The nation’s peak not-for-profit childcare body says TAFE NSW Glendale will play a critical role in training the next generation of early childhood educators as a growing skills-need impacts the local industry.

It comes as new data from Deloitte Access Economics revealed early childhood educators would be one of the Hunter’s fastest growing professions in the coming years, expected to grow by almost 20% by 2024-25.

Early Childhood Australia NSW president Carol Burgess said with that rapid growth came an urgent need to train more educators and TAFE NSW was ideally positioned to do just that.

“The early childhood sector provides many opportunities for people to grow in their career,” she explained.

“Someone who enjoys working with children and who wants to make a lasting impact on their lives can have such a fulfilling career in early childhood education.

“TAFE NSW is an important part of training our future workforce.”

One of many graduates to make a flying start to their career after training at TAFE NSW Glendale is Branxton’s Jess Lyddiard.

She completed both a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.

After working as an aged care nurse for 10 years, Jess took time away from work after the death of her fiancé in 2013 and said the experience built her resilience, a quality she’s inspired to share with the children in her care at The Cottage at Huntlee.

“It was difficult for me to make the decision to come back into a new career and study,” she admitted.

“But, my experience at TAFE NSW was the best I’ve ever had.

“The teachers were so supportive and helpful and, even through the challenges of COVID-19, I was given the practical training I needed to match the mental work of the Diploma and succeed in my new career.

“I want to be someone a child remembers and learns from, just like I remember my pre-school teachers.”

TAFE NSW Glendale head teacher of early childhood education and care Christine Saunders said early childhood educators enjoyed a rare mix of job security and job satisfaction.

“If you have a TAFE NSW early childhood qualification you have an excellent chance of employment, which will be even more valuable in the post-COVID jobs market,” she stated.

“TAFE NSW arms graduates with the practical skills and work experience to make an immediate impact in the job and help shape young hearts and minds.

“Our courses are very hands-on and we offer simulated early childhood environments at many of our campuses.”

To learn more about studying early childhood education at TAFE NSW, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au

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