People studying to become early childhood teachers will have their careers fast-tracked thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt launched the program today, which will see 90 Victorian early childhood educators upskill and train through a quality, tailored and accelerated Initial Teacher Education university program at Deakin University.
Educators will be able to complete their Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Deakin University while continuing to work, removing barriers in upskilling for Victorians who may not have been able to take time off work to study.
This intensive program will help early childhood educators, who already have a diploma qualification and are working in the sector, to become qualified teachers by undertaking the usual three-year degree as a trimester degree over 18 months.
This opportunity will tap into the skills and experience of educators already working in early childhood education and care services and enable them to progress in a career that they love.
The first graduates from this initiative will be ready to work as qualified early childhood teachers from 2022 -they will be qualified to lead kindergarten programs as we roll out universal funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten state-wide.
This will help kinders employ teachers in both hard-to-staff rural and regional locations and in areas where demand for teachers is expected to grow the most.
Financial support packages are also available for early childhood educators, valued at $30,000 to cover course fees and materials, as well as helping with living expenses while they study. Students will be supported to continue working part-time as educators while they study, potentially earning around $20,000 per year.
In addition, early childhood services will receive direct funding for each student to provide wraparound and mentoring support for educators while they train to become teachers.
To find out more visit vic.gov.au/make-difference-early-childhood-teaching.
As stated by Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt
"This investment will grow our early childhood teaching workforce as we roll out Three-Year-Old Kindergarten across Victoria."
"It will help Victorians gain secure, quality employment faster than they could under traditional pathways."
"This program will unlock the experience of people who are already educating children - who may not have had the opportunity to get a university degree previously - to take on the role of leading kinder programs"
