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Government-Funded Childcare Courses From $255.
Not $2,500Not $5,000
$255.
Looking for a childcare course? You're in the right place. Sage delivers Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care online for eligible Queensland residents — with weekly live classes, real trainers, 100% placement guaranteed, and a 14-day free trial before you commit a single dollar.
- 14-day free course trial — every class, every assessment, every resource. Owe nothing until day 15.
- Start any week — no waiting for the next intake
- 100% online with weekly live classes and real trainers
- Vocational placement 100% guaranteed
- Most students finish Cert III in 6–9 months, Diploma in under 6 months
Takes 60 seconds. We'll call within 1 business day. Or call us now: 1300 33 83 83
Check Your Eligibility
Find out which childcare course suits you, whether you qualify for QLD Government funding, and unlock your 14-day free trial. We'll call within 1 business day.
🔒 No spam. No hard sell. Just a friendly conversation with a real person.
Here's The Truth.
You typed "free childcare courses," "government funded childcare courses," or "childcare course online free" into Google. So did thousands of other Queenslanders this month.
Here's what no one tells you: childcare courses aren't free for everyone — but they're closer to free than most people realise.
If you live in Queensland and meet a few simple criteria, the Queensland Government will pay the bulk of your tuition through one of two programs:
Career Start — Cert III
Funds Certificate III for people new to the sector. Eligible concessional students pay $15 per unit ($255 total).
Career Boost — Diploma
Funds Diploma for people already working in childcare. Eligible concessional students pay $15 per unit ($225 total).
The question isn't "is it free?" The question is "which course is right for me, and am I eligible?" — and our team can answer both in 60 seconds.
Which Childcare Course Is Right For You?
Both qualifications are delivered online with weekly live classes, real trainers, 100% placement support, and a 14-day free trial. The difference is where you start.
Start Your Childcare Career
The starting qualification for people who want to begin working in childcare or early childhood education. This is where most people start.
Under Career Start funding for eligible QLD residents. Most Queenslanders qualify.
This is right for you if:
- You're new to the sector
- You're returning to work after raising kids
- You're changing careers from another industry
- You want your first formal qualification
Step Up To Leadership
The next-level qualification for educators already working in childcare who want to move into Room Leader, Educational Leader, or Centre Director pathways.
Under Career Boost funding for educators already working in the sector. Requires Cert III + current employment.
This is right for you if:
- You already hold Cert III in Early Childhood
- You're currently employed in childcare
- You want to lead, not just educate
- You're ready for higher-level responsibility
Not sure which one fits? Submit your details and our recruitment officers will walk you through the right pathway in a 5-minute call. No pressure, no upselling — just honest advice.
Help Me ChooseCheck Your Eligibility Now
Tell us a little about your situation. We'll call within 1 business day to confirm which course suits you, check your funding rate, and unlock your 14-day free trial.
🔒 No spam. No hard sell. Just a friendly conversation with a real person.
Try Every Class. Every Assessment. Every Trainer. For 14 Days. Owe Nothing.
Choosing a course is a big decision — especially if you've been out of study for a while, or you're not sure online learning is right for you. So before you commit a single dollar, you can try the entire course free for 14 full days.
Full learning portal access
Every unit, every assessment, every resource — unrestricted from day one.
Up to 10 live classes
Attend real sessions with your trainer and classmates. Ask questions in real time.
Meet your trainer face-to-face
See who you'll be studying with before paying anything.
Try the assessments
See what the work actually looks like — not a sample, the real thing.
Student support team
Full access to support from day one — same as a fully enrolled student.
If you decide to leave:
Walk away. Owe nothing. Even if your invoice has already been sent — you don't pay until the trial is over.
If you decide to stay:
Enrolment is confirmed on payment after day 14. Your study journey continues without interruption — no gap, no re-application.
Most students who start the trial complete the course. Which is exactly why we offer it.
Whether You're Starting Or Stepping Up — Children Need Good Educators.
Queensland's early childhood sector is short of qualified educators. Not just bodies in rooms — qualified, properly trained early childhood educators who can support children's learning, safety, and development during the years that matter most.
That's why the Queensland Government is funding two programs to get more people qualified: Career Start for people new to the sector, and Career Boost for educators ready to step up to leadership.
