Victorian early career workshops support confidence and capability in early childhood education

Registrations are open for Term 4 workshops supporting early career and returning early childhood teachers and educators working in Victorian services delivering funded kindergarten programs.

Beginning a career in early childhood education, returning to practice or transitioning into a new education setting involves developing professional knowledge alongside a range of practical skills. Communicating with families and colleagues, managing administrative responsibilities and responding to complex situations are all part of this professional journey.

The Victorian Early Childhood Early Career Supports (VECECS) program provides tailored professional learning to help early career and returning early childhood teachers and educators navigate these responsibilities and strengthen their confidence in practice.

Through integrated support, participants can develop their professional identity, agency and resilience, build their understanding of the early childhood education system and access tools to support a sustainable career in the sector.

Early Career Workshops

The Early Career Workshops combine self-paced eLearning modules with facilitated online half-day sessions. They provide opportunities for participants to develop and practice communication, administrative and reflective skills relevant to their work with children, families, colleagues and service leaders.

Four workshops will run across Term 4 2026, focusing on:

• Developing a professional identity in multicultural and inclusive environments  
• Navigating challenging conversations and professional dilemmas
• Leading reflective conversations with colleagues
• Administrative skills in early childhood education
• Each workshop includes an eLearning module and an online half-day facilitated session, connecting individual learning with opportunities to explore practical approaches to professional situations.

Workshop registrations are now open through the Early Childhood Hub.

Who can participate

The program supports early childhood teachers and educators in their first five years of practice, as well as eligible returning professionals, who work in Victorian services delivering funded kindergarten programs.

Eligible returning professionals include:

• Qualified Victorian early childhood teachers and educators returning to a teaching or educator role, typically within 12 months of their return.
• Victorian teachers transitioning from primary education to early childhood education.
• Qualified early childhood teachers and educators joining the Victorian sector from interstate or overseas.

Participants may be eligible to claim backfill support to attend program offerings, helping services facilitate staff participation.

Benefits for services

Supporting participation in VECECS can help services build staff expertise and confidence in delivering kindergarten programs, encourage a culture of reflection and continuous learning, and support job satisfaction and retention.

The program’s focus on professional capability, workplace learning and leadership connects with Quality Areas 1, 4 and 7 of the National Quality Standard: Educational program and practice, Staffing arrangements, and Governance and leadership.