Fee-free TAFE is a joint initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, providing tuition-free* training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill.

The following Tasmanian residents are eligible for Tasmanian Government subsidised training:

• Australian citizens
• Permanent residents

And Tasmanian residents who have permission for work and study in Australia and:

• Are New Zealand citizens with a Special Category Visa
• Are holders of a temporary humanitarian visas
• Are Tasmanian State Sponsored skill migrant visa holders
• Are a dependent (aged over 18) or partner (spouse) visa holder of an eligible applicant.

All other visa holders are ineligible for subsidised training. This includes all bridging visa holders and Tasmanian State Sponsored business visa holders.

Applicants must also meet any specific entry requirements for individual courses.

First Nations Australians, young people (17-24), people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, women facing economic insecurity, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.

Note: People studying within the education system (up to Year 12), or undertaking a traineeship or apprenticeship are not eligible.

*Your tuition fees are covered; however you may need to cover costs such as textbooks, workbooks, uniform, online learning resources or personal protective clothing. Depending on your course, there may also be other expenses that you need to budget for.

Any additional fees will be identified in course specific information.

Places are limited and not guaranteed and applying early is recommended. The number of Fee-Free places on offer at TasTAFE are determined by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.

• Be 18 or above at the course commencement
• Working With Vulnerable People card (Volunteer Status)
• National Police Check from Service Tasmania

• The application form can be downloaded online and submitted at any Service Tasmania centre.
• The cost of the check is $70.

• Pre-enrolment assessment

To support your success in the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, students are required to complete a face-to-face pre-enrolment assessment on campus. This assessment helps us understand your current Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital (LLN&D) skills. After the assessment, you’ll have a one-on-one conversation with one of our teachers to discuss the course structure, expectations and your readiness to begin. Your responses will help determine the next steps in your application.

We encourage you to consider if this is the right course for you by undertaking the Informed Choices Student Self-Assessment

The fee you pay at TasTAFE will depend on the course you choose and may vary depending on the level of government subsidy available, the cost of delivery, any previous study you have undertaken and/or your personal circumstances. Tuition fees for this course are available at the top of the page via the Fee Calculator.

Your tuition fees cover the basic materials needed for your course, but may not cover items such as text books, workbooks, uniform, online learning resources or personal protective clothing. Depending on your course, there may also be other expenses that you need to budget for.

For this course, you will need to pay for the following items:

• A TasTAFE polo top is required for work placements ($45) and
• a Working with Vulnerable People registration ($20.40).

For courses undertaken in 12 months or less, you will be invoiced the full course fee (including any other essential fees associated with your course).

*For courses studied over multiple years, your course and other fees will be split over the years of study, with the concession fee being charged on a yearly basis. At the time of enrolment you will be invoiced for the first year’s fees. An invoice will be raised in each subsequent year around the same time as your ‘enrolment anniversary’.

Further information on fees, payments and other costs.

For this course, practical placement is a mandatory component of the qualification. It gives learners hands-on experience in a regulated early childhood service and allows them to demonstrate the required skills under real workplace conditions.

Minimum 160 hours of practical placement is required. These hours must be completed in an approved early childhood education and care service, which can include:

• Long day care
• Family day care
• Pre-school

Before starting, you are required to have:

• Working with Children Check (WWCC) or Working with Vulnerable People Card (WWVP)
• National Police Check
• Some services require Evidence of current immunisations (e.g. measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, influenza, COVID-19 – depending on service policy)

The following skills and attributes will be useful to students studying this course:

• Patience and empathy – Essential for working with young children and understanding their needs.
• Enthusiasm and energy – Early childhood work can be physically and emotionally demanding
• Reliability and responsibility – Consistency is important for children’s well-being.
• Adaptability – Ability to respond to changing routines or unexpected situations.
• Positive attitude and resilience – Coping with challenges and maintaining a supportive environment.
• Clear verbal communication – be able to speak to both adults and children clearly and meaningfully
• Written communication – Documenting observations, learning plans, and reports accurately.
• Interpersonal skills – Working collaboratively with peers, teachers, colleagues, families, and other professionals.
• Time management – Planning and completing tasks efficiently
• Organisation skills – organise, plan, and prioritise your time to manage study other commitments to stay up to date with learning and assessments
• Willingness to learn – Openness to new methods, guidelines, and feedback.
• Cultural awareness and inclusivity – Respecting diverse backgrounds and learning needs
• Digital skills - Be able to access and use digital devices to research and obtain information.
• Good level of stamina and energy and the ability to stay active and engaged throughout the day.
• A good level of mobility and flexibility – bending, kneeling, lifting, twisting, getting down and up off the floor, nappy changing, food preparation, feeding babies, toddlers and older children

On successful completion of this course you will receive a CHC30121 - Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Below is a list of all core and elective units that TasTAFE offers in this course. The selection of units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend and the qualification packaging rules. For further information refer to training.gov.au.