Early Childhood Careers Expo coming to Arts Centre

A new expo, designed to inspire more people to follow a career path into early childhood education and care (ECEC), is heading to the West Gippsland Arts Centre later this month. 

More than 20 local businesses and groups will participate in the event, which will also offer a pop up playgroup from 10am to 12.00pm. 

The expo is being presented by Victoria’s Baw Baw Shire Council to showcase the many rewarding career paths available in ECEC, and to give interested parties some insight into what a job in ECEC may look like on a day to day basis. 

There will be presentations on the day from members of Council’s Maternal Child Health and Family Day Care (FDC) units, as well as speakers from Chisholm Institute, and Federation University.

For Baw Baw Shire Mayor Annemarie McCabe the hope is that the expo will go some way to addressing the ‘desperate gap’ which exists in the ECEC sector workforce. 

“There’s a shortage across the early years sector that Council is trying to address and we’re calling for more people to consider careers in this area,” she said.

“A career in the early years could be so incredibly rewarding as you get a unique chance to shape and inspire little one’s creative minds.”

Martha Smith, a Family Day Care (FDC) educator in the Shire, agreed with the Mayor’s perspective, saying she loves and appreciates the opportunities which come with being in the profession. 

“Family day care has been the most amazing opportunity for me, as an educator and now as a Mum,” she said.

“I have the flexibility to run my business how I want it to be run, with the guidance of a supportive coordination unit.”

“In FDC, we explore a child’s interests and learning more deeply as we work with small groups of four children and their families. We regularly get out of the house and explore our local community and beyond.”

The Early Childhood Careers Expo will be held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre on Thursday 30 May from 9.30am – 12.30pm.

Visit Early Childhood Careers Expo to find out more.