Teaching (Birth to 5)
Overview
Teach children aged birth to 5 years.
This course brings together theory and practice, preparing you for a career in early childhood settings – such as long-day childcare centres, kindergartens and preschools. You'll gain the skills and knowledge to effectively plan, implement and advocate for transformative teaching and learning for children aged birth-to-five years.
You’ll learn how to enact policies and practices that take account of social and individual differences, ensuring that all children learn in supportive and just environments. Plus, you'll engage in inquiry-led and research-based projects, construct and assess play-based learning for children, and gain an understanding of the importance of all children learning about, and through, indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Whether you hold an undergraduate degree and are looking for a new opportunity, or already working in an early childhood setting and want to build on the skills you've developed in your Diploma of Early Childhood Education, this is your chance to discover a rewarding career in the early childhood teaching profession.
Do you hold a diploma? You could enter this course.*
*See Entry Requirements below for more details.
Up to 80% off fees due to Government subsidies*.
*Government subsidies enable Flinders to offer Domestic applicants a reduction of up to 80% off full course fees through Commonwealth Supported Places. Offer subject to change.
$25,000+ available for those studying to become early childhood teachers.
The QualifySA in Early Childhood Financial Support Program provides eligible students with financial assistance throughout study and into initial years of employment.
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International Student
Australia or New Zealand.
I am a
Domestic Student
I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).
Courses
Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5)
Duration: 6 months
Delivery mode:
In person
Online
Location:
Bedford Park
Availability:
Full-time
Part-time
Start dates:
March
SATAC code:
2GC203 (Commonwealth supported)
2GC703 (Full fee paying)
Annual indicative fees (2025):
$2,313 (Commonwealth supported place)
$11,656 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
CSP (Commonwealth supported place)
FFP (Full-fee paying)
This course is a pathway to the Master of Teaching (Birth to 5).
Master of Teaching (Birth to 5)
Duration: 2 years
Delivery mode:
In person*
External
Location:
Bedford Park
Availability:
Full-time
Part-time
Start dates:
March
July
SATAC code:
2CM320
Annual indicative fees (2025):
$4,624 (Commonwealth supported place)
$23,312 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
Courses
Master of Teaching (Birth to 5)
Duration: 2 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Location:
Bedford Park
Start dates:
March
CRICOS code:
114452B
Annual fees:
2025: $36,300
Your career
Teaching degrees open the door to a world of opportunities. Graduates of the Master of Teaching (Birth to 5) will be equipped with advanced professional knowledge, and exceptional practice and relationship skills - preparing them to teach children from birth to age 5 years in a range of community settings.
Potential occupations include:
- Teacher in long-day childcare and preschools
- Teacher in a private Early Learning Centre
- Team leader in long-day childcare services
- Director or manager at a long-day childcare centre
- Director at a kindergarten or preschool
- Curriculum and policy advisor.
Potential employers include:
- Long-day childcare centres
- Preschools
- Kindergartens
- Early Learning Centre
- Government
- Not-for-profits.
Professional accreditation/recognition
This academic qualification will enable you to apply for registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia. You are advised to check registration requirements as they are subject to change. Graduates looking for employment in other parts of Australia and overseas may be required to meet additional conditions. Graduates meet The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority employment criteria.
No.1 in SA
in Education & Training for
full-time employment, overall educational experience and teaching quality.
(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (postgraduate), public SA-founded universities only)
What you will study
First year
A typical first year may include:
- The first year introduces pre-service teachers to foundational aspects of pedagogy and practice, including historical and contemporary approaches to teaching young children. The importance of play is explored, alongside the benefits of diverse play opportunities for children's learning and development. Making Meaning in the Expressive Arts explores how children make sense of their world through expression and representation. Pedagogies of Belonging delves into children's social and emotional development through work integrated learning opportunities. The Developing Numerate and Literate Infant explores children's early understanding of numeracy, and the importance of language whilst working with babies and toddlers. The year finishes with a 25-day placement in a metropolitan or country early childhood setting.
