The Victorian Government is providing more early childhood jobs to support this vital sector and provide new career opportunities for Victorians facing barriers to employment.
Employment Minister Jaala Pulford and Early Childhood Minister Ingrid Stitt on Sunday said this was about creating more opportunities for jobseekers while giving parents the support they needed to give their children the best start in life.
Ms Pulford said the government was making it easier for people to build a career in this vital sector, providing training while workers earned a wage and gained on-the-job experience.
“Targeting sectors that need workers makes a lot of sense and will be a winner for people that have had a tough time securing work — and families.”
The $2 million Labor Government program, delivered in partnership with Chisholm TAFE, will enable more Victorian children to thrive, improve work-life balance for families and create more secure jobs in the early childcare sector.
The focus will be on supporting people who have experienced challenges securing employment during the pandemic, including women aged over 45, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians, and young people.
Participants will receive on-the-job training, working at early childhood centres and receiving an income while studying a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. The program also provides additional mentoring and supervision on the job.
The initiative is supported by the $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund, which is creating 10,000 steady and secure jobs for those most impacted by the pandemic.
The government is also releasing its updated Kindergarten Workforce Strategy as part of the $5 billion plan to provide three-year-old children with access to an additional year of funded kindergarten programs.
Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney said Victorian TAFEs were the engine room for vital industries across the state, including the early childhood sector, and it was fantastic that Chisholm TAFE was on board with the initiative.
The reform is expected to create about 6000 new early childhood jobs including about 4000 bachelor-qualified teachers and 2000 VET-qualified educators.