Federation University partnership helps to boost regional careers with new program

Wimmera Southern Mallee (WSM) Development and Federation University in Horsham have secured Victorian Government funding to engage residents from small towns in the Wimmera Southern Mallee who face barriers to study in further education, local news source The Weekly Advertiser has reported. 

 

The program will help to identify the types of people in the community who are not working – and why – and to come up with a unique way to engage those people in free training to open career pathways in high demand careers and sectors like early childhood education and care (ECEC). 

 

WSM Development program manager Binesh Tholath said initial research by Federation University found a significant number of women aged between 25 and 44 years in the region did not work because they found it difficult to attend training in person.

 

Access to ECEC for their own children while studying has been identified as a major barrier, along with transport. Some people do not have access to a laptop, or face additional challenges with regards to their digital literacy. 

 

As such, program designers have collaborated to design a training model that breaks down barriers to study, focusing on the needs of each student so they can access free training.

 

“We run all the classes online – with the option to come to the university on occasion – and provide fuel vouchers and laptops to the students who need them,” he said. 

 

“We also offer other types of support, such as extra tutoring and textbooks.”

 

ECEC has been a popular choice, with 12 people from small communities in the Wimmera commencing their studies in the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, which is being held two days per week, with a provisional finishing date of July 2025. 

 

A further three people from the region are updating their ECEC qualifications to return to the sector. 

 

Once these 15 educators have completed their study they will support an extra 60 families in the region to have access to ECEC, a positive outcome for the team. 

 

For one student, Tina, the combination of local delivery and fee free study unlocked doors which were previously inaccessible. 

 

“The petrol vouchers are such a big help, too, as I have to travel to class,” she said. 

 

“Being in class and having other students to bounce ideas off of is also a great help.”

 

People living in the West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack, Buloke, Swan Hill, Gannawarra, Loddon, Northern Grampians, Southern Grampians and Glenelg municipalities are eligible to apply for a spot in a course, but they must prove they are facing barriers to study.

 

The courses recognise prior learning for people in care industries to fast-track the updating of qualifications in ECEC, aged care and disability support services. 

 

WSM Development chief officer Chris Sounness said the region needed more people in the care sector to build sustainable, self-supporting communities.

 

“The project will test if these tailored training and mentoring methods can be applied in the future by Federation University and other tertiary establishments servicing our region,” Mr Sounness said.

 

“We are also working with employers in the region to organise work placement as part of the courses and to explore opportunities for future employment once the student has graduated.”

 

For more information about the upcoming courses, people can contact Mr Tholath via email [email protected] or call 0436 118 091

 

This story was originally covered by The Weekly Advertiser. Find the original article here.