Affinity Education Group fully funds Bachelor of Early Childhood Education studies

Freya Lucas

May 26, 2023

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Affinity Education Group’s Bachelor Scholarship Pathway program has reached a new milestone with more than 100 employees enrolled to complete a fully-funded Early Childhood Teaching degree.

National Education Reporter for The Australian, Natasha Bita, recently interviewed Affinity Chief People Officer Linda Carroll and recent graduate of the program, Naomi Bowditch. An extract of their conversation appears below.

As well as fully funding the degrees, Affinity covers a further $10,000-$15,000 in salary costs as educators complete their practical placement period towards the end of the degree, which can range between 6-12 weeks of full-time work at a kindergarten or preschool outside of the Affinity network, Ms Carroll said.

Ms Bowditch is an Early Childhood Teacher at Milestones Early Learning Aspley and was one of the first graduates from Affinity’s Bachelor Scholarship Pathway. She shared that she didn’t think university was an option as she had dropped out of high school.

“It meant I graduated with no HECS debt,” she explained, “and they also covered my 12-week placement period with paid leave so I had income coming through the entire time.”

Since graduating in 2022, Ms Bowditch has continued to work with children aged between three and five years, and has also taken on the role of Senior Educational Leader, which includes supporting other early childhood educators and embedding Affinity’s Lifelong Learning Curriculum programs and practices.

Completing her degree, she shared, has given her a lot of confidence in understanding children’s development.

Prior to being considered for the Bachelor Scholarship Program, employees at Affinity Education Group are also offered free education to complete accredited Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care and Diploma in Early Education and Care qualifications along with other business training through the Affinity Learning Academy.

For more information about Affinity Education Group, please see here.

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