Certificate III in Children's Services

This qualification covers workers who use organisation policies, procedures and individual children's profiles to plan activities and provide care to children, facilitating their leisure and play and enabling them to achieve their developmental outcomes. Depending on the setting, workers may work under direct supervision or autonomously.

Occupational titles may include:

Child care assistant

* Outside school hours care assistant

Playgroup supervisor

* Recreation assistant

Family day care worker

Nanny

Child care worker

Mobile assistant

* Some jurisdictions may require CHC41208 Certificate IV in Children's Services (Outside school hours care) for these work roles


Subjects

PACKAGING RULES

15 units are required for award of this qualification including:

11 core units

4 elective units

A wide range of elective units is available, including:

Group A elective which is recommended for all work roles except those where services specifically exclude caring for babies

Group B electives which are recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice

Group C electives which are recommended for centre-based care

Group D electives which are recommended for playgroup supervision

Group E electives which are recommended for family day care work

Group F electives which are recommended for nanny work

Other relevant electives listed below

Units of competency to address workplace requirements and packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in Community Services and/or Health Training Packages

Where appropriate, to address workplace requirements, units of competency packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in other relevant Training Packages

Core units

add topic CHCCHILD401A Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

add topic CHCCN301B Ensure the health and safety of children

add topic CHCCN302A Provide care for children

add topic CHCCN303A Contribute to provision of nutritionally balanced food in a safe and hygienic manner

add topic CHCCS400B Work within a relevant legal and ethical framework

add topic CHCFC301A Support the development of children

add topic CHCIC301E Interact effectively with children

add topic CHCPR301B Provide experiences to support children's play and learning

add topic CHCPR303D Develop understanding of children's interests and developmental needs

add topic HLTFA301C Apply first aid

add topic HLTOHS300B Contribute to OHS processes

Relevant electives

Group A elective - recommended for working with babies

The following elective unit is recommended for inclusion as a core unit in this qualification to address all work roles except those where services specifically exclude caring for babies:

add topic CHCCN305B Provide care for babies (This unit may be mandatory in some jurisdictions and is pre-requisite for the Diploma of Childrens Services)

The importance of culturally aware and respectful practice

All workers undertaking children's services work need foundation knowledge to inform their work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and co-workers and with clients and co-workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This foundation must be provided and assessed as part of a holistic approach to delivery and assessment of this qualification. Specific guidelines for assessment of this aspect of competency are provided in the Assessment Guidelines for the Community Services Training Package.

Group B electives - recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice

The children's services workplace is regarded as having particular potential for engendering stronger and more respectful relationships between non-Aboriginal Australians and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians.

It is therefore highly recommended that the following unit of competency should be included in this qualification to address the needs of every children's services workplace:

add topic CHCIC302A Support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families to participate in children's services

The unit:

Provides a basis for staff to support and promote respect for and awareness of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities where there are no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children attending or residing in the local area

Addresses the needs of staff who work specifically with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and families.

Where work involves a specific focus on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and/or culturally diverse clients or communities, one or both of the following electives is recommended:

add topic HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

add topic HLTHIR404D Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

CHC30408 Certificate III in Children's Services enables selection of specific electives recommended for centre-based care, playgroup supervision, family day care and nanny work.

Group C electives - recommended for centre-based care

The following units of competency are recommended for centre-based care at Certificate III level:

add topic CHCCHILD301A Support behaviour of children and young people

add topic CHCCN305B Provide care for babies (if not already included)

add topic CHCCS312A Use electronic learning materials

add topic CHCORG303B Participate effectively in the work environment

add topic CHCRF301E Work effectively with families to care for the child

AND ONEof the following units:

add topic CHCIC302A Support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families to participate in children's services

OR

add topic HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

OR

add topic CHCCS310A Support inclusive practice in the workplace

Group D electives - recommended for playgroup supervision

The following units of competency are recommended for playgroup supervision:

add topic SRCCRO008B Interact positively with infants, toddlers and parents in a recreation environment (Appropriate unit for an assistant working with a mobile resources unit)

add topic SRXRIK001A Undertake risk analysis of activities

Group E electives - recommended for family day care work

The following units of competency are recommended for family day care work:

add topic CHCAL307A Comply with family day care administration requirements

add topic CHCCHILD301A Support behaviour of children and young people

add topic CHCCS310A Support inclusive practice in the workplace

add topic CHCIC302A Support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families to participate in children's services

add topic CHCRF301E Work effectively with families to care for the child

Group F electives - recommended for nanny work

The following units of competency are recommended for nanny work:

add topic CHCCHILD301A Support behaviour of children and young people

add topic CHCNAN301A Attend to daily functions in home based child care

add topic CHCRF301E Work effectively with families to care for the child

ANDone (or both) of the following units:

add topic CHCFC502A Foster physical development in early childhood

OR

add topic CHCFC512A Foster physical development in middle childhood

Other relevant electives

Additional electives are to be selected in line with specified Packaging Rules. Employers may specify that certain electives are required to address specific workplace needs.

add topic BSBFLM312C Contribute to team effectiveness

add topic BSBWOR204A Use business technology

add topic BSBWOR402A Promote team effectiveness

add topic CHCAD401D Advocate for clients

add topic CHCADMIN403D Undertake administrative work

add topic CHCCD420A Work to empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

add topic CHCCHILD301A Support behaviour of children and young people

add topic CHCCS310A Support inclusive practice in the workplace

add topic CHCCS312A Use electronic learning materials

add topic CHCCS421A Undertake community sector work within own community

add topic CHCDFV301A Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence

add topic CHCFAM503B Work with a child focused approach

add topic CHCIC303A Work within a regulatory framework specific to children's services

add topic CHCLD315A Recognise stages of lifespan development

add topic CHCMH301B Work effectively in mental health

or

add topic CHCMH411A Work with people with mental health issues

add topic CHCORG303B Participate effectively in the work environment

add topic CHCORG428A Reflect on and improve own professional practice

add topic CHCPR302A Support sustainable practice

add topic CHCPR502E Organise experiences to facilitate and enhance children's development

add topic HLTFA302B Provide first aid in remote situation (Note pre-requisite: HLTFA301C )

add topic HLTFA402C Apply advanced first aid (Note pre-requisite: HLTFA301C )

add topic HLTFS207C Follow basic food safety practices

add topic HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

add topic HLTNA303C Plan and modify meals and menus according to nutrition care plans

add topic HLTNA304C Plan meals and menus to meet cultural and religious needs

add topic SRXRIK001A Undertake risk analysis of activities

Oral health

add topic CHCOHC303A Use basic oral health screening tools

add topic CHCOHC404A Recognise and respond to signs and symptoms that may indicate oral health issues


Pathways...

    Not Applicable


Entry Requirements

Not Applicable


Licensing Information

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

Refer to the Topic: Introduction to the Employability Skills Qualification Summaries