Professional development

Speech pathologist undertakes ECEC Cert III

Freya Lucas

Jul 15, 2020

Save

Rachel Wood, a speech pathologist with over 15 years of experience in the allied health care sector, recently graduated from a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), which she undertook with TAFE NSW in order to better understand children’s developmental needs.

Her decision is significant to the ECEC sector, as it shows the broader community the value of formal qualifications in education and care in underpinning program and practice for working with children in the years before school.

After speaking with a number of Central Coast preschool directors and conducting research, Mrs Wood decided to take the plunge to study early childhood education and care online while working full-time within the Central Coast Local Health District.

Studying the Certificate, she said, gave her the tools and experiences she needed to better understand children, and to have a more holistic view of the way in which speech pathology can better support them in other areas of their lives.

“I incorporate the information I learned about cognitive and physical development, child behaviour management, family dynamics and cultural sensitivity techniques into my practice,” she added.

Mrs Wood also works as a casual educator with Footprints Early Learning Centre in Erina, where she completed practical work experience while studying, which allows her to remain connected with other educators and continue her learning on the job.

Her role within the service also gives her the opportunity to educate others about the role of speech pathologists in the life of a child, and the value of early intervention in addressing speech and language issues.

“Helping a child to use a sound that they thought they couldn’t articulate, helping them to say their name correctly, increasing the range of words they can use, helping them communicate with longer sentences - these are the moments I love and cherish best,” Mrs Wood said.

To learn more about the role of speech pathologists in early childhood, please see here.

Don’t miss a thing

New Geccko course simplifies payments, fees and CCS obligations for ECEC services

A new online learning course launched on the Geccko platform is helping early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers better understand how to manage payments, gap fees and Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlements in line with Family Assistance Law.

What is ARACY and how can The Nest support early childhood services

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) has shaped the national conversation on child and youth wellbeing for more than two decades. Its flagship Nest Wellbeing Framework is increasingly used by organisations to align strategy, measure outcomes and strengthen collaboration.

Skilled migration opportunities for early childhood teachers to teach in Victoria

New opportunities are available for qualified early childhood professionals to build meaningful careers through the state’s skilled migration program.

Edge Early Learning becomes first QLD provider to embed Life Ed wellbeing and safety program across all centres

Edge Early Learning has announced a new statewide partnership with Life Ed Queensland that will see a comprehensive wellbeing, safety and school-readiness program embedded across every Edge centre in Queensland from January 2026, the first early learning provider in the state to take this integrated, whole-centre approach.

Looking ahead: What the ECEC sector can expect in 2026

As 2026 begins, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across Australia are preparing for a year of substantial reform, focused on strengthening child safety and raising the bar on national standards. Following a series of agreements by Education Ministers in 2025, new changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the Education and Care Services National Law will take effect progressively throughout the year. These reforms reflect the shared commitment of educators, families, communities and governments to place child safety and wellbeing at the centre of early learning environments.

New Geccko course simplifies payments, fees and CCS obligations for ECEC services

What is ARACY and how can The Nest support early childhood services

Skilled migration opportunities for early childhood teachers to teach in Victoria

New opportunities are available for qualified early childhood professionals to build meaningful careers through the state’s skilled migration program.