The McGowan Government is partnering with Western Australia’s early childhood education and care sector to pilot a Job Ready pre-employment program, with the aim to attract and upskill more early childhood educators for the local workforce.
The new Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Job Ready program is the latest in a suite of new skill sets – developed in collaboration with WA industries – to deliver short, sharp training for job seekers and young people, enabling them to upskill or reskill into industries with a need for skilled workers.
It combines a short course and work placement to introduce participants to an early childhood educator’s working environment.
The entry-level program also includes wrap-around supports to reduce barriers for participants and guide them to completion of their training.
The first three cohorts of students have started the program through North Metropolitan TAFE in Leederville, registered training organisation Meerilinga Training College in West Leederville, and North Regional TAFE in the Kimberley.
The program is being offered as both full-time or part-time, in order to cater to the needs of identified job seeker cohorts. For example, Year 12 school leavers in the metropolitan area are undertaking the program full-time for five weeks, while mothers returning to work in the Kimberley region are participating on a part-time basis over 10 weeks.
Graduates of the program gain credits towards a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and are supported to transition into a traineeship with an employer or undertake further training to become fully qualified early childhood educators.
The program complements other training and workforce initiatives introduced by the McGowan Government to support the sector, including:
- $1 million in local government grants to assist with attracting and retaining childcare workers;
- significantly reduced course fees for the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and a range of other care qualifications through the Lower fees, local skills program; and
- low-fee existing worker traineeships for childcare workers.
The ECEC Job Ready program is a unique collaboration between the State Government, North Regional TAFE, Community Skills WA, Broome Local Jobs, and local industry. It is being delivered as an outreach program at Broome CIRCLE, to provide local mothers returning to work with access to crèche facilities while they complete their training. Participants will also be supported by Nyamba Buru Yawuru, through their Warrmijala Murrgurlayi (Rise up to Work) Sustainable Employment Program.
Job Ready programs are part of the State Government’s $5.5 billion investment in WA Recovery Plan initiatives to upskill the WA workforce and enhance employment and training opportunities following the COVID-19 outbreak.
The training is free for job seekers of all ages, young people, and eligible school students.
Employers of students who transition into traineeships will be able to access State and Australian Government incentives or wage subsidies.
For more information or to register your interest in the program, visit the Jobs and Skills WA website at https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/pathways, call 08 6551 5049, or email mailto:[email protected].
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“The Early Childhood Education and Care Job Ready program offers practical support to encourage Western Australians to start or restart their careers as early childhood educators.
“There has never been a better time to join WA’s early childhood education and care sector, which is in need of more workers, provides an essential service for Western Australians and their families, and supports our economy.
“Like many of the McGowan Government’s new training initiatives, this program has been designed to address barriers to participation in training and the workforce.
“It will also link participants to employers and further training opportunities, helping to set them up for their new career.”
As stated by Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
“Early childhood education and care is so important not only for children’s socialisation and education, but also to support parents – especially women – to return to work.
“Building the workforce is critical to delivering quality early childhood education and care, and this initiative will help attract more early childhood educators to the sector, and support them as they begin their career.”
