Statement from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Carlin

I am enormously proud of this one-year postgraduate qualification designed to prepare profession-ready educators for the early childhood sector, with the safety and the wellbeing of children and families as paramount. 

Workforce shortages in the early childhood sector are well understood, and the University has worked hard to establish a course underpinned, within the accredited framework, by a commitment to quality, employability, and equity of access. It is a carefully designed program built on years of world-class research, deep teaching experience, academic rigour, and sector engagement, by nationally and internationally recognised experts, including Australian Research Council and other grant recipients. I am very proud of the academic and professional teams who teach and support this important course. 

While Southern Cross University does offer a two-year Master of Teaching for students who want to undertake extended postgraduate study, often including a research component, we believe that the Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) has an equally important role, and those students admitted have been assessed as having the requisite skills, academic ability and English language proficiency to complete the program.  

Our Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) is fully accredited by ACECQA (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority).  As part of their qualification, students are required to undergo multiple professional placements, which the University arranges for its students. We have invested heavily in the infrastructure necessary to do this, and we will continue to put significant effort into ensuring students receive meaningful developmental opportunities on placements with reputable, high-quality early childhood providers.  

Southern Cross University works hard to prepare its Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) students for work in the sector, with all the professional and other challenges that entails.  I am enormously confident in the preparation that they receive whilst at SCU and I look forward to seeing the important contribution that this diverse, committed group of future educators makes to children, families and communities in real need of their skills.