Training our next educators for our next generation
17 March 2021
In J
uly 2020, YWCA Canberra launched Educate, Inspire, Excel, an innovative new program to train people to work in Canberra’s early childhood education and care sector.
Nearly nine months in, we are proud to have helped 28 people to begin traineeships in the early childhood education and care sector, and are working with another 27 people to find them positions.
This will not only help those trainees gain long-term careers, but will set up a pipeline for educators in the childhood and education and care sector, an industry that the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated is vital to our community and our economy.
Along with the usual elements of a traineeship, with our qualified trainers providing support in the workplace to help trainees gain their qualifications, our team has provided individual, tailored support to ensure trainees’ other life needs are met through our community services and linkages to the Canberra community sector.
Included in the program has been job readiness training, to ensure trainees are equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding that underpin successful employment in the children’s services sector. This training covered topics including:
- the role of educators and long-term career options
- job interview skills
- expectations from workplaces
- time management for work and study.
Both employers and trainees have benefited from EIE, and you can read Katarina’s story and Christine’s story to find out more.