Alumni survey shows strong outcomes for KKTC early childhood graduates

Freya Lucas

Aug 14, 2024

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A recent survey of graduates from Kool Kids Training College (KKTC) has shown that a significant portion of those surveyed had gone on to leadership positions in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.

“Our graduates have demonstrated through this first Alumni survey that their career transition and progression is tracking well,” Sam Hendry, CEO and Managing Director of KKTC said.

“This bodes well for the future of the sector. The Alumni are poised to take on leadership roles, and we will see this in 2025 and 2026 and beyond annual survey results.”

The survey was a first for the provider, and many of those who responded have finished their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care qualifications in the past 12 - 18 months.

Topics covered by questions in the survey include:

Roles obtained since graduation with KKTC
Current role in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector
Biggest challenge Alumni face in their current role
Further training and professional development since graduation with KKTC
Satisfaction with career progression since graduation with KKTC
Alumni career ambitions in the next 3-5 years
Insights on how KKTC as an RTO can help Alumni progress their career

KKTC decided to initiate the survey process against the backdrop of the new training package introduced for ECEC in January 2022, and surveyed a mix of domestic and international students who trained under the new package.

Other key findings include:

Just over half of those surveyed are working as educators (51 per cent)
Nearly a quarter (21 per cent) of those surveyed are working as a lead educator
Approximately 30 per cent of respondents are working in a position other than lead educator (for example in an Outside School Hours Care setting, working as an assistant educator, or in a ‘float’ position).

Respondents were also candid about some of the challenges they have faced since graduation, sharing information about pay and wages being a significant challenge, along with working in pressured environments as a result of staffing shortages across the sector.

‘Ratio issues’ and limited opportunities in their preferred areas were also noted as challenges by some respondents, along with poor management, lack of work-life balance and lack of in-house training and professional development opportunities.

As their careers progress, the opportunity for promotion and extension is a high priority for many, something which Mr Hendry said would be an opportunity for further course development for KKTC.

“Understanding the promotion trends helps us gauge career progression and Alumni satisfaction with their career trajectories,” he explained. “It has also indicated to us that we can do more for our students to improve their employability and career trajectories.”

Overall, Alumni expressed high satisfaction with their career progression, with many sharing positive feedback about their experiences post study.

“This is our first Alumni survey and we will track the progress of this cohort annually to ‘check in’ on how their careers are progressing,” Mr Hendry continued.

“Our graduates have demonstrated through this first Alumni survey that their career transition and progression is tracking well. As an RTO specialising in early childhood education and care, this has been our first foray into analysing the post graduation career progression and satisfaction of our Alumni and we are really pleased with what we found.”

Graduates are working in a mix of private, large, small and non for profit long day care centres across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Further information about KKTC is available here. Image shows (L-R) Jasna, Centre Manager of Modern Family Early Learning in Cairns, KKTC Trainer and Assessor Yoko, North Queensland Training Awards finalist Emily, and Mr Hendry.

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