Both are heavily subsidised. Both are nationally recognised. Both are delivered by Sage online with weekly live classes, real trainers, and the 14-day trial.
The only question is which one fits your situation.
You've already been good with kids. The qualification is what lets you make it your career.
Or nine months from now, you can still be exactly where you are.
What You'll Actually Pay
For eligible Queensland residents through Skills Assure funding. Here's what each pathway costs.
Certificate III (CHC30121)
Career Start funding
Diploma (CHC50121)
Career Boost funding
The Queensland Government subsidises both qualifications because the sector needs more qualified educators. Funding is subject to individual eligibility — our team confirms exactly what you're entitled to before you enrol.
Most Queenslanders Do — They Just Don't Realise It
For Career Start (Cert III)
Career Start- Be 15+ and living in Queensland
- Be an Australian/NZ citizen or permanent resident
- Have finished school (or stopped attending)
- Not already hold a Cert III or higher in early childhood
- Not completed a nationally recognised qualification in the last 10 years
For Career Boost (Diploma)
Career Boost- Be 15+ and living in Queensland
- Be an Australian/NZ citizen or permanent resident
- Hold CHC30121 or CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood
- Be currently employed in early childhood education and care
- Not already hold a Diploma or higher in early childhood
- Not completed a nationally recognised qualification in the last 10 years
⚡ The 10-year rule works in your favour.
Completed a qualification more than 10 years ago? You're still eligible. The 10-year rule only counts qualifications completed within the last decade — so older qualifications don't disqualify you.
Don't rule yourself out. The most common reason people miss out on funding is assuming they won't qualify and never asking. One quick chat confirms exactly what you're entitled to — and which course is right for you.
What's Included When You Study With Sage
Start Any Week
No fixed intake dates. Enrol Monday, start studying Tuesday. Your schedule, your terms.
Weekly Live Classes
Real trainers, not recorded videos. Day and evening options. Ask questions in real time from someone who actually works in the sector.
One-on-One Assessment Support
Book a one-on-one anytime. Walk through requirements, plan your answers, get your work reviewed before you submit.
No one fails because they didn't get help.Unlimited Trainer Support
Stuck? Message your trainer. Get help. Move forward. You are not expected to figure this out alone.
100% Placement Guaranteed
160 hours for Cert III, 280 hours for Diploma. We contact employers and arrange it.
See the placement section for what we expect from you in return.14-Day Trial — Owe Nothing
Full LMS access, live classes, meet your trainer. Not for you? Walk away — you owe nothing until day 15.
Placement Is Guaranteed — But You Need To Show Up.
We're upfront about this because we want you to succeed. Both qualifications require vocational placement in a real childcare service. Sage arranges your placement — we contact services in your area and secure it on your behalf. Many Diploma students complete placement at their current workplace where suitable.
But placement isn't optional, and it isn't something you can do "at the end." Your theory progress is directly tied to your placement progress.
- Weeks 4–6Complete your First Aid certificate (HLTAID012) externally before placement begins.
- By Week 6Start your vocational placement. We arrange the provider — your job is to show up ready.
- By Week 8Hard limit. If you haven't started placement by week 8, your enrolment is at risk of withdrawal until you're ready.
If this sounds like a lot — talk to us first. Our recruitment officers can walk you through exactly what's expected and help you plan around your situation before you commit.
First Aid (HLTAID012) — Quick & Important
Both qualifications require HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting — but Sage doesn't deliver this unit ourselves.
You'll complete first aid externally with an approved provider. Typically one day, $100–$150, and must be completed before your vocational placement — within the first 4–6 weeks of your course.
Already working in childcare? There's a good chance you already hold a current HLTAID012 certificate. Submit your Statement of Attainment and you're set — no further action needed.
If you don't have one, we'll provide a list of recognised providers when you enrol and explain the process during your eligibility call.
10,000 Graduates. 27 Years. The Childcare Pathway That Works.
Sage has been training Queenslanders since 1998. Early school leavers. Parents returning to work. Career changers in their 40s and 50s. Working educators stepping up to Diploma. People who'd never finished a qualification before in their lives.
