Dear early childhood education and care services,
We’re entering an extremely busy period of the year, as we continue consultation on our nation-leading reforms, are communicating about 2024 kindergarten enrolments with our community, look ahead to the Victorian Early Years Awards, and anticipate the fun and adventure of Education Week.
In this edition, we have an article seeking your views on the Best Start, Best Life reforms by completing a short survey through the Engage Victoria website. The insights from this survey will help shape early childhood education in Victoria over the next decade, and to shape the unprecedented $14 billion Best Start, Best Life investment.
The survey should take between 5 to 8 minutes to complete and will close on Sunday 14 May 2023. Please share the link with your colleagues, networks and families.
Last month, we saw the announcement of an additional $159 million to support the kindergarten workforce. This investment will help recruit and upskill the quality, skilled staff integral to achieving the best start for Victorian children and provide opportunities for existing educators, teachers and service leaders, no matter where they work across Victoria.
The funding will assist 780 diploma-qualified educators to become degree-qualified teachers, improve placement and mentoring experiences for 550 students, and enable up to 200 trainees to undertake a paid traineeship in an early childhood service.
This initiative is about supporting people to build careers in the early childhood education sector, grow in their current roles and ensure our services can continue to support children on the path towards their best life.
We’re already seeing so many positive results. I am proud that we are creating opportunities for people such as Chelsea Ford, from Merri Community Childcare Centre in Thornbury. I hope you enjoy this video of Chelsea in action.
Chelsea is one of thousands of Victorians who have benefited from financial support to pursue a career in early childhood education, and to take up positions making a lasting difference to children and families in their communities. This video shows what our workforce investment is all about, and I look forward to sharing more information about these programs in the coming months.
As we continue to showcase great examples of outstanding educators, teachers and practice within the sector, it’s time to turn our attention to one of the highlights of the year: the Victorian Early Years Awards.
The 2022 awards were a wonderful success, and I am looking forward to another great year. Nominations for the 2023 awards are open until Wednesday 14 June 2023, and I am excited that this year we have introduced 2 new award categories.
Acknowledging the dedication and skill of the early childhood education and care workforce gives us yet another view into your fantastic achievements across the state. Thank you very much for everything you continue to do to support Victoria’s children, families and communities.
Kim Little
Deputy Secretary
Early Childhood Education
Updated