Work Placement

To achieve this qualification, the individual must complete a total of least 160 hours of work in a regulated children’s education and care service in Australia as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency. The total number of hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours.

Penfold College will assist the learner in finding an approved childcare centre/facility for their placement. Penfold College will liaise with the childcare to ensure that the participant is suitably supervised at the centre. During the practical placement, the learner will be assessed in the practical skills related to the Certificate III Early Childcare Education and Care. Penfold College will aim to organise work placement for student at Childcare centres. The work placement will be unpaid and the daily working hours will be negotiated between students and the childcare centre.

Students are required to satisfactorily complete 40 hours of work placement each week or hours as negotiated with the host employer. Students who have not successfully completed their 160 hours of work placement, will not be deemed as Competent in the related units of competency and hence, not be able to graduate. However, student would be eligible of Statement of Attainment (if applicable).

The trainer/assessor will visit each childcare centre on a regular basis during the work placement to assess student performance/progress as part of assessment of the practical components of the course. A placement logbook will be used to record the student progress. The Work placement logbook has a separate section for each competency where both work placement supervisor and the trainer/assessor are to record their comments about student’s performance progress at the work placement.

The time spent by the student in work placement in this course is critical to ensure that the student participates in regular work over the course duration. This is necessary to allow for a workplace context in the assessment and workplace observation which is a requirement for every unit. All students are required to maintain a work placement logbook to record their worked hours, and the age groups care was provided for.

Student who are already working in the early childhood sector as an educator in approved centre-based care are encouraged to use their existing workplace to complete these practical placement hours providing it meets the requirement’s necessary to conduct assessment. Students who are not already working in early childhood may nominate an accredited early childhood education and care service for their practical placement. Penfold College can assist students who need to find a work placement using its network in the early childhood sector.

It is a requirement that students must obtain a Working with Children Check and National Police Check certificate. These are to be provided by students at their own cost. Childcare centres and learners will be required to enter into an agreement with Penfold College which will clearly identify the rights and obligations of all parties.