We've watched 10,000 of them walk out the door with a certificate or Diploma, into a job they actually wanted. Where Sage graduates work:
Cert III graduates
- Early childhood educators
- Family day care educators
- OSHC educators
- Assistant educators
Diploma graduates
- Room Leaders
- Lead Educators
- Educational Leaders
- Centre Directors & Managers
Employment and promotion outcomes are not guaranteed and depend on your location, experience, and the job market.
Join 10,000+ Sage GraduatesYou've Always Been Good With Kids. Now Make It A Career.
Maybe you raised your own kids and miss the chaos.
Maybe you've been the one your friends drop their toddlers off with — because their toddlers actually listen to you.
Maybe you're in a job that pays the bills but means nothing — and you've watched the educators at your kid's daycare and thought "I could do that. I'd be good at that."
You're right. You would be.
The only thing between you and that career is a Certificate III — the qualification every childcare centre in Queensland asks for. And right now, the Queensland Government's Career Start funding will pay almost all of it.
Nine months from now, you can be working with kids, earning a real income, and finishing each day knowing you made a difference.
Or nine months from now, you can still be exactly where you are.
Four Steps. Clear Timeline. No Surprises.
Check Your Eligibility
Submit your details. We'll call within 1 business day to figure out which course is right for you (Cert III or Diploma), confirm funding eligibility, walk through the course, and answer every question. Free, no obligation.
Start Your 14-Day Free Trial
Complete application, submit ID, agree to terms. Full LMS access and live classes. Meet your trainer. Try the assessments. Decide if Sage is right for you — no payment until day 15.
Classes, First Aid & Placement
Attend weekly live classes. Complete your first aid certificate externally. Start your vocational placement by week 6. This is the most important phase — show up and the rest gets easier.
Study, Complete & Graduate
Cert III in 6–9 months. Diploma in under 6 months for committed students. Up to 12 months allowed for both. Complete your placement hours and graduate with a nationally recognised qualification.
This Is For Queenslanders Who Can Tick Any Of These:
What's Inside Each Qualification
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
- Supporting children's learning, play, and development
- Providing safe, nurturing care for babies and toddlers
- Working legally, ethically, and safely
- Applying the Early Years Learning Framework
- Supporting inclusion and diversity
- 160 hours of vocational placement
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
- Designing and implementing curriculum
- Leading and managing a team of educators
- Facilitating compliance in a service
- Planning service and family supports
- Promoting diversity across the service
- 280 hours of vocational placement
Real Stories From Sage Graduates
4.9 stars from 623 verified Google reviews — and growing.
The Questions Most People Ask
Are childcare courses really free?
Which course should I start with?
Will I qualify for funding?
How long do the courses take?
Can I really study this online?
What's the 14-day trial?
What about placement?
Do I need to do First Aid?
What if I'm not confident with assessments?
What if I start and it's not for me?
I haven't studied in years. Can I do this?
How do I get started?
Find Out In 60 Seconds Which Childcare Course Is Right For You — And Whether You Qualify For Funding.
One call. No pressure. We'll figure out whether Cert III or Diploma fits your situation, check your funding eligibility, confirm your fees, explain placement, walk you through the 14-day trial, and answer every question. If it's right for you, you can be in class this week.
Check My Funding Eligibility
Find out which course suits you and confirm your funding rate. We'll call within 1 business day.
CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care are delivered as Skills Assure subsidised qualifications under the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training. Cert III is funded through Career Start; Diploma is funded through Career Boost. Funding is subject to individual eligibility under each program. Cert III fees: Concessional $15/unit ($255 total, 17 units). Non-concessional $20/unit ($340 total). Fee-for-service $200/unit ($3,400 total) with instalment plan. Diploma fees: Concessional $15/unit ($225 total, 15 units). Non-concessional $20/unit ($300 total). Fee-for-service $250/unit ($3,750 total) with instalment plan. Diploma entry requires CHC30121 or CHC30113 Cert III; Career Boost additionally requires current employment in early childhood education and care. Credit transfer reduces total cost. Vocational placement required (160 hours Cert III, 280 hours Diploma); placement must begin by week 6. HLTAID012 required but not delivered by Sage; completed externally at separate cost. 14-day trial available to all students; enrolment finalised on payment after day 14. Employment and promotion outcomes not guaranteed.