CUSP is offering opportunities for 400 Victorian educators to upskill 

The latest round of the Victorian Government’s Certificate III Upskill Support Program (CUSP) is now open, giving 400 Certificate III educators the opportunity to upskill to a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care while receiving financial support. 

Educators can access up to $7,000 to support cost-of-living expenses while working and studying. CUSP aims to grow the supply of Diploma qualified educators to meet workforce demand for early childhood education in line with the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms. 

For the first time, CUSP now has a Regional Stream, which aims to boost the number of Diploma qualified educators in regional and rural Victoria. There are 200 places prioritised for educators living outside metropolitan Melbourne. 

CUSP is one of the many avenues through which the Victorian Government is continuing to  invest in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce, particularly in rural and regional Victoria. 

A path to progression for Elizabeth

For CUSP recipient Elizabeth working in Victoria’s Corangamite Shire has meant not only the opportunity to grow and develop as a professional, but also to give her children access to a more family friendly lifestyle. 

“I absolutely love working in regional Victoria and bringing up my children in a safe, laid back, slower paced environment,” she said. 

“Working for the Corangamite Shire, I am supported by a great team of educators and families from the local area. Other educators have offered me a lot of support completing my studies and are always on hand when I need some help. Especially the teams at Skipton, and Lismore/Derrinallum. I feel very grateful for the opportunities I have been given in my new role as an early childhood educator.”

CUSP played a big role in her career trajectory, with Annabelle sharing that “going from completing my Certificate III straight into the Diploma course felt like the right career move for me.” 

“The biggest incentive was the Free TAFE course being offered which took some of the pressure off with the cost of living going up. Just as I was finishing my Certificate III at Tafe, I heard about the Certificate III Upskill Support Program. I applied straight away and was accepted and that gave me a lot of incentive to get my Diploma qualification.”

“I am very grateful for the opportunities available with Free TAFE and CUSP,” she added. “Without them, I probably wouldn’t have been able to complete my studies and upskill to get a qualification.”

Initially launched in December 2023, CUSP has proven so successful that it will continue in 2025. Applications are now open and close on 13 June 2025. Places are limited so students are encouraged to sign up early. 

The expansion was announced recently by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn who said “We’re not just investing in Free Kinder and infrastructure – we’re making sure there are enough highly trained teachers and educators to deliver kinder programs, with real financial and professional support to get them there.” 

“By training more teachers and educators, and supporting their careers, we’re making sure families have access to quality, affordable kinder close to home – no matter where they live.”

Additional support to train more early childhood teachers

Along with the CUSP announcement, the Minister also shared that a new partnership with Deakin University would be rolling out expanding, aiming to help train more early childhood teachers (ECTs), particularly in regional and rural areas. 

The new partnership with Deakin is part of the  Victorian Governments Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program, which provides tailored study options for students across Victoria to meet the growing demand for workforce.

As part of the program, universities, dual sector providers, TAFEs and Registered Training Organisations offer students additional study, placement and mentoring support to deliver high-quality, work-ready early childhood educator and teacher graduates.

The program supports students to complete a qualification that is recognised, to allow them to enter the ECEC profession.

The programs are aimed at attracting more people to the sector, including:

• people who are new to the profession
• those returning to the workforce
• people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
• people who may be interested in a career change.

Applications for the Certificate III Upskill Support Program close on 13 June. Places are limited so students are encouraged to apply early. For more information use this link. 

To learn more about Victoria’s Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program please see here