TAFE NSW offering fee free training to boost educator numbers in the Central West

TAFE NSW is offering fee-free training and scholarship programs to support rising demand for educators in the Central West region of New South Wales, with Head Teacher of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Susan Bird saying TAFE NSW is seeing huge interest in studying ECEC courses.

“We expect the demand for ECEC education to grow by seven per cent in the Central West over the next three years,” Ms Bird said, “and TAFE NSW offers a range of training programs that will deliver a pipeline of skilled child-care workers to the local community.”

Jan Ceballos, who lives in Orange, is one student who has taken advantage of the local ECEC jobs boom by completing a TAFE NSW course to gain nationally-recognised qualifications and secure her dream job.

Miss Ceballos migrated from the Philippines in 2019, and was working as an accountant in Sydney, however, soon saw an opportunity to be supported to return to her passion of teaching children thanks to the dual support of a fee-free Diploma and a Commonwealth Government Destination Australia scholarship. 

The Destination Australia scholarship allowed her to purchase the equipment needed for study and relocate to regional NSW, to address the demand for early childhood educators in the Central West.

“I was a teacher in the Philippines and I wanted to get back to my passion for teaching children, so I jumped at the opportunity for a scholarship to become qualified to teach birth to five year olds,” Miss Ceballos said.

“The teachers at TAFE NSW have been so supportive and are so knowledgeable. It was a big change coming from accounting to caring for children, but they really helped with that transition.”

Throughout her studies Miss Ceballos has learnt about how the ECEC sector works, brushed up on Regulations, and learnt how to program and create engaging experiences for children. 

“I’d encourage others who are thinking about a career change to take advantage of the support and study opportunities available at TAFE NSW,” she said. 

“It is a very fulfilling job and there is so much joy in teaching children.”

Since graduating with her Diploma earlier this year, Miss Ceballos has secured full time work with Orange City Council Children’s Services.

For more information about Destination Australia Scholarships please see here, or phone 131 601 for more information.