Free micro-credential program

A micro-credential is a certification of assessed learning or competency, with a minimum volume of learning of less than an AQF award qualification.

This micro-credential program is developed in Queensland Australia, by the Creche and Kindergarten Association (C&K). It is funded under the Micro-credentialing Program by the State of Queensland, represented by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training

This program is aimed to support the Queensland Government’s Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, Good People, Good Jobs, which focus on building a strong, diverse workforce ready for current and future opportunities. The aim of the micro-credentials in this program is to bridge the gap between current practice and current training.

This program is offered free of charge until 31 July 2026.

Online

• Advanced Pathway
• Foundation Pathway

Face-to-face (Foundation Pathway only)

• Toowoomba 17 June 2026
• Brisbane 19 June 2026
• Cairns 16 July 2026
• Rockhampton 24 July 2026
• Townsville 31 July 2026

The program is called “Leading for Quality and Compliance in Early Childhood Education and Care Settings”. It has two pathways:

• Advanced – for candidates who hold a diploma or higher
• Foundation – for all other candidates

Participants only enrol in one pathway

This pathway is offered to candidates who do not hold a Diploma qualification. It is suitable for candidates who do not yet hold, or are working towards, a Certificate III or Diploma qualification.

• Candidates enrol in one micro-credential
• Approximately 5 hours to complete (maximum)
• Level of study: AQF Level 3 (same level of challenge as a unit in a Certificate iii)
• This micro-credential has no minimum qualification requirement.
• Candidates complete five introductory modules that aim to strengthen quality and compliance in ECEC.
• This opportunity is open to all staff members e.g. casual staff members, administration, committee members, inclusion support roles, assistant educators.
• Includes learning content, self-marking quizzes, reflection activities.
• To be completed by 31/07/2026

Advanced Pathway – for candidates already holding a Diploma or higher qualification

• This is a ‘stacked’ micro-credential, which means it is awarded after a candidate has earned a badge for each of the 5 micro-credentials in the advanced pathway.
• Leading a Risk-aware culture in early childhood settings
• Leading a Child-safe culture in early childhood settings
• Leading to strengthen governance in early childhood settings
• Leading meaningful adult-child interactions in early childhood settings
• Leading for high-quality supervision and learning in early childhood settings
• The advanced pathway takes approximately 15 hours to complete (maximum)
• Level of study: AQF level 5 to 7 (same level of challenge as units from Diploma to Bachelor range)
• This opportunity is targeted at eligible lead educators, early childhood teachers, assistant directors, Directors or responsible person in charge.
• Prerequisite – Diploma or higher level.

To qualify for a funded position candidates must enroll before 31 July 2026 and meet the following criteria:

• aged 15 years or over;
• Permanent resident of Queensland;
• Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold an eligible visa as identified by the Department at https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/providers/inclusive/visa-eligibility

The following individuals are NOT eligible for a funded position:

• Secondary school students;
• Employees of government departments and government agencies, not including local councils, unless approved by the Department prior to commencement;
• Apprentices and Trainees as defined in the Further Education and Training Act 2014

Anyone is eligible to apply for a full-fee position, as long as they meet the prerequisite requirement for the pathway they select

On completion of a micro-credential, candidates are issued:

• Achievement Certificate from C&K College (RTO5025)
• Digital Badge, verifiable through Credly (a division of Pearson Publishing, that issues digital badges worldwide). Digital badges are shareable on social networks such as LinkedIn.

Candidates who complete all 5 advanced micro-credentials are issued with:

• Achievement Certificate from C&K College (RTO5025) recognizing the stacked qualification
• An additional digital Badge recognising the stacked qualification, verifiable through Credly and shareable on social networks such as LinkedIn.

Standard Australian English (SAE)

Yes. All of our micro-credential courses have assessment tasks that are completed as candidates progress through modules.

Assessment tasks are reviewed by qualified experts.

All assessment tasks must be completed and deemed competent by the assessor.

Assessment tasks include:

• Quizzes (auto-marking).
• Personal reflection (self-assessed)
• Capstone assessment (marked by an assessor) – only for advanced pathway.

This package was developed in consultation with, and endorsed by:

C&K (The Creche and Kindergarten Association), Catholic Education Queensland, G8 Education, Good Start Early Learning, Lady Gowrie QLD, Independent Schools Queensland, and Lutheran Education Queensland. It is proudly sponsored by the State of Queensland, represented by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training.

Leading a Risk-Aware Culture
Learning Outcomes:

• Investigate and explore the legislation, the NQF and NQS, regulations, and principles about assessing and managing risk in early childhood education and care settings
• Reflect on your own leadership and develop strategies that support you to lead a Risk-Aware Culture, including strategies for leading ‘risk-based conversations’ (Advanced Pathway)
• Use leadership principles to promote ‘risk-based conversation’ at work and reflect on the outcome. (Advanced Pathway)

Leading a Child Safe Culture
Learning Outcomes:

• Develop a clear understanding of the Child Safe Organisation Act 2024 and its implications for the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in Queensland.
• Examine and interpret the key legislation, standards, regulations and principles that underpin child safe organisations.
• Analyse and evaluate effective strategies for leading cultural change towards a stronger child safe environment (Advanced Pathway)
• Demonstrate leadership capabilities in supporting your team to uphold and improve child safety standards across the organisation. (Advanced Pathway)

Leading for Meaningful Adult-Child Interactions in ECEC Settings

• Examine and interpret the theories that underpin the adult-child interaction.
• Develop a culture where adults know that every moment matters and that every interaction matters.
• Build and model emotional connections to ensure safe environments for children within contemporary contexts. (Advanced Pathway)

Leading to Strengthen Governance in ECEC Settings
Learning Outcomes:

• Investigate and explore NQS, NQF, QIP, regulations, policies and procedure that support the implementation of audit and accountability as everyday practices
• Reflect on leadership theories and ideas about embedding a culture of regulatory compliance in everyday practice · Analyse and evaluate practices that promote compliance excellence.
• Use leadership principles to build a culture of regulatory compliance and innovation. (Advanced Pathway)

Leading for High Quality Supervision and Learning in ECEC Settings

• Reflect on theories and ideas to identify what it means to support high-quality supervision and learning within a leadership framework
• Analyse and reflect on strategies for leading safe and supportive learning environments for young children
• Identify and analyse strategies and current practices that support high quality supervision and learning for young children and evaluate their effectiveness in leading a culture that provides safe and effective learning environments.
• Use leadership principles to design a process or resource that support your team to promote safe and effective learning environments for young children. (Advanced Pathway)