The importance of access to early childhood education and its long-term benefits is well recognised. In the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, you will study the significance of the learning and development that occurs between birth and starting school for every child. As graduate early childhood teachers, you will have an understanding of educational theory and contemporary approaches to empower you to design and deliver curriculum that enhances each child’s learning dispositions and cognitive, social, emotional and physical development skills.

During your four-year degree, you will develop skills in play pedagogy to teach literacy, maths, science, technology, engineering, arts, music, dance, drama, multimodal media, and STEM to young children. This will be balanced with safety, health and wellbeing; documentation, planning and assessment; sustainable practices; working with families and communities; diversity and inclusion practices; advocacy and research; pedagogical and educational leadership; and service provision and management.

As part of the degree, you will actively engage in 80 days of professional experience across four discrete placements to develop your teaching practice with young children. The final 30-day placement will give you the opportunity to consolidate your pedagogical and leadership practice, and the confidence and practical experience to enter the sector as a graduate early childhood teacher.

This course meets the required guidelines as specified by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

International Students

International applicants must have an English Language Proficiency Score of IELTS 6.5 (Academic) with Speaking no less than 6.5; Listening, Writing and Reading no less than 6.0, or equivalent.

Our admission pathway options include:

1. Applicants with recent Senior Secondary Education (within the past two years) must have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12). For guaranteed entry into the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, applicants must have achieved an ATAR of 60 with a minimum of a NSW Band 4 in English (or equivalent).

2. Applicants with Higher Education (HE) study must have a successful completion (or partial completion) of a higher education qualification.

3. Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study must have completed a vocational qualification at the Diploma level or higher.

4. Applicants with Work/Life experience who left senior secondary education more than two years prior to their application, and have not undertaken VET or HE study since, may gain entry based on professional or work experience and/or any non-formal courses undertaken in preparation for tertiary study or that are relevant to the subject area. Work/Life experience applicants must submit a written admission statement outlining their reasons for undertaking the intended course of study. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.

All applicants must submit a 600-word statement outlining reasons for wanting to become an early childhood teacher, and may be required to participate in an informal interview with an Ikon representative.  

• Teaching theory, skills and practice directed specifically for the learning and development of children aged birth to five years through meaningful learning experiences and curriculum based on sound pedagogical principles.
• The importance of play-based learning where children are actively engaged with activities that, while incorporating elements of play, also support their learning and development
• How to encourage children’s participation and support diversity, equity and inclusion in the early years with emphasis on the construction and dynamics of families and communities in diverse contexts.
• The correlation between social and emotional development and behaviour, the importance of promoting and encouraging children’s agency and positive behaviour, and how to support children to self-regulate, develop their social-emotional skills and connect through positive social interactions.
• Preparation for educational leadership and service management including how to critically analyse issues and policy developments in the sector and to reflect on their own practice as professional early childhood educators
• Professional experience through a series of placements under the supervision of experienced educational leaders, giving you a real sense of early childhood education practices.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education prepares graduates for an exciting career as an early childhood teacher with the skills to educate children from birth to five years across a variety of early childhood settings, and in professional and community roles within the sector. Graduates wishing to advance their learning in early childhood education may be eligible for postgraduate studies.

Professional Recognition

The course is recognised by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an approved early childhood qualification for Early Childhood Teachers under the National Quality Framework. Graduates may be eligible for teacher accreditation recognition via their relevant state regulatory authority.