A career in ECEC helps Antonina start a new life in Australia

Freya Lucas

Nov 15, 2023

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Ukrainian migrant Antonina Boiko is one of the many TAFE NSW graduates who are working in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector and helping to fill demand for services across the state.

Now living in the Sydney suburb of Auburn, Ms Boiko relocated to Australia in 2016, and has completed a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, and works as an assistant educator at Greenwood Concord, with plans to study her Bachelor of Early Childhood.

“I moved here from Ukraine with my husband to build a new life. I studied a master’s degree in management in my home country, but I’ve always loved to be around children,” she said.

“Being a mother and having experience with my own children, I thought ‘why not gain some training and industry (sic.) experience?’”

Originally her plan was to study in Australia, and then potentially go back to Ukraine to start her own family day care, however the recent conflict between Russia and the Ukraine has placed these plans on hold.

“We don’t know when the war will end or the economy will go back to normal, so I’ve decided to pursue a career here,” she explained.

“While it was difficult juggling being a mother and wife with work and study, and not learning in my native language, studying at TAFE NSW was the best thing I’ve ever done. All of the teachers have experience and love what they do. They supported me to do everything I couldn’t do before. The course not only helped me to get a job, but has also helped me in my role as a mother.”

To learn more about studying early childhood with TAFE NSW, please see here.

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