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Professional Certificate: Early Child Development & Contemporary Childhoods

As understandings of childhood continue to evolve, there is a growing need to critically examine how children develop, learn, and experience the world around them. This program explores children’s development from birth to 12 years, alongside contemporary perspectives on childhood shaped by culture, identity, place, and social change.

Blending developmental theory with real-world observation and analysis, the program responds to the increasing demand for knowledgeable, reflective practitioners and future educators who can support children and families in diverse, complex, and changing contexts.

This microcredential was developed with the support of the Australian Government's Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education.  

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DURATION
300 hours across 15 weeks
(approximately 20 hours
per week)

START DATE
2 March

END DATE
14 June

Crayons in daycare.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission into the Professional Certificate: Early Child Development & Contemporary Childhoods you must be 17 years of age or over; or have completed year 12 or equivalent studies.  
 
This intake is open to domestic enrolments only, and is not currently open to international students. 

Program structure

  • Module 1: Foundations of Child Development 
  • Module 2: Child Development from Diverse Theoretical Perspectives 
  • Module 3: Understanding the Social World 
  • Module 4: The Child in your Classroom 

Live sessions

Below is a list of optional live webinars that provide general course support and Q&A. Dates are indicative and may be subject to change, with access provided to enrolled students through the OpenLearning platform.

  • Webinar 1: w/c 2 March
  • Webinar 2: w/c 23 March
  • Webinar 3: w/c 4 May
  • Webinar 4: w/c 25 May

Who this course is designed for

This microcredential is ideal for learners interested in understanding children’s development and lived experiences in diverse social, cultural, and educational contexts. It is well suited to those considering a career in early childhood education, teaching, or child-focused professions, as well as practitioners seeking to deepen their theoretical and practical understanding of childhood.

Credit pathways

Successful completion of this microcredential may be recognised for 20 credit points towards the Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Early Childhood/Primary) or the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) programs.

To be eligible to apply for credit, students must meet the relevant program admission requirements.

Fees and delivery

Fees

This program is free due to in-demand skills and industry needs, backed by government grants.  

Delivery

This program is delivered online through the OpenLearning platform.

Why choose microcredentials at Western?

Choose Western's microcredentials for their versatility, innovation, industry collaboration, online accessibility, flexible scheduling, relevance to professional development, renowned academic design, and potential credit contribution to qualifications.

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