Supports for early career ECTs and educators

The transition from studying to securing a role and becoming proficient on the job is a critical time for teachers and educators to consolidate their professional identity and practice. It can be a challenging period and involves significant dedication from new graduates and those that support them.

Expanding the supply of new graduates needs to be matched with support for early career professionals in the workforce, which is why the department continues to invest in mentoring support, grants and professional development to assist early career ECTs to progress to full teacher registration.

Beginning Teacher Conferences

Audience: Diploma qualified educators, ECTs

These fully funded 1-day conferences offer a valuable opportunity for networking and professional development to ECTs in their first year of teaching, educators receiving coaching support through the End-to-End Career Supports Program and early childhood teaching students that are already working in a kindergarten funded service and will graduate in the next 12 months.

The conferences are held throughout the year, both virtually and in person, and cover a broad range of topics, including how best to support children with additional needs and how to support your wellbeing as you begin your teaching career.

To find out more and register visit: Supports for early career early childhood professionals

Sujata Dalvi is in her second year as an early childhood teacher (ECT), after being supported with a scholarship from the Department of Education to complete a teaching degree. During her studies, Sujata would often access resources on the department’s website. “The resources guided me and provided me with the tools to improve my teaching practices as a student teacher and in curriculum planning.”
She feels lucky to have been employed by Springvale Service for Children at Alfred Street Early Learning Centre soon after her graduation and explained how she continues to use the resources to guide her practice: “The kindergarten I work at has families from multicultural backgrounds…including several migrant families…hence I continue to make extensive use of the website, particularly to acquire information about … different approaches to providing an inclusive program.”
The department’s programs have also been beneficial to Sujata during her initial years as an ECT. She has attended a Beginning Teacher Conference that focused on supporting children with additional needs, and participated in Community of Practice sessions and received coaching through the End to End Career Supports Program.
“All these opportunities have been useful in different ways. These programs have made me think deeply about my teaching practices, the quality of education I provide as a graduate teacher, how to ensure all children participate to their fullest capacity and have taught me how to find external help/support when I need it.”
Sujata “would highly recommend these programs to all early career ECTs and educators” and looks forward to continuing to enjoy opportunities to connect with her peers and develop her skills throughout her career.

End-to-End Career Supports Program

Audience: Diploma qualified educators, ECTs

The End-to-End Career Supports Program is for ECTs and Diploma-qualified educators and includes:

fully funded, individualised one-on-one coaching for those in their first 2 years of practice

Communities of Practice for those in the 2nd to 5th years of their careers

an Alumni Conference for those that participated in the coaching, Communities of Practice and/or Beginning Teacher Conferences.

The program provides opportunities to develop your practical knowledge, explore areas of interest and connect with peers. It also recognises the significant growth, and important milestones early childhood professionals accomplish during their initial years in the sector.

To find out more visit: Supports for early career early childhood professionals

Provisionally Registered Teacher (PRT) Grants Program

Audience: Service Leaders/Educational Leaders, ECTs

Provides additional funding to approved providers to assist them to support early childhood provisionally registered teachers (PRTs) to move to full registration with the VIT.

To find out more visit: Early Childhood Provisionally Registered Teacher (PRT) Grants Program

Help to find a mentor

Audience: Service Leaders/Educational Leaders, ECTs

If you are a PRT unable to find an appropriate mentor, a list of helpful suggestions is available, along with a ‘Mentor Map’ showing the locations of trained mentors across Victoria that may be able to support you through your VIT inquiry process.

To find out more visit: How to find an early childhood education mentor

Early Childhood Provisionally Registered Teacher (PRT) Mentor Program

Audience: ECTs

Delivered in partnership with Gowrie Victoria, this program provides free mentor support during specific intake periods each year to PRTs unable to find an appropriate mentor. Priority access is given to PRTs located regionally that have been provisionally registered for more than 2 years.

To find out more visit: How to find an early childhood education mentor

PRT Seminars

Audience: ECTs

To assist PRTs to understand the process of moving to full teacher registration, the VIT host a range of PRT seminars.

To find out more and register visit: https://www.vit.vic.edu.au/news/events

Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships

Audience: Certificate III-qualified educators, Diploma-qualified educators

Tailored courses that offer a range of financial and non-financial supports are available for new students and educators looking to become an ECT in 2025 through the Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program. You can choose from a range of university courses that offer opportunities to study online or locally. This includes courses especially designed for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

To find out more visit: Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program

Hear from early childhood professionals that studied with VICSEG New Futures through the Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program: