Eight early childhood training and skills projects launch across Victoria

The Victorian Government has launched eight early childhood training and skills projects across the state, investing more than $6.28 million to create training opportunities in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. 

 

Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney and Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn met with staff at the Gowrie Victoria Carlton North to announce the grants and projects, which will help more people begin a career in ECEC through improved recruitment approaches, professional development training and more culturally and linguistically diverse resources.

 

The Early Learning Association of Australia will receive $1.7 million to create new upskilling and professional development opportunities for graduate students, while a $1.43 million grant to Federation University and YMCA will support a joint project to assess how gaming technology can be used in education modules for educators.

 

A $1.38 million grant will help Cire Training pilot new pathways into traineeships in ECEC services and South-West TAFE will receive more than $1.3 million to improve training and resources for students in Hamilton and Portland working towards their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

 

Culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians will be supported to thrive in the early childhood sector, with a $138,000 grant for the Gordon Institute of TAFE to support students from diverse communities with the option to include English as an Additional Language coursework in their studies.

 

Partners in Training Australia will receive almost $62,000 to create new education content for First Nations people studying early childhood education qualifications in Shepparton, while Balance Training Services will receive $75,000 to help reduce staff shortages in south-west Victoria.

 

Finally, a $207,400 grant will help Chisholm Institute bridge training gaps for students who have completed their Certificate III before 2013, and now want to study a Diploma of Early Childhood Education. The grant will back a new toolkit to help students seeking recognition of prior learning.

 

These projects are funded through programs that address the skills needs of Victoria’s evolving economy including the Victorian Regional and Specialist Training Fund, Workforce Training Innovation Fund and Workforce Skills Set Fund.

 

“Our targeted investment in the early childhood sector will attract more Victorians to choose this rewarding career and give them high quality training to set them up for success,” said Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney.