Dedicated to Early Childhood Care Education.

Dive: Professional - Dedicated
Description: Dedicated to a profession
Level: Level 1
Level Requirements: Has earned at least $10,000 per year for 3 years in one field
Certified On: Jul 6, 2025

Editor’s Note: On all dive certifications, we try to edit the writing as little as possible to preserve authenticity, personality, and writing style. We typically fix spelling errors, but minimally modify grammar and sentence structure (just enough to ensure readability).

Name: Russell Grant Break Diving Level: Level 1 Number of Certified Dives: 5 From: New Zealand In: Australia

1. When and Why Did You Decide to Pursue This Dive At This Level? What was your inspiration and motivation?

I have been working in Early Childhood Care since November 2018. I have tried to finish the Certificate 3 with two other training organisations. However both of the training organisations went belly up before I could complete the qualification. Last year,
in October 2024, I decided to complete the Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Care to fulfill the basic requirement for working as an Early CHildhood Care Educator. I have had alot experience working in Early Childhood Care. I had been working in the industry but had attained the basic entry level qualification. I wanted to be legal and qualified with the theory knowledge to back up my practical experience. The next step is to enroll for the Diploma course. I am looking forward to gaining more in depth knowledge about childcare.

2. How Long Did It Take For You To Accomplish This Dive At This Level From The Day You Decided To Pursue It, And Why Did It Take That Long?

I have been working in Early Childhood Care since November, 2018. I have studied at different training organisations that have gone belly up before I could complete the course. I have decided to finally complete the Certificate 3 dive.
The Certificate 3 component. took me around four months to complete all of the assessments and to get the 180 hours I needed to qualify for the standard requirements of in-person classroom practice. The dive took me that long as there were 17 papers to complete and to make sure that they were all up to standard. The course was on the weekend, so I could work during week and study on the weekend. This suited me much better than taking off a work day to study or attend class, so that I could get my hours up.

3. What Was The Hardest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

The hardest part about this dive was keeping track of all of the first person information about the children, parents, and other stakeholders. It was hard to remember all of the particulars and specifics of all of the involved incidents. To this end, I used a pocket notebook and a four colour pen to help me to take notes as they happened. The process also helped me to give much better feedback to the parents or stakeholders about hwat happened in the child’s day with much more accuracy.

Another hardest part of the dive was helping to settle the child after they had been dropped off by the parents before they went to work. I developed some original routines that helped me to build a rapport with the child and help them settle much faster.

4. What Was The Easiest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

The easiest part of this dive was building the rapport with the children and taking notice of a childs individual personality, interests, likes and dislikes. This was made easy due to me using a notebook to keep up to date with the constant rush of things that were happens during a busy day with over twenty to thirty children in a classroom. Once I finished the day the notebook also made it alot easier to get used to the classrooms flexible learning schedule. The schedule ran from 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m..

5. What Is Your Advice For Someone Who Is Pursuing This Dive And Level?

My advice is for you to get a hardcover notebook with a four colour pen to help you to differentiate between different kinds of notes, children, and information. It can also help you be able to make it easier for you to search and retrieve data easily. This is especially important when you as an educator get asked about an incident that happened at a specific time , maybe three or four months prior. Being in possession of those book at home or in a locker can help you to answer sensitive questions that management will want specific answers to.

6. What Are Some Of The Best Resources You Recommend to Those Pursuing This Dive At This Level, And Why Do You Recommend Them? Please Include Relevant Weblinks, If Applicable.

If you are taking the Certicate 3 in Early Childhood Care in Queensland, Australia, buy yourself an A3 laminator from Kmart, and stock up on A3 and A4 laminating sheets. Also get yourself an A3 printer that you can print of perosnalised assignments, or print off specific and perosnalised class resources. All of these purchases can be written off as a tax deductible work related expense. Go online and print off a list of all of the tax deductible expenses working as an Early Childhood Educator. This can help you to save alot more money over the long run. Make a complete printed hardcopy of all of your centers policies and procedures and laminate them all twice to make them indestructible. The sooner you are familiar with most of the formal stuff, the sooner you can feel confident in doing your work duties and actually enjoy your job and the time with the kids.

Resource 1: Early Young Learner Framework - This is the framework that defines how the children are taught by the Educators.

Resource 2: Online Courses offered by Registered Training Organisations - Online Courses offered by Registered Training Organisations

Resource 3: -

Resource 4: -

Resource 5: -

7. Tell Us A Story Of One Of Your Adventures While Pursuing This Dive (At This Level).

While working in Early CHildhood Care, I got to see the children grow up, go through their Developmental Milestones, develop and grow in their interests and personalities. I got to form some great and meaningful relationships with not only the children but also the children's stakeholders. This helped me develop more comprehensive and personalised learning plans specifically for each child. It helped me to target and plan well in advance for what is specific to each child and their developing interests.

This showed me a whole different side to Early Childhood Care and how co-operation between families and their childhood center educators. Obviously, I cannot mention the children specifically, but that is the specific takeaway.

8. What Evidence Did You Submit to Prove You Met the Requirements for This Dive and Level?

I have provided a photo of the Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Care that was issued to me by my training organisation.

9. Will You Be Pursuing The Next Level For This Dive? If Yes, Why? If Not, Why Not?

Yes, I will pursue the Diploma in Early Childhood Care as the next stage in the academic development. The diploma will open up further opportunities for future development to become a team leader or class leader. It can also lead to other opportunities that to make professional development opportunities development.

10. What is the Break Diver's Creed?

No rules. No excuses. No regrets.

Certificate photo:

And having made this post, and provided adequate evidence to the dive committee, Russell Grant is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Professional - Dedicated - Level 1. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 640

The author above wrote this WYSEguidance post as one of the certification requirements to become certified by Break Diving, Inc. for a dive completed. Would you also like to find greater success, happiness, and friendship, and make genuine supportive connections with others around the world pursuing your same dreams? Come join us at Break Diving and soon your story will be the next one you read about on this site!

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