Key facts
UNE unit code: EDEC378
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 2 - Online
- Yes
- No
- No
- 6
Unit information
In this unit, you will reflect on and apply your previously gained understanding of early childhood leadership and management.
You will explore leadership theories in more detail and gain deeper understanding of how leadership is enacted in early childhood education and care services. You will engage with applicable legal and policy considerations in Australia.
You will have the opportunity to advocate for a change during a placement in an early childhood service. With your consolidated knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of early childhood teachers and your own leadership styles, you will develop a career plan to prepare yourself to be a leader in the early childhood sector.
This unit includes 10 days of professional placement in an ACECQA-approved centre-based early childhood education setting.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 2 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
This unit requires 10 day placement in an ACECQA approved centre-based early childhood education setting with a four year degree qualified supervising teacher and children aged birth to 5 years. 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).
Students must also comply with current placement centre vaccination rules.
Please see the Office for Professional Learning Important Information webpage for more information.
This module/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)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- apply Early Childhood leadership theories to early childhood and care contexts (CS: 5.3, 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5);
- articulate and analyse the importance of Early Childhood leadership, including pedagogical leadership, when working with children, families, other early childhood and care services and the wider community (CS: 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5);
- engage with the regulatory and policy context within which early childhood and care services operate (CS: 5.3, 6.2, 6.3, 6.5); and
- apply reflective skills to one’s own leadership and develop a Early Childhood leadership career plan (CS: 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5).
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.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Yes | 50% | All offerings | Analyse the work of a leader in the early childhood sector. Relates to CS: 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 No. Words: 2000 |
| Assessment 2 | Yes | 50% | All offerings | Write a proposal to lead a change, or to advocate for children and families regarding a particular issue. Relates to CS: 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 No. Words: 2000 |
| Professional Experience - Assurance Task | Yes | All offerings | Professional Experience. This unit requires a 10 day placement in an ACECQA approved centre-based early childhood education setting with a four year degree qualified supervising teacher and children aged birth to 5 years.
Students must receive a satisfactory report from their supervisor(s) in order to successfully pass this unit. Relates to CS: 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., Frenech, M., Hadley, F., & Shepherd, W., Oxford University Press 3rd ed. 2023
Text refers to: All offerings
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