80 aspiring ECTs supported through Swinburne’s Graduate Diploma

Freya Lucas

Mar 05, 2024

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Passionate early childhood educators and people looking for a career change in the East Gippsland and Wellington shires of Victoria are receiving support from Swinburne University of Technology (Swinburne) thanks to an investment from the Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program.

80 aspiring early childhood teachers (ECTs) will benefit from Swinburne’s Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Teaching, which is part of a unique Regional Outreach Model that caters for the needs of regional learners.

By 2026 the students will have completed their studies and will graduate ‘job ready’ for work as an ECT.

Students will be able to take part in intensive blocks of face-to-face hybrid learning, use virtual reality simulated classrooms, build on prior teaching and pedagogical skills, and strengthen their collaborations with children, families and communities. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in employment network support including work-based placements, mentoring and networking.

The program encourages greater diversity in the early childhood workforce by supporting Aboriginal Victorians, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability and men to take up tertiary education opportunities and pursue a career as an early childhood teacher.

The place-based, work-embedded approach in the program will capitalise on local knowledge and support people currently living and working in the area to enter the local early childhood workforce.

“Swinburne’s place-based program of study and hands-on learning will give aspiring teachers in the state’s east the training and support they need to have a great career in early childhood education,” A Department of Education spokesperson noted.

To learn more about the program visit Swinburne’s website, here.

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