For Ukrainian refugee Hanna Babycheva, Australian ECEC has been a haven

For recent TAFE NSW Loftus graduate Hanna Babycheva her journey to Australia, and to the world of early childhood education and care (ECEC) has been a challenging one. 

Ms Babycheva arrived in Australia in 2022 seeking a safe haven, along with her daughter, from the conflict in her native Ukraine. With a sister living in the New South Wales community of Oatley, settling close to family gave her some comfort, and she soon turned her thoughts to how to support her family in her new home. 

She began her studies for her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, while also working for G8 Education owned Kinder Haven, in the NSW suburb of Jannali.

Ms Babycheva credits TAFE NSW Loftus for giving her the practical skills training she needed to rebuild her education career in Australia, building on her experience as a teacher in her home country. 

Despite arriving in Australia with no English, and with qualifications which were not recognised, she enrolled into her Certificate III studies just four months after arriving in the country, first completing a Certificate III in Spoken and Written English, also at Loftus, before moving in to her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

With her initial studies behind her, Ms Babycheva said living and working in Australia makes her feel “safe, happy and secure” and that she is grateful to be able to rebuild her 20 year career in education in a new space. 

“I’m thankful I can rebuild my career and work within a beautiful early education centre,” she said. 

She plans to continue her studies in 2024, undertaking a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.

This story first appeared in the St George Sutherland Shire Leader. Read the original article.