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Bachelor of
Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5)

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How to apply

Entry requirements

Key information

VIEWING DOMESTICINTERNATIONAL
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SATAC
CRICOS
Duration
Varies
Start Dates
Annual Fees
Delivery mode
None
Practical experience
Not available
Study abroad
Not available
English language requirements
English language requirements by country

Teach, Nurture and Support Our Youngest Leaners

Imagine being the architect of a child's first learning experiences, setting the stage for their future success. With a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5) at Flinders University, you'll be qualified to teach in preschools and early childhood services across Australia, with a strong focus on play-based learning, child development, and inclusive practices. Gain hands-on experience through extensive placements, and graduate ready to make a difference in a high-demand sector, empowering the next generation from their earliest years.

In-demand careers start with Early Childhood Education

Graduates of the Bachelor of Flinders’ Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5) are qualified to work as early childhood teachers in long day care, preschool, kindergarten, and early learning settings. With a growing demand for skilled educators across Australia, you'll be prepared for a meaningful and rewarding career, shaping the lives of children in their most important developmental years. This degree is also a pathway to leadership roles in early childhood services or further study in education, leadership, or special education.

Salary

$90K

typical salary in Australia

Jobs growth

21.6%

5-year projection

Early Childhood Teacher

As an early childhood teacher, you'll play a vital role in shaping the foundational years of children aged birth to five, designing play-based learning programs that nurture curiosity, creativity, and social-emotional development.

Whether working in kindergartens, preschools or long day care settings, you’ll support children’s growth while building meaningful relationships with families and communities, contributing to lifelong learning outcomes.

Assistant Director in an Early Childhood Service

As an Early Childhood Service Assistant Director, you’ll support the daily operations of an early childhood service, helping to create a high-quality, inclusive learning environment for children aged birth to five.

Working alongside the Director, you’ll help manage staff, guide curriculum planning, ensure compliance with national standards, and build strong relationships with families and the community. It’s a rewarding leadership role that blends your passion for early childhood education with the opportunity to support and inspire a team.

Salary

$128K

typical salary in Australia

Jobs opportunities

4,657

in Australia right now

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025 | Seek Australia, 2025

Child Development Specialist

Child development specialists support children’s growth by identifying developmental needs early and working with families and educators to create tailored strategies. Drawing on knowledge of child psychology and behaviour, they help foster learning and wellbeing across early childhood settings. This role is often based in community services or allied health environments, making a real difference in children’s lives.

Play Therapist

Play therapists use structured, therapeutic play to help children express emotions, process experiences, and build resilience. With further study in counselling or therapy, you could support children facing trauma, anxiety, or behavioural challenges in a safe, creative, and developmentally appropriate way.

Early Years Curriculum Advisor

Early Years Curriculum Advisors design, review, and support the implementation of programs aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Working with educators, they provide training and resources to enhance learning outcomes and ensure engaging, high-quality early education across services and communities.

What will you study to start your career in early childhood education?

Study a variety of core topics and electives and get hands-on experience with professional placements.

In your first year, you’ll study core topics, explore play-based learning and early education theories, and complete your first professional placement.

Year 1 - Core topics

Your first year might include the following topics. For exact topic information, visit the course Handbook.

  • Professional experience
  • Philosophies of early childhood
  • Arts
  • Pedagogies of belonging
  • Health and physical education
  • Partnerships, parents and participations
  • Play, learning and development

In your second year, you’ll explore literacy and numeracy through play, study inclusive teaching practices, and complete a specialised placement with children aged birth to 2.

Year 2 - Core topics

Your second year might include the following topics. For exact topic information, visit the course Handbook.

  • Inclusive education
  • Language development
  • Play and development
  • Respectful teaching
  • Indigenous pedagogy
  • Early literacy and numeracy
  • Science in the early years

In your third year, you’ll complete a six-week preschool placement, study early reading, autism and relationships, and explore Indigenous play through bush kindergarten.

Year 3 - Core topics

Your third year might include the following topics. For exact topic information, visit the course Handbook.

  • Reading in the early years
  • Mathematics
  • Pedagogies in places of early childhood
  • Supporting children on the autism spectrum
  • Discovering technologies
  • Leading in early childhood settings
  • Playing on country
  • Professional experience

Accreditation or Professional Recognition

This degree is accredited by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

This accreditation means you’ll graduate with a recognised qualification that prepares you to work as a qualified early childhood teacher across a range of settings. You’ll be eligible to apply for teacher registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia and meet ACECQA’s employment criteria—giving you a strong foundation to pursue teaching roles locally, interstate, or even overseas.*

*Additional conditions may apply outside of South Australia. 
acecqa-logo

ACECQA

Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority

Take your Education Career further with Honours

Flinders’ one-year Bachelor of Education (Honours) gives you the chance to deepen your expertise and sharpen your research skills. You’ll work closely with academic supervisors on an independent research project that can open doors to leadership roles or further postgraduate study.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5) can tailor the honours project to suit interests and career goals, specialising in areas such as early childhood pedagogy or curriculum design.

This additional year is ideal for those looking to stand out in the field and make a meaningful impact in early childhood education. 

Learn more

No.1 in SA in Education & Training for learning resources, overall educational experience and teaching quality.

The Good Universities Guide 2025 (undergraduate)

5 stars in Education & Training for learning resources and teaching quality.

The Good Universities Guide 2024 (postgraduate)

No.1 in SA in Education & Training for full-time employment, learning resources, overall educational experience, student support and teaching quality.

