SEE Program helps Alia to thrive in ECEC

For early childhood education and care (ECEC) professional Alia Elhamed, the doors to her career didn’t fully open until she undertook further training through the SEE Program through Learning for Employment.

Despite gaining ECEC qualifications when she moved to Melbourne 20 years ago, the doors to employment remained closed because of her English language barriers. 

In an interview situation, she often had trouble understanding others and the questions she was being asked. 

“My English was limited, when I would speak in interviews it was not very well but I am a hard worker so I knew I could get a job,” she shared with local news source Star Weekly. 

She was referred to the SEE class in Laverton where she received support with English and employment readiness through tasks and lessons which covered operating the internet, sending messages, how to apply for jobs and how to speak in interviews.

She also gained other digital skills including learning how to read and send emails and create documents in Word.

“My spelling was very bad but now it is improving and I am more confident when I speak to people,” she shared. 

Soon after completing the course, she was successful in obtaining a position at an ECEC service in Altona Meadows which she left for personal reasons.

She now hopes to study aged care, another role which will allow her to support vulnerable members of the community. 

Learn more about the SEE program here. For the original coverage of this story, please see here.