Katie’s dream run: a house, trainee of the year, and ECEC scholarship

22 year old early childhood education and care (ECEC) professional Katie Carusi is having an amazing 2024, buying a house, securing a $15,000 scholarship and being named as the Riverina Trainee of the Year. 

 

Journalist Oliver Jacques from the Region Riverina website spoke with Ms Carusi recently to learn more about the significance of so many wonderful occurrences on her emerging ECEC career. 

 

After graduating from Wade High School Ms Carusi, who grew up in the New South Wales town of Yenda, completed her Certificate III in ECEC at a local TAFE before going on to enrol in a Bachelor of Education at Deakin University which she is now completing remotely with the support of Griffith-based Country Universities Centre.

 

“I was a trainee at Dorothy Waide Centre For Early Learning up until July 2023,” Ms Carusi shared, explaining how her Trainee of the Year Award came to be. 

 

“I now work there full-time. I was nominated for excellence in how I performed in my training. I got my traineeship done eight months early. I often had to study early in the morning and after work.”

 

Her scholarship, which is offered exclusively to those in the Griffith and Yenda area, came from Casella Family Wines. After applying through her University portal, Ms Carusi was noted as the standout recipient based on her leadership skills and the qualities she has shown in her workplace.

 

The $15,000 will be used to cover her course fees for her Bachelor of Education, something she says will come in handy, having just purchased her first home. 

 

Mr Jacques put to Ms Carusi that buying one’s first home at 22 years of age is quite unusual, asking how she did it, particularly in such an expensive market. 

 

She was able to secure her home, which is in need of some renovations, with just a five per cent deposit through a scheme which is available to support trainees to move into the housing market.

 

“I’ve always worked two or three jobs at a time, since I was 15,” Ms Carusi explained. 

 

“When I was young, I partied a lot, but when I was 18, I stopped and worked on my vision of where I want to be in 10 years.”

 

Once her Bachelor qualification is complete Ms Carusi intends to work in a primary school in a regional or rural area, preferably close to home. 

 

“I’d love to give back to the community that supported me. I’d love to work at Yenda or Lake Wyangan,” she said “I want to do inclusive teaching, for children who have special needs and getting the school system to include them.”

 

In closing her conversation, Ms Carusi paid special tribute to Beth Hetherington, her co-room leader in Dorothy Waide, who supports her with the academic writing required for tertiary study, and to Maddi Ramponi from the Country Universities Centre.

 

Her final word of thanks went to her mother, with Ms Carusi explaining that she was an inspiration. 

 

“She dropped out of school in Year 10 and did a heap of VET courses. All her experience led her to going to university at the age of 40. She showed you don’t have to do your best in high school to achieve something; it’s not the be all and end all,” she said. 

 

Read the original coverage of this story here.