Program Overview

Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary)

The Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary) is a postgraduate qualification designed for individuals with an existing degree in another field who aspire to become primary school teachers. This course equips students to teach with provisional registration in Western Australian primary schools after one year of full-time study.

Course Overview

• The course code for the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary) is C91.
• It is accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma Award.
• The program includes curriculum units in Literacy, Mathematics, Science, the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, as well as units in classroom management.
• A key feature of this course is 55 days of professional experience, allowing students to connect theory and practice in real teaching environments.

Entry Requirements

• ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
• Academic admission requirements include completing at least one year of full-time equivalent study relevant to one or more learning areas of the primary school curriculum.
• Entrants must have a discipline-specific bachelor or equivalent qualification relevant to the Australian Curriculum.
• Professional experience cannot be accepted as an alternative to completion of the bachelor degree.

Fees

• The estimated 1st year indicative fee for Commonwealth-supported students is AUD $4,750.
• Fees are adjusted annually, and students pay for individual units, not an overall course fee.

Duration and Availability

• The course is available full-time or part-time equivalent.
• It can be completed in 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.
• The course is available at the Joondalup and Online campuses, with specific semester availability.

Course Structure

• The course includes units such as:
  • EDU6015: Learners and Learning
  • LAN6260: Foundations of Literacy Learning
  • AED6205: Teaching the Arts
  • MPE6115: Primary Mathematics Education
  • WPL6115: First Professional Practice
• For detailed unit information, refer to the ECU Handbook.

Practicum Requirement

• Students must complete 55 days of professional experience through two units: WPL6115 (25 days) and WPL6215 (30 days).
• Attendance requirements and clearances (such as a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and a Working with Children Check) are mandatory for professional experience.

Career Opportunities

• This course provides an employment pathway nested within ECUs nationally accredited Master of Teaching (Primary) course.
• Graduates will meet the qualification requirements for Provisional Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA).

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Reflect critically on an advanced body of education knowledge, research principles, and methods in primary teaching.
2. Apply cognitive, technical, and creative skills to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize teaching theory and practice in authentic situations.
3. Apply communication and collaboration skills to design curriculum, learning, and assessment activities in primary education.

Registration

• Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA).
• Registration with the TRBWA is required to practice in the profession.
• Completion of this qualification does not automatically confer eligibility for teacher registration in other Australian states or territories.