well established links with early childhood education services across Australia and internationally. Academics in the program work closely with early childhood teachers to respond to the needs and priorities of young learners. This program responds to contemporary and arising issues and challenges facing the early childhood sector. 

Students in the program will have opportunities to work with and be mentored by early childhood educators in their professional placements and in studio based activities.

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Student expenses and charges in addition to fees

Once you are enrolled as a student in this program you will need to allow for expenses other than university tuition fees.  Additional expenses may relate to the purchase of lecture notes, textbooks, stationery, consumables such as printer paper, fees levied by commercial internet service providers for internet access outside of the university campus, and other relevant costs.

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Library, IT and specialist resources

Library resources and services

As a student enrolled in a program at RMIT University you can access the extensive services, facilities and study space provided by the Library. You can access books, journals and other course related materials, such as DVDs, past exams, newspapers and e-books. Through our document delivery service you can also request items from any library in the world.

Computers for study are available at every Library site, where you can access the Internet, myRMIT (www.rmit.edu.au/myrmit) or Library e-resources. If you have a laptop you can access the RMIT University wireless network in the Library.

Library staff can show you how to find information for your assignments or you can work through web-based tutorials or use our online Ask a Librarian service. The Library is continually expanding our electronic collections to make it easier for you to get the information you need when you need it. All RMIT University students have unlimited access to quality electronic resources such as, e-books, e-journals and newspapers.

You can find more information on Library resources and services at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library

Online learning tools and content

You can access online learning tools and content for your program and associated courses at myRMIT www.rmit.edu.au/myrmit

Course web pages contain links to download worksheets and assignment specifications, email teaching staff, and access message forums, as well as links to external course-related web sites. Lecturers provide additional suitably formatted electronic files and handouts to visually impaired students upon request.

Course materials (printed course notes, textbooks, reference books and recommended reading) are available from the RMIT Bookshop.

Services available to you as a student at RMIT University

RMIT University provides a wide range of resources and opportunities to assist your learning and wellbeing so you can achieve your study and career goals.

Services are available face to face and online assisting with:

  • transition to tertiary study and learning
  • study skills, academic skills including literacy, mathematics and basic sciences if relevant
  • enabling assistance if you have a disability, long term medical condition or other form of disadvantage which may impact on your learning
  • career development and employment
  • living and wellbeing (including advice on health, housing and financial matters)
  • opportunities for scholarships, leadership and study abroad
  • opportunities for participating in arts, sport, recreation, fitness activities as well as student activism and university governance

We also offer a friendly and supportive environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

You can find more information at www.rmit.edu.au/students

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