On International Children’s Day CQU student Chloe hopes children feel the love

1 June is International Children’s Day, and CQUniversity (CQU) student Chloe Dent, who started studying her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care just last month has one simple wish for the day…that the young children she will soon work with feel loved. 

“I want to help kids grow as people and figure out the world,” she said.

“I think it’s very important that children today know what it’s like to feel loved and cared for because I don’t think they necessarily do in today’s busy world.”

Ensuring children feel loved is one of the key messages of International Children’s Day, which is  celebrated as part of a greater cause that revolves around ending child abuse, ending the deprivation of children of their rights, and making efforts to improve the lives of children all around the world.

Ms Dent elected to study an early childhood qualification with the hopes of not only getting a job in the sector, but also of making a difference for families who live in rural Queensland. 

She grew up on a cattle farm in Monto, a small rural service centre inland from Bundaberg. It is a town dependent on the surrounding agriculture – predominantly mixed farming and timber – and a place where ready access to reliable care frees families up to work safely. 

“My mum was a teacher aide, and my grandmother and my grandmother’s sister were teacher aides, so yeah it’s definitely in the family,” she said.

Initially, Ms Dent was studying a Bachelor of Education in the primary education tier, but soon realised she wanted to work with younger children. While studying she has been working in an outside school hours care (OSHC) service in Rockhampton, living in the Capricornia Residential College at CQU’s Rockhampton North campus

On graduating, Ms Dent intends to return to rural Queensland and seek employment in a  kindergarten or long day care service in a rural area.

To learn more about CQU’s early childhood courses, please see here.