AMI Montessori 3-6 Diploma

Upcoming Courses

Perth – August 2025 – October 2026 in blocks

Melbourne – Anticipated to commence early 2026 (Friday/Saturday format principally in term time)

Sydney – Anticipated to comence in early 2026 (Friday/Saturday format principally in term time)

Course Description

The AMI Montessori 3-6 Diploma is an in-depth study of Montessori pedagogy focusing on the developmental needs of children from three to six years of age.

Award

AMI Montessori 3-6 Diploma*

Directors of Training

  • Amy Kirkham
  • Kay Urquhart

Course Delivery Mode

Blended Part-time

This is a mixture of “live” online and in-person sessions across the course. Other requirements include:

  • 400 hours of classroom based training
  • 140 hours of supervised practice with Montessori materials
  • 170 hours of Observation and Practice Teaching

Course Schedule

2025: Perth – Blended part time ( August 2025 – October 2026)
Trainer – Kay Urquhart

The course is proposed to commence online on Tuesday 12 August 2025, with 2 online sessions a week in the first online block.

The first in-person block is proposed to commence on 29 September 2025-Friday 24 October 2025 for 4 weeks in-person from 9am to 4.30pm. Various other blocks will follow, mainly centred around WA (Perth) school holidays with the final block being in October 2026.

This course is currently proposed as it awaits AMI approval. We look forward to sharing all details of the schedule in coming weeks.

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Training Locations

  • Melbourne: Kalker Montessori Centre, 1-3 Estelle St, Bulleen, VIC 3105, Australia
  • Perth: Rockingham Montessori School, 7 Attwood Way, Rockingham, WA 6168, Australia
  • Sydney: Southside Montessori School, 35 Lillian Rd, Riverwood NSW 2210, Australia
  • Brisbane: Brisbane Montessori School Australia, 12 Mactier Street, Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland 4069, Australia

Course Fees

See our course fees page which includes discounts and payment plan information: Fees

Application requirements

AMI Montessori Diploma course applicants are required to provide the following with their application:

  • Current resume
  • Certified copies of all academic transcripts
  • A short 2 page statement written in the applicant’s own words on why you would like to undertake the AMI 3-6 Diploma and what brought you to Montessori
  • 3 written signed reference letters (1personal, 2 professional). A personal reference written by a family member will not be accepted.
  • If English is your second language, a minimum IELTS (or equivalent of 6 is required to undertake an AMI Diploma with some exceptions for previous University level study in English to be determined on a case-by-case basis
  • Visa documentation for non-residents or a reasonable plan for obtaining a visa
  • It is an AMI requirement that all AMI Diploma students hold current membership with them for the duration of their course. AMI membership costs 30 Euro for a 12 month period. SMTC may collect membership fees on AMI’s behalf if the student does not already have an AMI Membership.
  • The online sessions of this course are live online lectures. They must be attended via Zoom when they are scheduled, to meet AMI’s 90% minimum attendance requirement. 

How To Apply

APPLY NOW

Course outline and completion requirements

*Qualification Authorising Body

The Diploma is awarded by the Association Montessori Internationale and does not form part of the Australian Qualifications Framework.

AMI is considered as the worldwide leader in Montessori education. Its certified training is acknowledged for its rigour and authenticity and the Diploma is internationally recognised. All Association Montessori Internationale Diplomas state the holder has “Studied the principles and practice of the Montessori method for children from 3-6 years of age” and has “passed the written and oral examinations”.

The Diploma does not automatically qualify the holder to teach. The State or Country in which the Diploma-holder wishes to work may have other teaching requirements that must be fulfilled.

Required readings

The following texts can be purchased from Montessori Materials Australia as well as other suppliers:

By Dr Maria Montessori

  • The Absorbent Mind
  • The Secret of Childhood
  • The Discovery of the Child
  • The Formation of Man
  • The Advanced Montessori Method Vol 1
  • Education and Peace
  • Maria Montessori’s 1946 London Lectures
  • Citizen of the World: Key Montessori Readings

By Mario M. Montessori, Sr: 

• The Human Tendencies and Montessori Education (AMI Pamphlet)

Recommended Reading

By Dr Maria Montessori

  • The Child in the Family
  • Education for a New World
  • To Educate the Human Potential
  • From Childhood to Adolescence
  • Creative Development in the Child Vol 1
  • Creative Development in the Child Vol 2
  • Psychogeometry
  • Psychoarithmetica
  • The Child, Society and the World
  • What You Should Know About Your Child
  • The Montessori Approach to Music (Sarah Werner Andrews, ed.)

By Dr Silvana Montanaro Quattrocchi

  • Understanding the Human Being

By E.M. Standing

  • Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work

Courses currently underway

2024: Sydney – Blended part time (January 2024 – July 2025)
Trainer – Kay Urquhart

Sydney Class Schedule (January 2024 – July 2025)

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2024: Melbourne – Blended part-time (28 February 2024 – 30 March 2025)
Trainer – Amy Kirkham

Melbourne Class Schedule February 2024 – March 2025


2024: Brisbane – Blended part time (February 2024 – October 2025)
Trainer – Amy Kirkham
Brisbane Class Schedule (February 2024 – October 2025)
DATEDAYtime
2024
BLOCK 1ONLINE
28 February – 27 March 2024Wednesdays6–9pm (AEST)
Saturdays6–9pm (AEST)
BLOCK 1 – IN-PERSON
2 – 6 April 2024Tuesday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm
8 – 12 April 2024Monday – Friday9am – 4:30pm
15 – 20 April 2024Monday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm
BLOCK 2 – ONLINE 2024
11 May 2024Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
8 June 2024Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
13 July 2024Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
10 August 2024Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
14 September 2024Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
12 October 2024Saturday6–9pm (AEDT)
9 November 2024Saturday6–9pm (AEDT)
* Placement 1: 2 weeks of observations and 1 week practice teaching to be completed between July and December 2024
2025
BLOCK 3 – ONLINE
31 March 2025Monday6–9pm (AEDT)
BLOCK 3IN-PERSON
4 April 2025Friday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
5 April 2025Saturday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
7–12 April 2025Monday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
14–16 April 2025Monday – Wednesday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
* Placement 2: 2 weeks of observations followed by 2 weeks of practice teaching in term 2 2025 
BLOCK 4 – ONLINE
3 May 2025Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
17 May 2025Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
31 May 2025Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
14 June 2025Saturday6–9pm (AEST)
BLOCK 5 – IN-PERSON
30 June – 5 July 2025Monday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
7 – 12 July 2025Monday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
14 – 18 July 2025
Monday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
Placement 3: 3 weeks of practice teaching between July and September 2025.
BLOCK 6 – ONLINE
26 July – 13 September 2025Wednesdays & Saturdays6–9pm (AEST)
BLOCK 7 – IN-PERSON
22 – 27 September 2025Monday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
29 September – 4 October 2025Monday – Saturday9am – 4:30pm (AEST)
6 October – 10 October 2025Monday – Friday9am – 4:30pm (AEDT)

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