The Good Universities Guide 2025 (postgraduate)

Get inspired.

Discover more about Flinders University’s Early Childhood degrees.

Study Early Childhood Education in our new teaching space

Our new Early Childhood teaching space, Pintya Kuu, allows students to practice the practical components of their degree in a supportive environment to prepare them for teaching children in their most important years.

“All my tutors and lecturers are really helpful. They provide me with active feedback and provoke equality in the classroom.”

Zinan Wang

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education 

“I leave every class feeling more passionate and excited about my future career.”

Clover Pearl

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

“The Flinders community is valuable as it is diverse and allows everybody to feel a sense of belonging.”

Iliana Pasta

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Flinders offers a vibrant, fun, supportive uni experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Need support?

From cultural, health and wellbeing services, to study and financial support, enrolment advice and more, we’re here to help.

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Student clubs

Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) is the heart of the Flinders Experience. FUSA is where you’ll find out about events, club memberships and extracurricular activities.

Learn more about clubs

Campus facilities

Flinders’ campuses are hubs of activity, with retail and food outlets, library spaces, study and chill spaces and more.

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Learn from the experts.

Our incredible teaching and professional staff are experts in their fields and well-connected to the industry.

Course Coordinator
Rachael Hedger

Rachael Hedger is Course Coordinator and a senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Flinders University. With extensive experience as a Preschool Room Leader and primary school teacher in both Australia and the UK, Rachael brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her role, ensuring you'll receive a comprehensive and engaging education.
 

timna-garnett

Senior Lecturer
Dr Timna Garnett

Timna is a passionate senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Flinders University, specialising in science and technology. Her extensive experience and research in STEM learning, conservation education, and digital technologies will provide you with innovative and practical teaching strategies. Timna's expertise ensures you are well-prepared to inspire and educate young minds effectively.

Lecturer
Linda Gray

Linda is an early childhood lecturer who teaches early childhood curriculum with a focus on mathematics and community partnerships. As Academic Professional Experience Coordinator, she ensures third and final year students are well-prepared for their teaching careers. Linda is dedicated to fostering student success and support. 
 

Gain real world experience.

Flinders' strong industry connections give you a real edge in your early childhood education career. Through a minimum of 80 days of professional placement, you’ll gain hands-on experience in a variety of early learning settings, developing your skills in planning, relationship-building, and creative teaching practices in real-world environments.

Connect with the early childhood sector through professional placements. You’ll work closely with children, families, and educators, building the confidence and practical skills you need to thrive in your career. These placements are more than just learning opportunities—they’re a chance to establish professional networks, open doors to future employment, and graduate career-ready.

The degree provides you with practical experience that prepares you for the workforce.

  • Undertake a minimum of 80 professional experience placement days in a range of early childhood settings.
  • Begin placements in your first year with 15 days in a birth to 5 setting of your choice.
  • In second year, complete a 25-day placement focusing on respectful teaching with infants and toddlers.
  • In final year, complete a 30-day preschool placement with children aged 3–5, plus 10 days of visits to early childhood settings.

Before commencing placement, you’ll need a valid Working with Children Check and a Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect (RRHAN) – Education and Care certificate. Some placement sites may also request evidence of immunisation through Medicare.

Financial Support while you're on placement?

You could be eligible for the Commonwealth Prac Placement - up to $331.65 per week.*

Begins July 2025 | Teaching, Social Work, Nursing and Midwifery

Find out more

*Terms and conditions and eligibility criteria apply

Apply via SATAC

245161 (Bedford Park)

284951 (City Campus)

+ Learn more about enrolling into Flinders.

Concerned about your ATAR? If it doesn't meet the course requirement, or if you don't receive one, we offer alternative pathways to admission. Contact us to discuss your options—we're here to help.

Frequently asked questions.

Over the years, many questions have been asked by students before. For the quickest answers view our frequently asked questions or browse the full list @ Ask Flinders.

Ask Flinders

Yes, there is strong and ongoing demand for qualified early childhood educators in Australia. The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector has been identified as a critical area for workforce development by the Australian Government. A recent capacity study by Jobs and Skills Australia highlights the need for more skilled professionals to meet the growing demand for quality early learning services 

Graduates with a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5) are well-positioned to enter a rewarding and essential profession that supports the development and wellbeing of Australia’s youngest learners.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, early childhood teaching jobs are set to increase from May 2024 – 2034 by 8.6% 

(Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024 Employment projections to 2034).

A Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 5) from Flinders University opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities in the early childhood sector. Graduates are qualified to work in:

  • Preschools and kindergartens
  • Long day care centres
  • Early learning centres
  • Family day care services
  • Government and non-government education agencies.

This degree also meets the requirements for registration as an early childhood teacher in Australia, allowing graduates to work in both urban and regional settings. Beyond direct teaching roles, the qualification can lead to leadership positions, curriculum development, policy advisory roles, and further study in education or child development.

With a growing emphasis on the importance of early years education, this degree offers a pathway to a meaningful career that makes a lasting impact on children, families, and communities. 

According to SEEK, in Australia, the average annual salary for an early childhood teacher is typically around $90,000 per year.

Flinders offers a range of student support services including academic advice and guidance, counselling, career guidance, and assistance with placement arrangements to help you succeed throughout your studies.

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

 

The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2024. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced study in this course in Semester 1, 2024 including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia. Applicant background groupings are based on educational background, not basis of admission. Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.

Notes:
<5 – the number of students is less than 5
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

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Last Updated: 22 Oct 2025

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