Thinking about a career in Early Learning? Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care students Molly (Oakhill Family Centre) and Sonja (Church Street Children’s Centre) share what it’s like to be an ECMS Trainee.
Why Early Learning?
Molly: “I’ve always loved children, particularly babies. After Year 12, I thought about doing Cert III but decided it would be good to learn on the ground at the same time, so I applied for a Trainee position with ECMS. Along with the actual training and support program, I was impressed they don’t count trainees as part of the ratio for two months, so you get to watch and absorb. After a straightforward process, I was accepted into the program and haven’t looked back!
Oakhill Family Centre is perfect for me as it’s a multi-aged early learning hub, and I get to work with children of all ages, which is my dream. My Nominated Supervisor, Nadia, and the team are incredibly experienced, so I learn from the best. And the support that ECMS gives trainees like me is amazing. The Trainee cohort has direct access to our Area Managers and specialist Practice Coaches, and we have scheduled study support days together at Head Office. On top of all this, the professional learning days and conferences are outstanding.”
Sonja: “I love children. I love to play with them, and I’m very patient with them. It’s so important to really listen and have the education and perception to know how to give them what they need. I’m also fascinated by how children grow into such different characters, and playing a part in their development is a real privilege.
I came to early childhood education later in life. I migrated to Australia in 2011 and decided to train in Cert III after a wonderful career in pharmacy. But I’ve always loved children, so training to be an Early Childhood Educator made so much sense. I really believe I bring something unique to practice with my lived experience, so don’t let anyone tell you it’s too late to change direction – it’s not!
My experience as an ECMS Trainee has been overwhelmingly positive, and having practical and emotional support from my colleagues makes a world of difference. We communicate and help each other and work brilliantly as a team. And if I’m unsure about something, I feel comfortable asking for help. They listen, always.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Molly: “I’ve been at Oakhill for 18 months, and looking at the people I work with, I can picture what a rewarding career as an early learning educator looks like. In five years, I’ll have my Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and will still be learning from my mentors and building my connections. I also want to build my experience working with children of all ages in Oakhill’s Early Learning Centre.
And I want to pay it forward. I want to instill growth and capacity and help build the next generation of exceptional early learning practitioners; they will be me in a few years!”
Sonja: “In five years I will have my Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and will be working full time with children of all age groups. I think it’s important for people considering a career in early childhood education to see all sorts of people in the profession, and I want to add my voice. ECMS are ‘place based’ and practically support and celebrate diversity, so we’re a great choice if you’re looking for a career with an open-minded organisation that approaches teaching and learning with excitement and joy.”
Why do it?
Molly: “I say go for it! It’s been amazing, and our educators are so knowledgeable. ECMS has built a supportive environment where you truly want to go to work because it’s a happy and safe space to learn as you go. Also, having the chance to get to know the service before formally starting is incredible – you can find your feet in that space before starting your study. And you can be placed close to home, so that’s another plus.
Since day one, my experience has been fantastic, and I’ve built solid relationships with the team, the children and their families. I’ve also had great opportunities like working on the Birth to Three project with the incredible Dr Katherine Bussey and Gracie Pupillo, our Practice Coach - I don’t think I’d have had that opportunity elsewhere.”
Sonja: “Trainees work a nine-day fortnight, with the tenth day at TAFE – all our study is paid for, and we have regularly scheduled study sessions at Head Office with the rest of the cohort and specialists to help with assessments.
The support we get from the ECMS Education team is incredible, they really do invest time and money into making sure we’re the best we can be. And unlike some organisations, ECMS trainees aren’t counted in the ratio for the first two months, so we have the chance to watch, learn and ask questions at our own pace.”
If you’d like to learn more about joining the ECMS team, check out our Careers page.