Key facts

UNE unit code: EDEC324

*You are viewing the 2024 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 1 - Online
  • Trimester 2 - Online
Campus
  • Armidale Campus
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • No
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

UNE student studies on a laptop on her lounge at home

Studying this unit, you will investigate everyday management roles within an organisational climate and workplace framework for early childhood settings.

You will explore leadership theories and practices and examine leaders' professional styles and personal characteristics in terms of ethical and legal principles. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to research and document meanings of being a leader in a changing world.

Based on observing and interviewing, you will create a professional profile of an early childhood leader.

This unit includes a five-day adult-oriented professional placement outside where you work or have previously worked.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 1Online
Trimester 2Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
candidature in BEd(EC-Prim) and 60cp of EDEC units; or candidature in BEd(ECTeach) 24cp of EDEC units including EDEC310; or candidature in BEd(PacFocus) and 24cp of EDEC units at 300-level.

Notes

This unit requires a 5 day adult-oriented placement in an ACECQA-approved early childhood education setting with a four year degree qualified supervising teacher. This setting must be outside the student’s own current or previous workplace and not in a sister centre, that is, the placement setting must have a different management body and also must be a different centre type –childcare or pre-school – from the student’s current place of employment.

Before entering the setting, all students must have completed online Anaphylaxis training, an online Child Protection module, and have obtained a valid Working with Children Check clearance (for those students wishing to complete their placement in NSW) or equivalent (for those students wishing to complete their placement outside NSW). Please see the Office for Professional Learning Important Information webpage for more information.

This unit addresses ACECQA's Curriculum requirements, referred to as Curriculum Specifications (CS).

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of Jo Bird
Jo BirdSenior Lecturer, Early Childhood Education - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Education
profile photo of Caroline Cohrssen
Caroline CohrssenProfessor, Early Childhood Education - School of Education

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. observe and critique the organisational structure of a children’s service, including the climate and key workplace processes (CS 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 4.2, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4);
  2. analyse an early childhood leader’s management roles and strategies for successful decision-making (CS 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4);
  3. critically document key meanings and principles of leadership within the early childhood field (CS 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 4.2, 6.1, 6.3, 6.5);
  4. examine everyday ethical and legal responsibilities relevant to being a leader and advocate for the early childhood education field (CS 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.2, 4.3, 5.3 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5);
  5. demonstrate professional responsibility and standards of communication and literacy (CS 6.3, 6.4); and
  6. negotiate workplace plans for implementation and reflection with the professional experience leader (CS 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 6.1, 6.2).

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Assessment 1Yes50%All offerings

Written tasks.

Relates to CS: 3.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5

No. Words: 2000 (equivalent)

Assessment 2Yes50%All offerings

Written assignment and online tasks.

Relates to CS: 3.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5

No. Words: 2000 (equivalent)

Professional ExperienceYes All offerings

Professional Experience. Students are required to complete 5 days of professional experience in an ACECQA-approved early childhood education centre and receive a satisfactory report from their supervisor(s) in order to successfully pass this unit. 

Relates to CS: 3.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Leadership: Contexts and Complexities in Early Childhood Education

ISBN: 9780190337087

Waniganayake, M., Cheeseman, S., Fenech, M., Hadley, F. and Shepherd, W., Oxford University Press 3rd ed. 2023

Text refers to: All offerings

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library — purchase is optional.

Leadership in Early Childhood: The Pathway to Professionalism

ISBN: 9781743310014

Rodd, J., Allen and Unwin 4th ed. 2013

Text refers to: All offerings

Leading and Managing Early Childhood Settings: Inspiring People, Places and Practices

ISBN: 9781107669185

McCrea, N., Cambridge University Press 1st ed. 2015

Text refers to: All offerings

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
Woman studying online at home

Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.

We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*

*The Good Universities Guide

Stay connected

Register your interest and we'll keep you updated

UNE collects personal information to help with your enquiry and for marketing. Information may be disclosed outside of NSW and Australia through third parties acting for UNE. By entering your details you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Notice and consent to this disclosure.

Why study with us?

Graduate and mother Claire Haiek at work as a parenting producer at kidspot.com.au

I'm grateful to UNE for the opportunities studying has given me, but above all, for making me realise I could actually do it, and giving me a sense of accomplishment.

Claire Haiek, graduate, Pathways Enabling Course (photo: kidspot.com.au)

What happens next?

laptop icon
1. Decide on your course

Got any questions about a course you would like to study? Don’t hesitate to contact us, our Future Student team is standing by to help.

pencil icon
2. Apply

2024 applications are now open. The application process only takes 20 minutes to complete. Don’t delay, apply now!

form icon
3. Receive an offer, enrol and start studying

Your start date is based on the study period you choose to apply for.