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Inspira Kids celebrate lifelong learning with dual graduations
Freya Lucas
Sep 10, 2024
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Approved provider Inspira Kids is celebrating the success of two of its educators, Melissa Gibson and Tarni Tenney, each of whom recently completed their Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Teaching with Swinburne University of Technology.
Ms Gibson (lead image) finished her qualification in July this year and is currently working in the Three Year Old room, as the Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) at Inspira Kids, Kialla.Her experience of study was a positive one, particularly given that others in the service were completing qualifications at the same time, and one which she would recommend to others in the sector.
“I have had a lot of support from the other educators, especially my Mentor and the Kinder Teacher while I was on placement,” she said.
I was glad to have others here studying the same course at the same time. Although it was a very busy year for me, it was very reassuring knowing that I had others in a similar position as me, that I could reach out to for support.”
Ms Gibson has been working in the sector since 2014, and is enjoying the dimension that her qualification is adding to her practice.
Ms Tenney (shown below) had a similar experience, and also completed her Graduate Diploma in July.
Having worked in the sector since 2011, the time was right for her to pursue further learning, something she readily embraced with the support of her employer. Joining Inspira Kids in 2011, she had ambitions of working her way through to management level, first becoming 2IC at Kialla, before moving over to be the 2IC in Archer St, and becoming the “Senior 2IC” for the area, with responsibility for training future 2IC’s of the provider.
With the advent of Commonwealth Assisted Places in early childhood education, and along with it substantial funding support, the opportunity to take on further learning was too good to pass up. “Throughout my year of studying my Graduate Diploma, it was incredibly busy as not only was I studying full time, I was working full time and assisting with the opening of our second service in Shepparton,” she said.
“My Mentor and the team I worked alongside were incredibly supportive, letting me ask as many questions as needed, and letting me take full responsibility of the program when necessary,” she continued.
“We had our own little personal study group, with four of us who all took on this new challenge at the same time, which was so nice, as it meant that we could collaborate and support each other when needed.”
Ms Tenney is now the ECT for the Three Year Old room at Archer St, as well as being responsible for designing and executing the Three Year Old curriculum.
Learn more about studying with Swinburne here.
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