The department offers a range of scholarships and tailored programs to support students to reach their goal of becoming early childhood teachers and educators.
Charley Bunting, early childhood teacher at Bundarra Uniting Kindergarten, combined both financial and non-financial support options by applying for an Aboriginal Pathways Scholarship, while upskilling through Deakin University’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program.
Passionate about First Nations voices in education
Charley, a Gunditjmara and Wemba Wemba woman, has worked in the early childhood education sector for many years.
She started her career as a Certificate III educator before commencing study to become an early childhood teacher at Deakin University in 2020.
To support her with her studies, Charley took up the opportunity of the Aboriginal Pathways Scholarship which offers financial support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students of up to $34,000.
The scholarship is one of a range of options available under the Early Childhood Scholarships Program which provides eligible students with access to additional funds to support them while they study.
‘As a Gunditjmara and Wemba Wemba woman, I believe that it is important that First Nations people can see each other in learning spaces and learn from each other,’ Charley said.
‘The Aboriginal Pathway Scholarship helped me achieve success in completing my studies and becoming a teacher. It enabled me to undertake unpaid placements and buy resources relevant to my studies.’
For Charley, the move into teaching has helped her to fulfil her commitment to connect Victorian children and their families to the importance of First Nations culture and identity.
Charley is one of many Victorian scholarship recipients passionate about early childhood education who completed their qualifications earlier this year. They graduated from courses ranging from vocational diplomas, bachelor degrees and masters programs.
The Early Childhood Scholarship program has awarded more than 5,000 scholarships since 2019.
Achieving her goals
Along with the financial support, Charley also benefited from the academic support provided through Deakin University, one of the tertiary providers now delivering courses as part of the Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program.
Deakin University offers a range of tailored courses with extra support, including dedicated mentoring, financial incentives for employers and the option to complete placement within your usual workplace.
This was an important advantage for Charley, when choosing the bachelor’s degree with Deakin University as it allowed her to complete her studies online while continuing to work at the Kathleen Millikan Centre.
Charley is proud of her achievement and hopes that others may soon follow the same path.
‘Now I am fulfilling my goal of being an early childhood teacher and supporting children to have the best start to their education,’ Charley said.
Find out more
For more information about the Early Childhood Scholarship program and to apply, visit the Financial support to study and work in early childhood webpage. The program is available to those starting to study and already studying (including those in their final year of study).
For further enquiries, including about eligibility, contact BUSY At Work:
- phone: 1300 161 396
- email: EC.Financial.Support@education.vic.gov.au
For more information about the universities, TAFEs and RTOs offering tailored courses, refer to the Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program webpage.
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