Early Childhood - Southern Cross University

Learn transformative ways to teach

Early childhood education is an important and immensely fulfilling career, one that provides a precious opportunity to give children the best start in life.

At Southern Cross University, our courses deliver the skills, knowledge and understanding to succeed in this rewarding field.

For example, in just one year, our Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood) enables graduates with a degree in any discipline to become a fully qualified early childhood teacher in a preschool, or an educator within the family day care or traditional day care system.

Our Bachelor of Early Childhood Education gives you a three-year qualification to work in early childhood settings with children from six weeks to six-years-old. The University has accreditation from the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

(Please note, this course qualifies early childhood teachers to work in early childhood settings with children from six weeks to six-years-old. These settings are known differently throughout Australia, some as preschools and others as kindergarten. The course does not qualify graduates to teach in primary school settings). 

“It was a challenge with two kids under two and working full-time, but my lecturers at Southern Cross were incredibly supportive, and my husband as well.”

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Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Why choose Early Childhood Education with Southern Cross?

Professional learning experience

Partake in 85 days of professional experience learning in early childhood education settings, including 10 days in a primary school setting.

Leading research

A cutting-edge course that draws on the University’s leading research in early childhood education and care.

Accredited Course

The course is accredited by ACECQA, the Australian accrediting authority for early childhood teacher programs.

I'm Dulari Gonawala, I work for Good Start Early Learning. I'm a teacher mentor for Victoria.

So I migrated to Australia nearly 10 years ago. I was a secondary teacher back in Sri Lanka, and when I came here my kids were very young. We came as skilled migrants. Because I already had my bachelor's back from Sri Lanka, I wanted to make use of it.

So I did a bit of research. That's how I ended up doing the postgraduate diploma in early childhood education. So the main reason why I chose Southern Cross

University was I was looking for a fully online course and also I wanted flexibility because I was working full-time, having two young children. When I graduated from Southern Cross University, I got recruited as early childhood teacher straight away with Good Start, and then I was an educational leader, and now I'm working as a teacher mentor.

Recently I got a call and they said that I've won the national Excellence in Teaching Awards from early childhood category. Yeah, when I first heard, when I received that phone call| it actually gave me goosebumps, so I just stood up from my chair and yeah, I couldn't believe myself. So I was nominated because I've been doing a lot of STEM- related projects with children, because science is my background, and also reconciliation-related activities. We've established a Bush Tucker Garden in our centre, and we now share the Bush Tucker products with the community.

So my kids, they know that mom has won something big. So yeah, I think they're, they're really proud of me.

Since I enrolled in Southern Cross Uni, everybody who I met have been really supportive the enrolment officer, the lecturers, all the other officers I met throughout the whole journey.

Yeah, I'm looking at doing a Masters in Education, whether it's something on leadership. So once I decide that I think I'll do it with Southern Cross University as well.