New campaign to recruit Victorian kindergarten teachers

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OVER the next decade, the Victorian Government is investing almost $5 billion to deliver 15 hours of funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten a week. This means the creation of more than 4000 new early childhood teacher roles and 2000 new educator roles.

Unlike many other jobs which are becoming automated, early childhood education will always rely on people to inspire young children’s minds and foster their learning and development.

Every early childhood job has one thing in common – the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. And as a growing, dynamic sector, early childhood offers plenty of chances to take your career in lots of different directions.

Ninety per cent of a child’s brain development happens before they turn five so teachers play a crucial role. Early childhood teachers lead the planning and delivery of kindergarten programs, get to know the children and how they learn, and observe and assess their learning and development. Early childhood teachers also promote language development and self-confidence by encouraging children to question, explore and be aware of the world.

Whether you’re starting your study, upskilling, or already studying early childhood teaching, there is financial support for you. There are hundreds of financial support packages available to help you study to become an early childhood teacher and you can apply online at education.vic.gov.au at any time of the year.

To become an early childhood teacher, you need a degree in education. The most common qualification pathway is:

• an undergraduate early childhood qualification
• a ‘pathways’ course where people with an approved Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care can gain credit to complete a degree in early childhood education
• a post-graduate diploma or masters in early childhood education.

If you’ve completed a Diploma in Education and Care, universities may recognise this prior learning when you enrol. This may reduce the number of subjects you’ll need to study and how long your degree will take to complete.

To become an early childhood educator, there are a range of vocational education and training qualifications available. You can study a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. From 2020, the Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care will be available tuition fee-free through Free TAFE.

There are flexible studying options available so you can study on-campus or online. To find a University, TAFE or Registered Training Organisation near you explore the Early Childhood study map.

Employment incentives are available to attract qualified teachers to work in the local government areas where Three-Year-Old Kindergarten is rolling out in 2020. These include the shires of Buloke, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, South Gippsland, Strathbogie, and Yarriambiack.

The locations where incentives will be available will change each year as Three-Year-Old Kindergarten rolls out across the state. For further information on early childhood teacher incentives and how to apply go to the Victorian Department of Education and Training website.

There’s never been a better time to become an early childhood teacher or educator and help change lives for the better.