Nurul Ain Yusof realises Australian dream, moving to ECEC with TAFE support

When Griffith woman Nurul Ain Yusof moved from Malaysia to Australia she had a dream of working in a profession that made a difference to the world, however her limited English, and lack of Australian experience proved a barrier to her dreams. 

After she arrived in the New South Wales country town in 2020, Ms Yusof worked a variety of roles including as a cleaner, a fruit picker, and in factories. She completed a Certificate II in Written and Spoken English at TAFE NSW Griffith in the hopes of getting ahead, before taking the plunge to complete a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. 

Now working as an educator at the Dorothy Waide Centre for Early Learning, Ms Yusof credits TAFE NSW Griffith with helping her to transform her life.

“When I was a girl, people used to ask me what I wanted to be and I would always say ‘educator’,” Ms Yusof, 36, said. “But in Malaysia, there was no chance for me to get these qualifications. When I was working as a cleaner at Dorothy Waide, my dream to be an educator became alive again.”

“I have a passion for working with children and I love helping them grow and learn,” she said. 

“To see a child who yesterday couldn’t grip a pencil correctly, and now today he can, is very satisfying.”

Ms Yusof said TAFE NSW gave her the practical skills and experience to make an immediate impact in her role.

“It has been such a huge transformation for me: it’s given me a great job, helped me financially and helped me become more a part of the community,” she continued. “My TAFE NSW teachers were so experienced and supportive, and I owe them so much.”

TAFE NSW Griffith Head Teacher of Early Childhood Bobbie Whittaker said employment outcomes for TAFE NSW graduates were exceptional.

“There are new services popping up everywhere and they are screaming out to employ TAFE NSW graduates,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful job if you have a desire to help others and have a positive impact on a child’s life. And no two days are ever the same.”

TAFE NSW Griffith offers the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care fee-free, with fee-free traineeships for both existing workers and new entrants.

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