ECEC trainees sought for Communities@Work Ascend program

ACT Large Employer of the Year, Communities@Work, is on the hunt for 18 new trainees for its next Ascend Program, which starts in January 2021.

The Ascend Program offers successful candidates a 12-month traineeship comprising paid on-the-job work experience in children’s services while they study to gain formal qualifications, with applications closing today, having attracted “a great deal of interest”, according to Communities@Work’s registered training organisation manager Carla Scalia.

Part of the popularity of the program, Ms Scalia told local publication The RiotACT, lies in the ability for participants to work and study at the same time, whilst aiding the provider to grow its own skilled workforce.

Successful traineeship candidates are employed on a full-time basis, spending four days a week working with children. The fifth day involves attending classes with fellow trainees in a formal learning environment at the Centre of Professional Learning and Education, studying the theory related to early childhood education and care (ECEC).

Described as “unapologetically demanding”, the recruitment process for Ascend involves prospective trainees initially applying via the Communities@Work website; attending a face-to-face information session; sitting a language, numeracy and literacy assessment; carrying out a 1-1.5 hour visit to an early learning service; and, undergoing an interview and psychometric assessment, after which successful candidates are offered a position.

“It’s not easy, but it’s about making sure we’ve got the right candidates for the position, the people who ultimately are going to be the best for the children they care for,” Ms Scalia told TheRiotACT.

Trainees in the past have been drawn from a range of different backgrounds across gender, age and experience, and while there is no guarantee of employment at the end of a traineeship, Ms Scalia said the ACT “is a transient place and educator positions are regularly available”.

More information about Communities@Work and the Ascend program may be found on the website, here.