The ACT Government has launched a new program to support women with flexible career pathways into early childhood education.
The Early Learning Connection Program will support up to 260 women to study a Certificate III, Diploma or Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education.
It is a key action to ease workforce pressures under the ACT Government's early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce strategy.
The $2.125 million program will support participants to study, work and receive career coaching.
Participants will receive study financial assistance, help with facilitating employment opportunities in early childhood centres while studying, and their own educator coach, to help them balance work, study, life commitments and wellbeing.
For participants with children under five years, their educator coach can help participants to enrol them at a centre while they work and study.
The program will be facilitated by Baringa, in partnership with the University of Canberra, Canberra Institute of Technology, Australian Institute of Management and early learning centres across the ACT.
"It is wonderful to see the collaboration between the ACT government, our education institutions and the early childhood education profession in supporting women in the workforce," Minister for Education and Youth Affairs Yvette Berry said.
"This program means we can provide financial assistance for course fees and wrap-around supports for women to complete a Certificate III or Diploma in Early Childhood Education or a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education."
The Early Learning Connection program will be particularly important as the ACT Government continues to roll out universal free three-year-old preschool, providing eligible families with 300 hours of free preschool delivered by a degree qualified Early Childhood Teacher.
"It is crucial that we continue to provide career pathways and development opportunities for our early childhood education profession, making it easier for educators to upskill, whether it be via certificate, diploma or degree qualifications, and promoting early childhood education as a long-term career option," Minister Berry said.
Baringa Board Chair Jillian Flinders said the program was evidence-based following an initial pilot through the Australian Government's National Careers Institute.
"An independent evaluation of the pilot highlighted a range of barriers for Canberra women, including lack of family, financial and network support, as well as ongoing workforce pressures," Ms Flinders said.
"It is through understanding these barriers that Early Learning Connection has been designed to collaborate across the ACT profession, providing innovative, holistic and real supports for employees and employers in the early childhood education sector.
"We are pleased to collaborate with the ACT Government, early learning providers and developing further partnerships across the community."
Applications are now open to commence from February 2024.
Apply now at www.earlylearningconnection.com.au
