Bachelor
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) is a unique teacher education course that offers two career options for graduates. It is an initial-teacher education qualification that encompasses working with children from birth to age 12 in both Early Childhood settings and Primary Schools.
Being a teacher is a rewarding career for those who enjoy being part of children's growth and learning. The professional understandings and abilities learned in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) will be valued by the broader community. Students will have opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and attitudes for being a successful early childhood and primary school teacher and become a member of one of the largest professions worldwide.
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) is a fully prescribed (all core units) course in which students study both early childhood teacher education and primary teacher education. All students complete a Primary Specialisation in Literacy across Transition Years. Graduates develop a range of skills and values that prepare them for a variety of employment opportunities in either field of the education profession.
This course is accredited with the following bodies:
(1) NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) - the Jurisdictional teacher regulatory authority responsible for ensuring compliance and accreditation in conjunction with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL); and
(2) Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) - the national regulatory authority for the early childhood education and care sector.
IMPORTANT ADVICE
The NSW Government raised admission requirements for undergraduate teaching courses in 2016. The new requirements are considerably higher than before and specify a minimum of three Band 5 HSC results, including one in English.
UNE offers pathways to teaching for those applicants who do not meet the new admission requirements:
* pass approved bridging units benchmarked to a Band 5 HSC result; or* enrol in an accredited degree and pass a full year of academic studies in the subjects you will teach; or* complete a NESA-approved alternative entry pathway. In the case of UNE, this alternative entry pathway is a TAFE Diploma.
Further information is available via the NESA Teacher Accreditation website.
You may complete an appropriate number/combination of NESA-approved bridging units or the first year of your undergraduate studies in a non-teacher education course such as the Bachelor of Educational Studies. You may then apply to transfer, with Advanced Standing (credit), to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary).
A candidate shall be qualified for admission (see Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Rule and Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Procedures); and
(a) have a minimum of three Band 5 and/or E3 HSC results including English; or
(b) have completed at least a year (48 credit points) of discipline studies (non-Education units) in a higher education qualification; or
(c) have completed a NESA-approved alternative entry pathway; or
(d) (i) hold an AQF Level 5 Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent, approved by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA); and
(d) (ii) after completion of the above Diploma, have completed early childhood workplace experience comprising one year full-time (or equivalent) room leader experience or two years full-time (or equivalent) experience as a family day care accredited provider or an early childhood teacher assistant/aide or an accredited before and after school carer. Applicants should provide a Statement of Service from the early childhood provider on centre/business letterhead signed by their supervisor specifying their work experience obtained after completion of the Diploma. ACECQA accredits all early childhood providers and has a list of accredited providers on their website; or
(e) hold a three-year AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in Early Childhood recognised by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) with a conferral date of not more than 10 years prior to the proposed commencement in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary); or
(f) hold a four-year AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in Primary Education, or AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree and an AQF Level 9 two year pre-service primary teaching qualification, recognised by the NSW Education Standard Authority (NESA) or interstate equivalent body, with a conferral date of not more than 10 years prior to the proposed commencement in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary); and
Candidates admitted under rules (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) must also satisfy the School of their suitability for teaching through the satisfactory completion of the Personal Statement for Initial Teacher Education Course Entry.
A candidate shall comply with the University's English Language Requirements for Courses in Education Accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority.
Assumed knowledge: any two units of English, and any two units of mathematics.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
Primary Teaching; Early Childhood Teacher or Education related career choices e.g.: Director of children's service; Coordinator of family day care scheme; Teacher-director of a preschool; Children's services TAFE teacher or VET trainer; Early childhood consultant for non-profit organisations; Assistant Director of child and family services; or Early childhood specialist for family-oriented organisations.
From 2019 onwards, the Department of Education advises that an application for approval to teach will include consideration of a preferred minimum credit average (or equivalent) by the conclusion of the applicant's Program of Study.