Second year
A typical second year may include:
- The second year of study focuses on pre-school teaching and learning, through Thinking and Working Scientifically in the Early Years, Reading and Writing Through Play; and The Numerate Child. Playing on Country focusses on nature play and bush kindergarten, connecting to indigenous ways of knowing and being whilst playing outside. Teaching and learning through technologies, and children's health and physical education are explored; and pre-service teachers complete a final 40-day placement spent in a metropolitan or country early childhood setting.
This course includes extensive work integrated learning opportunities, and professional placements in both the first and second year that meet the professional and employment requirements of the early childhood sector in South Australia.
Child-Related Employment Screening
All College of Education, Psychology and Social Work pre-service teachers must obtain a Working With Children Check (WWCC) from the Department for Human Service (DHS) Screening Unit and a Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect: Education and Care (RRHAN-EC) from a registered provider before undertaking their professional experience placements. This is a requirement of the Department for Education (DfE), in agreement with the Catholic Education and Independent Schools Boards. Pre-service teachers who are not cleared will therefore not be able to complete the requirements of the course.
Instructions about applications are provided on the professional experience website.
View study program
Related courses
“
The lecturers and tutors were such great mentors. They had lived experience - they'd worked in the field, so they had so much experience to pass on.
Vittoria Barbara - Master of Teaching graduate
”
Entry requirements
Masters
Applicants must hold a bachelor degree or hold a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5) or equivalent qualification.
Applicants who hold a Bachelor degree in early childhood education, making them eligible for teacher registration in the same teaching level (birth to 5 years), will not be considered.
Graduate Certificate
This course is a pathway to the Master of Teaching (Birth to 5).
Applicants must hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; OR hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent and have a minimum of five years full-time equivalent work experience (undertaken within the last seven years) in an Australian early childhood setting with related leadership responsibilities.
Applicants must complete a non-academic assessment task known as a Teaching Capabilities Statement as part of their application to demonstrate their motivation to teach, their strong interpersonal and communication skills, willingness to learn, resilience, self-efficacy, and strong organisational and planning skills. This involves a short statement in response to three set questions used to demonstrate suitability for study and work in the teaching profession.
Applicants who select this course as a preference during the application process will be directed to a page to meet this requirement.
Visit the Teaching Capabilities Statement page for further information
This course has inherent requirements in the areas of:
- General requirements
- Professional experience requirements
- Skill requirements
For further details, view Master of Teaching inherent requirements.
How to apply
Select your preferred course.
Check entry requirements.
Check individual course entries on SATAC for information on important dates.
Apply online at SATAC.
Apply directly via SATAC
Flinders students can apply to transfer to this course internally. Visit: www.flinders.edu.au/internaltransfer for more information.
Entry requirements
Masters
Applicants must have normally completed an appropriate undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution; or hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent qualification, with a minimum of three years full-time equivalent work experience in a leadership position in an early childhood setting or equivalent.
Applicants must also complete and pass a non-academic assessment task (Teaching Capabilities Statement) based on the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) requirements for early childhood teaching programs. More detail on this can be found below.
Applicants must complete a non-academic assessment task known as a Teaching Capabilities Statement as part of their application to demonstrate their motivation to teach, their strong interpersonal and communication skills, willingness to learn, resilience, self-efficacy, and strong organisational and planning skills. This involves a short statement in response to three set questions used to demonstrate suitability for study and work in the teaching profession.
Applicants who select this course as a preference during the application process will be directed to a page to meet this requirement.
Visit the Teaching Capabilities Statement page for further information
This course has inherent requirements in the areas of:
- General requirements
- Professional experience requirements
- Skill requirements
For further details, view Master of Teaching inherent requirements.
Select your course.
Check entry requirements.
Check your eligibility for credit.
Obtain certified documents.
Submit your application and documents.
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